India vs Pakistan: Game on!

Forever it shall be... The “baap” of all games: India vs Pakistan! And why not, not only these 2 teams are arch rivals; the nations too aren’t on amicable terms.

India vs Pakistan!

Dear Team India, let’s get ready to win. Nothing else matters.

Yes, we don't have to experiment any player today. The playing 11 clearly knows that back home, every eye is on them, scrutinizing every move. 1 mistake will stay with them for a long time. Not only on Cricket terms, but also on moral terms.

No loop-holes, no mistakes, no lose shots, no wrong length and no misfielding. The game is as important as the WC finals. The sentiments are more intense than the white-wash. Any why not, these teams meet only once in a while. Who doesn’t want to see this match?

Some brief stats:

Overall in ODIs: Pak has won 69, India has won 47;

At neutral venues: Pak 38, India 26;

In last 10: India 6, Pak 4;

In Bangladesh, India 5, Pak 3,

In Asia Cup India 4, Pak 4

Chances are even! We are a new team and so are the opponents. They are fierce and we are learning. Pakistan heavily relies on Misbah Ul Haq. And we are already missing the likes of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. Team India lacks an aggressive approach and fears are we will turn defensive soon.

The, once upon a time, best batting line-up is on the revival mode. We have Sachin and Gauti to handle the attacking opening partnership. With their experience, they sure are the best bet. All eyes and big pressure on the new vice captain Virat Kohli; good news is, he is carrying the form very well and is anticipated to deliver the same way.

Lot of options for middle-order, yet we avoid risk and continue with the non-playing Rohit Sharma. Lot of all-rounder’s options, yet we want R Jadeja even if is totally off-form. Well, what more to say? Today is really not the day to experiment.

The bowling department has been the talk of the town since the last match where we were not able to defend 290 runs against a minion team Bangladesh. 

No options left open as the best guy Zaheer Khan is rested; Ishant Sharma is injured; R Vinay Kumar is mysteriously injured; Others..?? Don’t matter…

The pressure is at an all-time high. On both teams; On both captains. MS Dhoni sure knows how to handle it. He has been doing it since forever. Well, all we want if a Non-Defensive approach. The opponents will leave no stone unturned and we are a step ahead!

Time to Bleed Blue! 

Thanks @mohanstatsman for the numbers!

100th 100, is here! Sachin Tendulkar

Mark the date in Red, Blue, Green and Golden! Its something awaited by hearts of a million! 

It is 16th March, 2012. The platinum day for the game called Cricket! 

When the GOD of the game scores his 100th 100...!!

Just let me savor the moment, just let me seize the opportunity! I want be a proud Indian to have seen it happen!


No1 can even imagine how does it feel to be Sachin Tendulkar. Billion * 2 eyes on him. Billion hearts beating for him! Only him! Today was the destined day. Bangladesh was the Team and Shakib Al Hasan was the bowler. And the rest, is going to be engraved in the history with Gold and stay there forever....

Its just a game for those who dont know u,

Its a pride for all who love u!

For mortals like us, its enough to see u,

The nation proudly says "Cricket belongs to You!"

There is no wonder like Sachin,

Everyone seems to be just gawking,

With the charm n aura he is playing,

Every Indian just keeps rejoicing!!

It is not everyday that everyone can praise everyone. But when it comes to Sachin, all doubts take a backseat. Only the goodness and the kind heart reflects the humility that he is made of!

Each one of us has a dream - to meet you. For many its too blissful to be real. Being one of them, I can tell. With each heights that you scale, our hearts just become happy while we scream and yell!

When I saw his pics, I thought such a cute baby! 

When I saw him play, I said what brilliant shots! 

When I saw him win, I said what efforts! 

When I see him breaking records, I exclaim is that GOD?!!

But everytime the answer remains the same: He is just "Sachin Tendulkar"!!

My thoughts may not suffice to express the greatness. My heart may not contain all the feelings. My mind may be stable otherwise. But the gratitude, the respect, the humility knows no bounds when I hear the words "Sachin - the GOD - Tendulkar!

Yes! I was alive when Sachin Tendulkar scored his 1 HUNDRED CENTURIES! 

What does Sachin Tendulkar mean?

