Time for a Retrospective

Procrastinators have a great can-do, will-do attitude!

They know they CAN-do something....

...and/but, well, they also know that they WILL-do it only later! :P

On that note, let me begin, without any further ado, about what I'd like to talk about in this post.

Well, December often tends to be that time of the year when we reflect (or at least can/should) about the year that's about to end - in IT/agile-terms, it's time to do what is known as a retrospective - an honest assessment and evaluation of what went well, what didn't, and what could have been done better.

Of course, one can surely agrees and understands that this need not be an activity reserved for sometime around Dec 31 only (since any process or assessment towards improvement can is always most welcome, any time of the year, and not dependent on only a particular date of the calendar). 

However, since this is a good time when people are free, when things are typically rounding off everywhere for the year, the time frame of December/mid-December onward does present a fit case for a transparent, sincere, and thorough analysis.

There are 5 questions that I have (only begun) trying to check myself on: 

1. What all did I do right in the last 12 months? Are there any decisions/actions can I be proud (or atleast happy) about?

2. What all did I learn (or do better) this year as compared to similar situations from last year?

3. Did I harm anyone (hopefully, never) by any chance? Anything from me during the year that I should regret or be ashamed about?

4. What would I like to take as a learning from this year, that I didn't do thus year but would like to improve upon and incorporate henceforth in the coming year?

5. And of course, my personal favorite: Did I make someone feel better? Was I useful to someone in any way? Did I bring a smile to anyone?

If my honest answers can be on the right side of at least most of these questions, then I know I'm doing alright and am on the right track.

As the year ends, I would like to present you these questions as my year-end thoughts and sharing. I hope you too can benefit from them by making them your parameters and benchmarks to assess yourself. Hopefully, these pointers will not only become useful guiding lights in ensuring that we can always assess where we stand but can also serve as a talisman to help us take the right decisions in case of any dilemmas in future.

Go well, everyone! :)

Hello Aausstraallyya!

No no no, I haven't moved to Australia, this heading is all about our upcoming tour Down Under that begins this Friday - the first taste of proper, marquee international cricket in a long time this year.

Of course, while we've had the IPL,if there's one thing even the best T20 league in the world misses is the fervor and passion of nations rivaling each other. One franchise versus another (howsoever pedigreed or star-studded) does not quite have the same ring to it as one nation versus another. Imagine your country playing any other country and you would always feel that much more involved, that much more passionate in rooting for your home team (country) than for any T20, even if it's IPL's!

So it's quite refreshing to see that we have the teams in readiness for the T20 and ODI leg of the tour soon, to be followed by the real deal: Test Cricket (next month onwards)!

There are some who think the rivalry might lose its intensity or even sheen with the absence of some big guns from the Indian camp - with Rohit and Ishant unlikely to make it even for the Test series as per reports today, and Virat Kohli unavailable after the first Test.

Be that as it may, I suspect that even then, there is enough quality in this lineup across each format to not only challenge the Aussies in their den but also vanquish them. I'm sure the players would be only too eager to dispel the prediction of people like Michael Clarke who think that this is just a one-man army and have predicted that the absence of some of our stalwarts will mean that the Test result would be a 4-0 for the Aussies.

Sure, the absence of Virat (after the first Test) and the Sharmas (Rohit and Ishant - due to longer match-fit recoveries - worsened further by COVID/quarantine-enforced settings will mean that we will lose a lot of experience that these three cricketers bring. But despite that, there is no reason why our youngsters cannot step up, raise their hand and be counted.

Don't forget, it was a similar situation in Adelaide in 2012, when a yet-to-be-established Test player called Virat Kohli barely escaped being dropped from the XI, got his chance and made the opportunity count with a memorable hundred. The rest, as they say, is history.

So let's hope this tour gives us another memorable team performance, another reason to smile, and hopefully some new star(s) too!

So hello Australia, brace up, as we come Down Under, ready to steal your thunder! 

Jai Ho!

MSD: Maintain Some Discipline

I have often received feedback from some of you (my readers) in my emails that I typically go soft on people/situations. Well, while I agree with a lot of that, as I have replied too, most of my writings typically reflect the type of person I am and I think it can be safely said that I take a lot of time to give a verdict (especially against anyone).

