A Sincere Appeal

I am sure all of us in India (especially in NCR/North India) must have heard about the horrific news about the killing of a 22-year young toll plaza attendant.

Fault: As per his duty as the toll plaza attendant, he asked for the toll fee from the hooligans who were commuting through the toll road.

Well, one can go on about the state-of-affairs and cry ourselves hoarse about why people do what they do.
Why are so many of us getting intoxicated through the high of a few extra notes in the pocket, or a weapon within arm's reach?

But, I would prefer to not dwell on these things. For, these are not the things that are within my control.
I'd rather share about what is in our - your and my - control.

Here's what we can and MUST do.
This link contains information about the details of Umesh's family and how we can send across our financial assistance to them.

Apart from just sympathizing with the absolutely innocent victim and his family, and deploring the hooligans and our inept system for a few moments before moving on with our lives, let's help in whichever way possible.

It's a humble, sincere request/appeal: Please DO help the bereaved family, if you can - through cheque or online transfer. (details are available within the link)

Although we might not be able to bring Umesh back, atleast a little assistance from us could go a long way in redeeming the financial condition of his helpless family.

Dear Team India

As a popular joke would have me believe, it was a good tour for us. We beat 3 teams: Sussex, Kent and Leicestershire. And lost to only one: England :|


A lot of water has flown through the Ganges (or through the Thames, if you'd like) since the time I last wrote about the Indian cricket team's travails in England.

Despite the fact that we had lost poorly in the first Test, I was still hopeful of a turnaround in our fortunes.
Well, turn they did, only to turn circularly - to effect a 0-4 drubbing in the Tests, a 0-1 in the lone T20 match, and a 0-3 scoreline in the ODIs.

I saw most of the massacres live, and I am still searching for a silver lining in our performance. Nevertheless, there is still no doubt that we can only do better in the upcoming series.

In a contrived and convoluted sort of way, I am quite happy in a way that we lost so badly.
Despite the injuries, the spate of below-par performances, and the weather playing truant especially on the few India was in commanding positions, we cannot say with hand on heart, that we deserved to hold on to the #1 spot in Test Cricket after our performance.

I am happy with our whitewash because I have a hope that this shall rankle us. Hurt us. Remind us.
I wanted to write about all this now,  because I do expect most Indian batsmen to score big and plunder attacks at will in the ensuing encounters at home.
Not for a moment am I not valuing their ability in home conditions. I just wanted to write this today to ensure I register my thoughts and rankling from the English summer somewhere so that next time we hit a fast bowler outta the park, we do not lose perspective of what we've still got to accomplish.

But as the Champions League razzmatazz gets underway, and our stars find their own in familiarly docile conditions, let us not forget that if we manage even 80% of what we do at home, we shall be consistent away-series winners.

It's been a while since we lost, let alone lost so badly. So hopefully, such a smattering which has come after a string of commendable and at least respectable away-series performances, shall prove to be more an aberration than a portent for things to come. However, as they say, those who forget their history, are condemned to repeat it.

While there is no reason why we should not be more patient and understanding about the highs and lows that any team and core group of players inevitably goes through, let us also try our best to learn from the tour and not forget those lessons as we rebound at home and ride on the crest of domestic success again.

Let us not forget the mistakes and shortcomings to work on, when we hit the next knee-length ball out of the park.
While we respect, enjoy and love all the talent and ability on display at home, let us not forget that we are not true champions till we conquer all frontiers.
Let us enjoy being the champs at home, but let us savor etching the Indian flag on Australian, South African, and English soil, more than just defending our crown at home.