GOD as they call him, he is the gem of his sport; he has been the backbone of Cricket in India. We can't even begin to imagine how many kids have dreamt about him while going to sleep every night and have woken up to become a cricketer...

He is the reason why people watch cricket; he is the reason why people play cricket; he is the reason why those 10 players strived so hard to win that World Cup after 28 years. 

To support those words, here are some quick numbers about Sachin: ODI first:

Highest runs in ODI: 18000+. The next best is Ponting with 13000+ runs. Do you think any1 will ever reach that foot? 

It is the sheer dedication of this 1 man that he has managed to sore this height. 

Highest runs in the series: Sachin Tendulkar 673 runs in ICC World Cup 2003. Yeah! We didn't win it but Master Blaster performed his very best. This also shows that Cricket is a team game. Even if 1 player is the best, entire team is responsible for its win. Retirement of the Cricket Wonder is not the solution for poor performance of the team.

Most runs in a calendar year: Sachin Tendulkar's name is in the list 6 times. Of course, he is leading this table too: 1894 runs in 1998 and another 5 different years too... In fact, he has most hundreds in a calendar year too: 9 hundreds in 1998.

How did he manage to do this? We are talking about a human being who has sacrificed his entire life for this game. He is the best in this business and that has come through his immense hard work and talent.

Most runs in an innings: Just until Sehwag's 219, Sachin paaji was leading this too with 200* runs for a very long time. He has 3 such incidences which no other player has. PS: Both Indian senior batsmen are leading the table.

No other player has even played 458 ODI matches and yet got the strike rate of 86.22. In fact, he has played most consecutive matches for a team: 185 and has won highest number of MOM awards: 62; and also, most MOS awards too: 15.

Maximum number of FIFTIES: 95! And yet, no1 is even close to Sachin paaji... No need to even mention that this man has most hundreds in his career and 1 or 2 more won't affect the record either. If that is not all, Sachin Tendulkar also has maximum 100s against Team Australia. So any1 feels Sachin paaji can't face those bowlers and Australian pitches, get a reality check done guys... He has 9 100s against Australia!

And he is the same guy who got out the maximum number of times in the “nervous nineties”. Well, let me ask: How many of get depressed when we score a mark less or miss our ranks because of that 1 mark? 

With Sachin paaji it has happened 18 times and he is still going strong. He has not cried, he has not given up and he shall never do it. Learn from him while you can... Because someday when you'll want to, he won't be seen so close...

Maximum number of FOURS: 1991. The 2nd highest is Jayasuriya with 1500. In fact, he also has hit highest number of FOURS in an innings: 25 (in the same match when he scored 200*) It is time for critics to shut-up!

Sachin Tendulkar is the fastest to reach 10000 runs; and fastest to reach 13000 runs. And after that,only player to reach 14k, 15k, 16k, 17k, and 18k runs..! No1 is even in the vicinity of that number!

Let's talk Tests:

He has played 188 Test matches for India and scored 15000+ runs with 51 100s and 65 50s: All the number of course, being the highest in the history of Test Cricket. He is the fastest player to reach 12000 runs in Test and since then, the only player to reach 15000. But that's not all; he also has maximum number of 90s in his Test career: 10 (shared with S Waugh and R Dravid).

This is the man we are talking about. Every cricinfo record page has his name mentioned. Most of the times, he is leading the table while otherwise, he is just around the top 5. Every Indian is proud to have a man who is worshipped across the world for his skills, talent and dedication. 

We are talking about a person who is so dedicated to his career that he has spent his 22 precious years of life in 1 job. Can you find and name any other player who has shown same amount of commitment?

So today, when I see and read articles blaming him, questioning his efficiency, I feel ashamed that people have forgotten of what he has done to the game. I can name people for whom Cricket = Sachin, who proudly say that they'll stop watching Cricket once Sachin retires. This is the impact this 1 man has on all of us. 

There are kids who idolize Sachin and pray to him before going to practice. I am sure 90% of us have Sachin photo somewhere in our rooms. Not only in Cricket, has he also inspired us to be good human beings in real life. He has told us that while talent will take u to acme of success, it is humility and compassion that will help u stay there..