You can interpret my passivity either way - for, it can be interpreted subjectively - could be right or wrong (depending on what you think( but my rationale is that I need loads of incontrovertible evidence to overturn my default theory that people are typically nice and atleast, open to improvement, and also where criticism or pulling them down is not our call since we might not know things well enough.

Let's say, it is like those marginal DRS calls - where a catch might ostensibly be taken/claimed as the umpire might deem it not out (if not sure). This means the soft signal is Not Out, and the third umpire would need incontrovertible evidence to then overturn that default decision, which means that even in a 50-50 case, the default shall prevail and the batsmen would be counted not out, unless decisively proven otherwise. Likewise for my approach in life, with my soft signal being not wrong unless there is enough evidence to overturn my view.

Okay, that aside, I must also make one more thing amply clear: I have always been a huge MSD fan, as you can also see by the number of times and the types of things I have covered on him within this blog too. To say that he has been among the most iconic and successful Indian captains (and cricketers) ever - heck, he would even feature in an all-time most successful list of cricketers/captains the world has ever seen - would be an understatement!

However, some things have truly hurt and disappointed me as his fan and as someone who would love to speak of him as an idol, worth emulating and learning from.

For long, people have admired most for his equanimity and equilibrium, even more than his cricketing acumen or his brilliant batting or his safe 'keeping or his supersonic stumpings/run-outs. Everyone would agree that he is in the league of people like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman - who are cricketing legends but are still seen as even better persons and role models, thanks to their impeccable behavior and conduct.

I'm afraid the past few months have made me take a stand against MS Dhoni on one aspect: his conduct against umpires.

As I said, my thoughts are not based on only how he behaved with Paul Reiffel yesterday (when he was about to CORRECTLY signal (and had already half-signalled) a wide but because this is sadly, not a one-off.

This had happened last year too, in the IPL - at that time, umpire Ulhas Gandhe was at the receiving end, and MSD was not even on the playing field! He charged from the dugout to voice his objection to the umpire in the field of play.

As I said, there are multiple instances - you can find these most prominent ones listed here. Hopefully, this stays at that, and remains an exhaustive list with no further additions. But there is no doubt now, that the much-famed coolness and equanimity seem to desert him especially when he and/or his team are in a precarious position with form or match-situation. While it is only natural to feel disappointed or even upset at a decision then, it is quite unbecoming to argue, object aggressively and even force the umpire to overturn his decision!

This is where you would never have found Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid behaving poorly. And they played at a time when, unlike today, there was no DRS! And Sachin has famously received some extremely poor decisions (sure, like many other batsmen must have, and like any batsmen who would play as many as he did, might get) and he naturally felt aggrieved and upset but just that. Think of the most horrendous decision and he would only raise his eyebrows a wee bit more, pause and wonder at his fate for some more seconds but still, walk back without remonstrating and with all his grace and dignity, like a true gentleman. This is why, even after they have retired, even if/when their records get broken, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will far outllive and outshine every other cricketer as role models because how fool-proof and impeccably correct they were, not just in their batting but most importantly, in their conduct.

That's it. This article was not to castigate Dhoni as such but to ensure that as people who have celebrated his many other qualities, we must acknowledge where he is wrong too, especially when it has been observed across multiple instances. Such an understanding and admission will help not just in assessing him but also in ensuring that our love for our stars and idols does not eclipse their transgressions and discipline.

Dear MS, you are a sporting hero. Please remember that before calling you a hero, we are calling you sporting. It might help to remember that sporting does not just refer to a game but to a way of life and deportment. So be sporting first, and only then will you truly be a hero. Wish you more patience, discipline and equanimity!

IPL - Ye Dil Maange More!

We have heard a lot about the viles of the IPL.

About how the cricketing skills of patience and orthodox play have become subservient to the IPL's way of life, to the glitz and glamour of cricket.

About how the evil eye of spot-fixing, of administrators/big crooks (calling the shots in the game - outside the field of play and even inside), and of underworld presence too.

To a large extent, it is also true that the game has become highly commercial with such a cricketing extravaganza, the after-match high-profile parties (though not now, thanks to the pandemic-enforced restrictions) and even the way the rules, pitches and stadiums have been designed to be skewed too heavily in favor of only one skill: the batsmen.

Any Tom, Dick or Harry can come and hit sixes on his day, any team can chase any score from any position against any side, within a matter of a few balls. 

True true true, all of that.

