Though all years have their own particular significance, the year 2013 will be remembered for many historic reasons.
It was the year that saw a paradigm shift in Indian polity, with the Aam Aadmi Party capturing a sizeable part of the imagination and votes from the people in Delhi.
In pretty much a year after it was formed, this party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, has been sworn in to power. A fabulous metamorphosis from a grassroots person to the head of governance in the city.
The symbolism that the city also happens to be the nation's capital, should also not be lost on anyone.
From a cricketing standpoint, it was also an year where many greats left the game.
Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Graeme Swann, and Jacques Kallis - to name some of the truly great ones.
Of these, the last person to announce his retirement - Jacques Kallis - was someone truly special.
The most complete of cricketers of the modern era, and arguably the best all-rounder the game ever saw, besides Sir Garfield Sobers.
The remarkable thing with Kallis has been that he has been able to achieve such staggering numbers in not just batting, but also in bowling and fielding (catches) too.
They say, the best definition of a true-blue genuine, quality all-rounder is that apart from doing multiple things, he can walk into a team on the basis of any one ability itself.
That holds true for Jacques Kallis, in every possible way.
You take the numbers from batting, bowling or fielding (catching) - and he is right up there, with the very best.
And we are talking of numbers taht belong to the all-time list.
Highest number of matches, highest number of runs/centuries, maximum wickets, maximum catches - you name it, and he is spoken of in the same breath as the very best of all times.
As if this were not enough, just consider the fact that the guy has also played a sizeable numbers of One Dayers for his country, and other county/IPL stints too.
Take that workload into account, and what you get apart from a smorgasboard of awe-inspiring statistics, is also the disbelief that someone could do so much, so well, in so many things, and for so long!
Truly an all-time great, Jacques Kallis, you are a hero in every sense of the term - fare thee well!
Farewells apart, it is also a time to sit back and assess some of the performances of our young guns in South Africa. Especially two gentlemen by the names of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
These two, along with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, have been touted as the future of Indian cricket and the next Fab Four, after the originals - Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly, and Laxman.
As is often rightly said, the true test of a cricketer, is outside of his natural zone - such as in a match situation where an attacking batsman might have to shelve his blitzkreig in favor of a more sedate and cautious approach for his team.
Also, the other obvious 'alien' territory is the territory itself - foreign shores, bouncy pitches for players from the subcontinent!
It is here that the performances of Pujara and Kohli have gladdened the heart the most.
Both have acquitted themselves very well in both the matches that India have played, and while the second innings of the last Test is still to be played as I write this, it is certain that the future of Indian cricket is in good hands.
Apart from the NFF - New Fab Four - combine the experience of Gambhir, the dash of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, and a still young Mohammad Shami, and we have the solid nucleus of a team that can truly serve us well for the next decade or so.
The coming year(s) then, should truly be ones to cheer about and look forward to!
So here's to new times and fond remembrances, and a very happy new year 2014 to all!!
It was the year that saw a paradigm shift in Indian polity, with the Aam Aadmi Party capturing a sizeable part of the imagination and votes from the people in Delhi.
In pretty much a year after it was formed, this party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, has been sworn in to power. A fabulous metamorphosis from a grassroots person to the head of governance in the city.
The symbolism that the city also happens to be the nation's capital, should also not be lost on anyone.
From a cricketing standpoint, it was also an year where many greats left the game.
Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Graeme Swann, and Jacques Kallis - to name some of the truly great ones.
Of these, the last person to announce his retirement - Jacques Kallis - was someone truly special.
The most complete of cricketers of the modern era, and arguably the best all-rounder the game ever saw, besides Sir Garfield Sobers.
The remarkable thing with Kallis has been that he has been able to achieve such staggering numbers in not just batting, but also in bowling and fielding (catches) too.
They say, the best definition of a true-blue genuine, quality all-rounder is that apart from doing multiple things, he can walk into a team on the basis of any one ability itself.
That holds true for Jacques Kallis, in every possible way.
You take the numbers from batting, bowling or fielding (catching) - and he is right up there, with the very best.
And we are talking of numbers taht belong to the all-time list.
Highest number of matches, highest number of runs/centuries, maximum wickets, maximum catches - you name it, and he is spoken of in the same breath as the very best of all times.
As if this were not enough, just consider the fact that the guy has also played a sizeable numbers of One Dayers for his country, and other county/IPL stints too.
Take that workload into account, and what you get apart from a smorgasboard of awe-inspiring statistics, is also the disbelief that someone could do so much, so well, in so many things, and for so long!
Truly an all-time great, Jacques Kallis, you are a hero in every sense of the term - fare thee well!
Farewells apart, it is also a time to sit back and assess some of the performances of our young guns in South Africa. Especially two gentlemen by the names of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
These two, along with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, have been touted as the future of Indian cricket and the next Fab Four, after the originals - Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly, and Laxman.
As is often rightly said, the true test of a cricketer, is outside of his natural zone - such as in a match situation where an attacking batsman might have to shelve his blitzkreig in favor of a more sedate and cautious approach for his team.
Also, the other obvious 'alien' territory is the territory itself - foreign shores, bouncy pitches for players from the subcontinent!
It is here that the performances of Pujara and Kohli have gladdened the heart the most.
Both have acquitted themselves very well in both the matches that India have played, and while the second innings of the last Test is still to be played as I write this, it is certain that the future of Indian cricket is in good hands.
Apart from the NFF - New Fab Four - combine the experience of Gambhir, the dash of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, and a still young Mohammad Shami, and we have the solid nucleus of a team that can truly serve us well for the next decade or so.
The coming year(s) then, should truly be ones to cheer about and look forward to!
So here's to new times and fond remembrances, and a very happy new year 2014 to all!!