We have never heard of Sachin paaji involved in any controversy. He has always let his game and performance do the talking for him. A soft-spoken human being, a calm natured person and an equally cool-headed next-door guy; Every1 wants to meet him once, see him without a screen in between. 

I have been a fan too. I have been a supporter too. I have been a privileged girl too. I have met him on his home-ground in the practice net and also played alongside him. He spoke just a line to me and that line changed my world. I have learnt a biggest lesson of my life from him and I am going to take that lesson with me forever. The lesson of keeping feet deeply rooted in ground while flying in the winds of success. Success comes to every1 but a very few can retain it. And how do people retain it, is what Sachin Tendulkar is....

Even if Sachin paaji retires tomorrow, his deeds, his words and his life will stand as a moral support and inspiration to 1000s like me. Tomorrow still there will be kids who will want to be the next paaji and keep playing just like him. Dear fellow cricket lovers, before questioning his talents and his retirements, pause for a while and think. U maybe right but trust me, that man knows the game a lot more than all of us combined. He knows it perfectly well what has to be done next. After all, he has carried Indian Cricket on his shoulders for 22 years and is still the strongest of all...

Let us not stand and point fingers; let us unite and support him and the entire Indian Team.As there will be many who’ll join you in the celebrations of victory; but there are very few who’ll hold your hand strong when you fall… Decide which category you want to be…???

-       A proud Indian

-       A Dravidian

-       An ardent Sachin worshipper

-       An zealous Cricket lover

Indis vs Australia: Sunday: 19th Feb, 2012

Point: Australia was hurt. They lost badly against Sri Lanka. And the wounded tigers were on prowl. They left no stone unturned to win this match. So they did. Won it, and in style! Here are again, my views:

Australia's bowler BW Hilfenhaus ripped apart Indian batting line-up on Sunday at Brisbane in the Commonwealth Bank Series ODI by picking 5-33 wickets.

Along with excellent bowling from Brett Lee, who picked up 3-49 wickets, they restricted India at 178-10 winning the match by 110 runs. 

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Starting steady, they scored 51 runs in the first 10 overs without losing a wicket. Both Forrest and M Hussey scored a half century before falling victims to Irfan Pathan. The last ten overs turned the face of the game. 101 runs were scored and Australia put up a total of 288-5 runs. 

Rohit Sharma dropped 2 very important catches. To join him, Umesh Yadav too, dropped an easy catch. If that wasn't enough, the umpire decision was reversed; by the umpire himself!!  First time, we saw Dhoni upset and angry. He literally argued with the on-field umpires. This is just an answer to all those who feel Dhoni is defensive! Boss, he is NOT! 

A funny instance was when Virat Kohli took a smart catch and silenced the spectators by pointing to them as shown in the picture! No exchange of bad-words happened so, no fine paid!  

In reply, India's top order failed to deliver and India lost the first 4 wickets in quick succession. Too much of reliance on Gauti and Sachin paaji, but they both went back to pavillion very fast. 

Virat Kohli looked good, played steady. He was OUT with probably what looked like a catch. Well, I doubt if it was a genuine one.

My words fail to express the incompetence shown by Rohit Sharma in the entire series. Not that he is not good, but we have better players who can easily replace him. Manoj Tiwary definitely deserves a chance now.

Only MS Dhoni, captain cool, scored a decent 56 runs. But this did not avoid the inevitable defeat for Team India as they succumbed at 178 runs losing the match by 110 runs.

Well, not playing Ashwin didn't make a big difference either. Australia were too good in all areas and showed the character right from the start. 

Adding salt to wounds, Team India's highest scorer MS Dhoni, faced the ban for the next match against Sri Lanka on 21st Feb, 2012 for slow over-rate. This is the second time in the tour that he is facing the ban. The first being the ban for the 4th Test at Adelaide for the same reason.

As extra affair: Because of bad form, the standing captain Ricky Ponting, has been “rested” from the next match(es). The era of the legendary batsman-captain is on the verge of decline…

Ponting has been the show stealer for a very long time for Australian cricket. Alas! Every good thing comes to an end…

BW Hilfenhaus received MOM for his superb bowling picking 5-for. Also, this put Australia back on top in the points table. Now, we will see Parthiv Patel in the next game as our wicket-keeper. And hopefully, a win too! 