True, 20-20 cricket is not as much about patience as it is more about taking the bull by the horns and going for the jugular, right from the word go. 

True, the good old values of discipline or seeing the ball off (actually, the ball is seen-off in T20s too, but that is more like a bye-bye parting from the batsmen - see ball, hit ball) are archaic in today's age of 20-20s.

But still...

For all the derision and scorn it receives, 20-20 cricket in general and the IPL in particular, gives us many things too - it attracts the best of talent, playing alongside or against each other, making it a melting pot of the world's best superstars, in a see-saw battle between teams where anyone can win from any situation on any day.

And that, is exciting.

The IPL showcases skill, gumption, daredevilry and innovation at its very best, from the very best, against the very best. For almost 65 days, non-stop.

Most matches are nail-biters where any team could come up trumps.

Rahul Tewatia, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah - these are just some of the many names that have carved their niche from the IPL.

And surely, the list will go on.

Well done to the IPL, and thanks for the entertainment!

Looking forward to the season and thrills galore - cheers!!

Thank you, MSD

From one MSD to another: Hello Mahendra Singh Dhoni, this is Mister Shailesh Dhaundiyal (MSD) here.

For long, I have marvelled at your equanimity and your poise amidst all your enviable achievements. And, I am sure I am only one among billions of others who must be thinking likewise. As you announced your retirement, I just wanted to take some time to pay my tribute and acknowledgements to you by just recollecting all the memories I have of you, that I will treasure forever.

There have been countless times when I have wondered how tough it must be to be you, with all the adulation and brickbats coming in non-stop. To remain calm and grounded in the midst of such frenzied (both - positive and negative) reactions in a country like India is, in itself, a superhuman thing. But let's begin from the very beginning. 

1) Even the impossible is possible

You rose from humble beginnings from a non-cricketing state and never lost sight of your dream. Not even when you were trying to stay afloat in your cricketing career while checking tickets as a ticket collector in the Railways. This is already enough testament to inspire anyone to never quit believing in oneself.

If Narendra Modi has famously inspired Indians that even a 'chaiwala' can rise to the highest political office and become a Prime Minister, you have done likewise for sport in general (and cricket, in particular). You showed that talent, perseverance and belief can make even the unthinkable possible. Your story has helped make people believe that even the impossible is possible.

2) Never lose focus, never give up

After making it to the national team (or even the India A team) and especially considering your humble background, you could have easily slipped into a comfort zone where a cushy domestic career as a cricketer could have earned you enough (certainly much more than in your erstwhile Railways job) to lead a comfortable life even as a domestic cricketer for Jharkhand or Railways, and most definitely as an ex-India (or even as an ex-India A) player. But, you never rested on your laurels. In fact, we have often seen countless talented cricketers going astray or not being able to maximise their potential only because they lost focus or did things only because others (especially the big city boys, fond of the good life) were doing. Again, as someone hailing from a little-known, non-Metro city, you could have easily taken the bait. But you didn't/ And, thank God for that!

3) Selfless

Perhaps one of the most touching aspects of your personality is your selfless attitude and your self-effacing nature. It is no secret that during moments of glory, you have redefined the template of captaincy by letting others take the limelight. You were happy to just receive any tournament's trophy (in fact, it seems if you were to have your way, you might allow the Man of the match or Man of the Series or the junior-most member of the team or anyone else to collect it) and just step aside.

Often, captains are easy to spot after a presentation - right at the center. You were no different: you were easy to spot too. Right at the far-end, one corner or another, surely in the background. Thank you for not just defining but also exhibiting and living like how a true leader should.

4) Fearless

From audacious strokes to bold and unconventional captaincy tactics (though perhaps not as much in Tests!), you always did what your heart said. It did not matter if it had been done or not done before. If it made sense to you, you did it. Be it your trademark helicopter shot or your unique ways of collecting the ball to catch the batsmen unawares or your cool swagger in taking the game deep and often emerging as the ultimate finisher, backing your instincts with batting/bowling choices and field placements, you never let go of your cricketing acumen. A huge reason why India reached the pinnacle in every form of the game under you - No. 1 in Tests and World Cup winners in ODIs and T20, besides beating Australia in Australia (ODIs) and winning the Champions Trophy (oh, and although this is not national colors but still, as best as international level - in multiple IPL triumphs) - these are achievements one can only dream about. You achieved them all and achieved them thanks to all these qualities of cricketing skill, tactical astuteness, focus, leadership, self belief, selflessness and fearlessness.

