I don't follow cricket.
I never understood much of it, earlier.
Mostly, I think it's a waste of time. For the whole nation.
A lot of friends, who are ardent fans and pretty informed about the game, deserved to go for the finals.
Yet, I was the chosen one. Ended up with 'free passes' for the match. Ahem.
It brought me lot of wicked pleasure to annoy friends who hadn't been able to procure tickets.
So far so good.
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I had a Delhi Daredevil and a Chennai Super Kings fan each at home.
Since I didn't follow the matches much, I settled with Mumbai Indians.
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The experience at the stadium - I might not be able to do justice with words.
Exhilarating and extremely well organised. ( kudos to Mumbai Police and IPL).
Difficult to express how this game brings out the best and the worst in Indians.
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Now, about the game.
Bleddy hell.
I believe in luck. Only, if I work hard. And deserve. So anyone who thinks that MI had bad luck today, in polite words - get lost.
It's a team effort. CSK put up an awesome show and mostly, everyone performed. Can't say the same about MI.
We should have known we were going to lose when -
- We dropped Raina twice
- Pathetic fielding at various times
- We played as if it were some silly test match - extremely morose first five overs!
- The whole stadium + viewers on television begged Pollard to be sent, while he kept cooling his heels at the dug-out. what the hell !!! Did the team management think he was some God who could undo the Karma of the previous players??? We needed 55 off 18 balls you idiots!
Apart from this, I also think MI didn't use its bowlers well. Yes, I am no expert, but this much anybody can understand - why change bowlers every over??
The target was very much achievable.
We had the home ground advantage.
A supportive crowd.
Even Ganpati bappa morya chants!
But we were just plain bad. Infact, pathetic.
So, even though I rooted for MI till the last ball was bowled, I am happy that a deserving CSK took the cup home.
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I could never have written about cricket.
The T20 format is to be thanked for such posts.
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Today I saw two very different styles of leadership emerge on the field.
I think you should watch cricket, or any other sport, with people who understand it more than you do. The quality of discussion is superb then. Hilarious too.
I was lucky in this regard. I had fabulous company during IPL 1 and 3 finals. Yeah, I watched the first one live too. Ahem.
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I have always liked Dhoni. For various reasons.
I would love to get into his head and learn his thoughts someday.
Finally after a spate of unsuccessful attempts, colorless performances and resignation to fate, we have been blessed with a Gold at Olympics !!
I feel so proud to be an Indian !
We have created history ! Hurray !
O yes yes...he deserved it ! He had worked tirelessly for it...
Abhi bhaiya abhi bhaiya...humko bhi shooting sikhaao....
Badhai Ho Bindra Ji...Bete ne kamaal kar dikhaya !
Bhabhiji...Abhi ab jawaan ho chuka hai..apne padosi ki beti Chameli ek susheel bahu banegi...
Haan haan Abhinav Bindra hamare pados mai rehta hai....bachpan mai bada shararti tha apna abhi..par mai jaanta tha ki munda bahut naam kamayega...
Seeee...We told you ! Schools should give more importance to sports in curricula...
We are proud of Abhi ! He has shown what a true son of India can do !
Oh, we have always been denied respect at such important events...Finally here is our fitting reply to US, Russia, China and all such nations ! Go Abhi Go !
Arre hum Abhi ki aaya reh chuki hain...humne usse paal pos kar bada kiya hai...! Naaz hai humein us par!
Lets cash in on this Golden Opportunity ! Abhi can save our dying biscuit brand !
Lets ask for more grants for our Ministry...Abhi jaise aur bacho ko hum train karenge..
What a blessing!! We now have a story that shall keep us busy for one week ! Lets try and get interview appointments with his Dad, Uncle, Driver, pet....just anybody you can get hold of!
Arre Khanna Ji...apne naye talent show ka judge mil gaya si !
Hey Abhi Blogs too!! Man !! 836 comments on his post !!!
Abhi?! You mean That Abhi??? Shit Man..! I mean Wow!! Errr...Whatcha said..? Gold at Olympics??
Oh Abhi was the most happening Dude in college...I wish I hadn't turned down his proposal...You see when we were in college...
Abhi has just shown what Indians are made of and where we can go !
Ya...it took a little long...108 years...but now India has truly arrived on the global map...21st century belongs to India...
Bharat Mata ki Jai...!
Needless to say...we have been here before...similar sentiments were echoed when Malleshwari, Rathore, Paes and other stars have shone at the World Platform...
The hoopla surrounds them for a few days...invitations, awards, speeches, parties, endorsements...you name it...
It's become a habit now - a nation of 1 billion+ pinning their hopes on solitary figures...
And if someone does come home, with even a consolation price, we crown the person and idolize him...
We try and find means of sharing his happiness...
We want a pie of his hard earned success...
Yes, all talk about being an Indian and desh bhakt are fine...
But let's not forget - it's an individual who has won a Gold at the Olympics !
None of us shared his downs, cried with him while in despair, egged him to give his best, spent sleepless nights worrying about performance, cheered for him when he failed...
Most of us didn't even know his name !
Let's avoid being sycophants for once...Let's not trap him in the name of patriotism...Let's not burden him with future hopes of more glamorous shots !
Let's step aside and allow the Hero to enjoy his hard earned victory...
Kudos to Abhinav Bindra...!