Images courtesy: www.espncricinfo.com 

India vs SL: On the Valentine's Day! No heart breaks!

Really.. No heart breaks! And the super happy moment was when the team was announced! Sachin paaji back in playing 11 in place for Sehwag (per rotation policy!). The surprise entry of Irfan Pathan for Zaheer Khan! (Finally, Irfan got a match!).. As usual, SL won the toss and decided to bat first... Trust me, I knew we would win.. Biased Indian mentality! 

Rotation Policy: Team India will rotate their seniors: Gauti, Sachin and Sehwag in the playing 11 to allow inclusion of the younger players giving them opportunity to play! Smart move or no? Well, that is a big debate!! 

Back to the action: What a match! Who would expect the end that way? Specially when we started so well.. We bagged 2 wickets in the first 10 overs. 1 by R Vinay Kumar and the 2nd by Irfan Pathan. Steady start! The match went very slow till Sangakarra's wicket fell. Then, Chandimal handled the SL innings strongly scoring 81 runs from 91 balls with a strong support from the captain Jayawardene. 

After scoring 43 runs, Jayawardene fell the victim of R Vinay Kumar. Following his suit, Chandimal immediately got out to R Ashwin. Then, SL crawled to decent score of 236-9 in 50 overs. 

Kinda didn't watch many overs as it was getting boring too! :P :P 

Team India's start was the same. We lost an early wicket of Sachin scoring only 15 runs. Same with Virat Kohli, out on 15 runs. Ditto Rohit Sharma, 15 runs. In came Raina. But he too could not deliver and continued to be out of form getting out at 8 runs. In came, captain cool who kept his calm and gave good support to Gauti who was scoring very well for India. 

An unfortunate incident came when Gauti was on 91. A small mis-match by captain Dhoni led to Gauti's RUN-OUT. Infact, Dhoni accepted the fault in the post-match presentation. But this was the highest partnership for Team India: 60 runs. By this, Team India was 178-5. Jadeja failed to bat longer than 3 runs.

Next over by Malinga: first ball: Ashwin mis-timed it; the ball was in the air for a long time; but as the fate would be, Sangakarra dropped it! 1 life for Ashwin. Second was the DOT Ball. In the 3rd ball, Ashwin hit direct catch to the fielder extra cover. And who did not love that SIX by Irfan Pathan? Well that SIX was a no-ball too! My question is who can risk a full-toss ball at such crucial stage? (Every1 jumped off their seats at this 1!). And the next ball, Irfan Pathan sacrificed his wicket in the 49th over to save Dhoni in a RUN OUT. Bravo, as we must say! 

While I may sound like a commentator from ESPN, I cannot help it.. The match was such a ball-by-ball thrill to see.. Work left aside, all I knew was.. We have to win!! 

Vinay Kumar came next. In the last over.. Team India needed 9 runs of 6 balls. Dhoni to face Malinga! 2 runs, 1 run, 1 run, 1run and OUT! Vinay Kumar goes RUN OUT. Dhoni on strike again. 4 runs in 1 ball. Umesh comes in and just has to run! Malinga throws an almost wide ball. Dhoni hits it at extra cover, fielder stops it at sweeper cover. Till then, we have run 3 runs.... And it's a Tie! 

What? Yes! It is a Tie! .. An amazing thriller to say.. The match ended in a Tie on a Valentine's Day; simply means No Heart-Break! .. Each team got 2 points and MSD got MOM for his calm-headed approach in this tense situation! 

A special mention to Devengere Express aka Vinay Kumar. He is improving by every match and is delivering his 100%. While Umesh Yadav is said to be the find of the Tour, Vinay Kumar too, is making a mark in the Team. So far, he is also the highest wicket taker in the CB series. 

It is also a series of continuous non-performance for Rohit Sharma and might get replaced by Manoj Tiwari in the next match. Well, he is trying and he has got good number of chances too. Probably not the right time. 

Captain cool has again proved how being calm pays of well. In the earlier match, he was called a freak by the Aus captain Clarke! Simply put, that is his strength and that is his weapon!  

All-in-all, Well played both teams! Well done..!