5) Equanimity

Your calm mind and match reading have now attained cult status. We have run out of instances and adjectives that describe how well you read and reacted during any (many) critical situation(s). Again, for most captains, all the calm and equanimity is only a means to an end. But for you, it is how you are and who you are. For, if it were not so, you would finally let your emotions roll unbridled after having achieved a win. But no, even after that, you would stay your usual self, poker faced, be it victory or defeat! In fact, it is a great exercise to observe you walking back after a win as well as after a loss, and if one can mask the scores or commentary that gives away the result or the expressions of your teammates around you, and then watches you going about your business, one would find you look the same, both in victory and in defeat. You could have walking back after a 100 or after 0, or after a win or a loss, and one would often struggle to spot a change in your deportment/

Thank you, MSD for not just entertaining us and giving us some of our most cherished moments as cricket lovers, but also for exemplifying some of the best qualities in life. You are not just a legend, you are a role model too. Not just for cricket, not just for captaincy, but also for life. 

Thanks for the wishes, champion and wish you the very best forever!

(Oh, and of course, can't wait to keep watching you in at least the yellow jersey for now!) :)

From 6 sixes to 5 hundred!

It's been almost 13 years.

Yes, that famous night of September 2007 of the first-ever T20 World Cup, when a certain Yuvraj Singh in his pomp (and already charged up in the previous over by Andrew Flintoff), smashed a clueless, hapless Stuart Broad for 6 consecutive sixes in an over.

While the entire world quite appropriately celebrated Yuvraj, Stuard Broad was relegated to just be a quiz question, much like Malcolm Nash after what Sir Gary Sobers had done to him - Who was the bowler whom Sobers hit for 6 sixes in an over? So here was Broad, in a rather avoidable league, giving company to Malcolm Nash in international cricket trivia.

Cut to 2011 for the 50-over World Cup in India. 

The stage: England Vs Ireland. 

You would think that lightning doesn't strike twice.

Yet, here was Broad, his shoulders anything but broad after his crucial 48th over turned out to be disastrous. What's more, his spilled opportunity contributed to England losing to minnows Ireland in that match.

As they say, it doesn't get bigger than this - two world cup occasions. But two huge blunders. 

Forget the result, think of the psyche of the person.

Can one even imagine what all he must have gone through?

Yet, Broad did not wilt, did not succumb.

Credit to the England team management too, for handling him remarkably well and for giving him the confidence and assurance that would have surely helped him believe he was still among the best England had. And as they say, after all these years, here we are today, lauding the man for reaching a summit that only 6 other legends have scaled before him, in the history of the game.

Fittingly, the 500 wickets he has taken, have come in the area that let him down, on two of those rare World Cup off-days - in his bowling only.

As cliched as it may sound, this just goes on to only add credence to the fact that we can always achieve great heights, if we remain steadfast, if we keep learning and improving and if we keep persevering, without doubting ourselves.

Well done Broady, and thank you for exemplifying such a pertinent life lesson through your tremendous achievement! Attaboy!

When life gives you 2020..

As the clock struck 12 on Dec 31, 2019 and the midnight ushered in the new year, I wonder if anyone had any inkling how 2020 would treat the world.

Almost half a year after those new year messages and social media posts, here we are - wistfully assessing if there's anything - anything at all about 2020 (for most, if not all people) to be happy about. And I haven't even gone local.

Coronavirus, masks, sanitizers, at least 20 seconds of hand wash after touching externally-sourced items, remote way of working, social distancing, living without maids, drivers, malls, et al - this is the new normal.

6 months ago, who could have said that the US would be on its knees (Corona, David Floyd)?

Who knew that eating out or shopping (physical, not virtual/online) would become mere memories?

Teachers taking classes online, students attending it like a circus ('Keep yourself on mute, class!') and academic institutions postponing exams/promoting candidates en masse - the world has well and truly changed.

But, you know, we Indians cannot stay content with just a few. We have always had just a few more irritants to contend with.
Locusts, frequent (albeit low-intensity) earthquakes, online theft and robberies - you name it, we've probably seen every problem in the book.

Reason enough to be disappointed..

Yet, yet, yet....


The year is only halfway done.
So what if the war's just begun?

Yes, the current times are bleak
But just be positive and not meek.


Whenever you find that
life has made you a pawn
Remember: It gets darkest,
only just before dawn.

So pull up, chin up, and stay as calm as a Boeing.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Stay put, stay safe!

It's an understatement to say that Covid-19 has hit every country, every economy bigtime.
The worst part is that in places like India, even the lockdown has not been able to flatten the curve. You could blame it on the poor discipline of our citizens or on the migration influx or on the resurgence (albeit partial) in people's activity and movement, post-lockdown,

Every time the Corona count (of cases and deaths) reaches a new high, we scale a new low.
It's time to junk all negative news and just focus on being indoors. Some people think being cautious and preventive means being foolish or timid. I read someone say "I won't die hiding like a rat".

Sure, but the times are such that it will be perniciously foolhardy to just throw caution to the winds, and not take any precautions. However frustrating it may be, it is best to stay indoors.

Yes, you may be bored, yes your hands must be fed up of being washed a thousand times, but as they say, you gotta do what you gotta do. This is not the time to be a Sehwag, be a Dravid right now. Bide your time, stay within your crease and do not give any room for error.

It will look boring, no doubt.
It will sap you ever so much.
But it will ensure you are safe.

This is the only way we can make it to the other side of the pandemic, or of any adversity for that matter - by being courageous and prudent, by doing all that we can, and by biding our time.
It's not for nothing that they say, tough times don't last, tough people do.
May everyone stay safe, healthy and happy!
Amen, and let's see this off together.

Playing just like Dravid, is so very crucial today
After this is over, we'll also be Sehwag one day!

Happy Birthday, Master Blaster!

47 years ago, the world did not know that a cricketing genius had arrived.
Of course, superpowers aside, one cannot tell or predict a person's fate or life's trajectory right at the time of birth.

I suspect that would've been the case 47 years ago too.
Not even in the case of the one who, as is widely said, was born to bat!

No one could have predicted that April 24, 1973 heralded the arrival of someone who would go on to change the course of batting forever, besides being counted in the pantheon of the greatest-ever batsmen.
No one had known then, that the world of cricket had been blessed with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Sample these stats:
(Each stat/record stands head and shoulders above anyone else as of today, even 6 years after his retirement):

Most number of international matches by anyone ever.
Most number of international runs.
Most number of international 100s.
Most number of international 50s.
Most number of man-of-the-match awards.
Most number of man-of-the-series awards.
Most number of 90s.
Most number of 4s (boundaries) hit.

Of course, these records are at the world-level and in terms of all-time-records. Not just through the last year or any particular span, but across every era.
Every record is about most number of ____: EVER.

In other words, Sachin is simply, THE GREATEST EVER.
Not that he needed stats to prove anything, but they themselves state this fact rather indisputably, I'd say.

Well, that sure is enough reason for people to be in awe of his precocious talent, and try to emulate and play like him. Okay, atleast be inspired and try to play somewhere around something like him.
But honestly, as pride-worthy as his achievements are, there is something even better, even greater than his superhuman feats.

It's how he is - not just as a player but even more so, as a person.
It's his balance and execution.
Not just in the field, while batting but even off-field, in how he has conducted himself even more admirably.
His (mental) balance and execution (of his behaviour) in staying sane, grounded, motivated, sincere despite all the superstardom, god-like status, temptations and accolades everyday from everyone have been exemplary.

Sachin is the name of someone who bridged the gap between goodness and greatness with consummate ease. The living embodiment of an all-time great sporting superstar who never stopped being someone you wanted your kids to be like.

Sachin's talent and ability to break in at the highest level when all of 16 and succeed to be the best made people admire and emulate him.
But his impeccable conduct and role-model behavior, with not even a tinge of rashness and brashness, with nothing out of place, made people love, adore and respect him.

As someone (among just a few billion others) who has grown up learning and being wowed by not just about his batting but about life, rectitude and propriety from Sachin, wish you many happy returns of the day, superstar!
Thankyou for making us find light in our lives and for cheering us on to not only take on the world's best but also be (and stay being) the world's best. While also being the best-behaved all the time. Think of superstars who can qualify on all these aspects from any field ever and you will not need to go beyond your fingertips.
May God bless you and your every wish Sachin!
Stay happy, stay blessed, and thanks beyond words for everything you have been and meant to us!

Go Corona, Go!

Tough times require tough measures.

We are in the midst of a crisis which has attained globally alarming proportions.

No day, no news, no discussion worth its salt is complete these days without mentioning the dreaded C-word.

Yes, I am talking about COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus pandemic.

As India confronts time under lockdown, many families are self-isolated and quarantined - as a reactive or proactive measure.

What hurts the most, though, is the plight of the people who are hurt the most the migrant laborers and daily wage earners from other towns, who have lost their daily source of income.

People have had to leave for their homes en masse, with kids in tow. Let's do our bit by comtributing in any possible way we can, by helping them and/or contributing financially to the PM Care Fund or to/through any such genuine and appropriate forum.

They need us, friends.

Let's do it India, for our India!

Jai Ho!

Lessons from Delhi

History, they say, has a way of repeating itself.

Perhaps that's why, when the BJP and AAP got voted back to power in Lok Sabha 2019 and Vidhan Sabha 2020 respectively, we called it a 'historic' mandate.

Now, it doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you are on. You could be a BJP-bhakt or an AAP-iya - endearing suffixes coined by you-know-who for you know-who and you-know-why.

What matters from both these verdicts (oh, and I am assuming we are putting any EVM disputes aside) in this context, is that people have voted on performance and trust.

Of course, one has to also factor in populist steps taken by both governments - sops doled out by the BJP, welfare budget, etc. for Lok Sabha 2019 (LS '19) - and the much-derided freebies by AAP for Vidhan Sabha 2020 (VS '20).

Such measures aside (and having been taken by both the parties, in a way, they tend to also cancel each other out), as I thought further, some definite patterns emerge quite clearly:

Leadership's track record and perception
It is a no-brainer that for LS '19 and VS '20, we always knew the runaway leader. Think leadership in each of these elections and you could clearly see the incumbent as the front-runner, by a long way. Sure, one could debate the merits of each leader and oh-what-has-he-done and deride any/each of them as frauds or plain marketers. But the fact of the matter is that - right or wrong - both Modi and Kejriwal did manage to successfully build a clear perception that they were doing everything they could.
Both did some good work for sure, which resonated with the people and even more importantly, convinced the electorate that they were the right men for the job.
At least in politics, it is often so much about how-you-are-seen-to-be-doing things than how-much-you-are-doing.

The TINA Factor
No, this is not about Mrs. Anil Ambani but about the fact that There Is No Alternative.
Both Modi and Kejriwal have, despite any possible lacunae in their leadership or party/government, convinced people that they were our best bets when we went out to vote.

Partisan preferences aside, in today's date, who else do you see as a capable (forget better) PM than Modi right now? Rahul Gandhi? Or, any of the other opposition leaders whose appeal and parties do not have even half the nation's confidence?

Likewise, did even the staunchest BJP supporter feel a Manoj Tiwari could be the right alternative for Arvind Kejriwal? Could you even see a comparable leader from any party in mind as a worthy opponent or alternative to Kejriwal?

Centre and state elections are different
Another offshoot of the point on the vote being a reflection on performance, alternatives, and perception at these elections is that the voter has treated each election on its merit.
I am sure I am not alone in believing that the same person who voted for BJP at the Centre could have voted for AAP in Delhi. And vice versa.
If you are doing good work (or at least better than any others in the fray), you will be recognized and repeated.

Therein, lies the crux of what Delhi (in its LS and VS variants) has taught us.
Look for the right people. Vote for performance (though yes, it is also based on perception).
I like the positivity in these verdicts. They tell us that people can rise above party-based politics and elect a leader who will be able to deliver.
Or, at least seen to deliver.

Jai Ho!

Happy New Year!

It is a new year and as things stand, even the very first month has been choc-a-bloc with frenetic activity from different fields in different parts of the world.

I want to begin by noting the bad part first, precisely so that we can get that out of the way first:
The Wuhan epidemic has taken globally alarming proportions.
The tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter in a helicopter crash has been quite shocking and utterly sad too.
Closer home, the CAA (pro and anti) agitations along with rabid rabble rousing by our netas as Delhi elections approach leave a lot to worry and ponder about.
Within days of approaching their death sentence, the Nirbhaya rapists (and their lawyers) are using every arm of the law, every nuance and every provision that can possibly avert or at least delay their planned hanging.
From curative petitions to mercy pleas, each accused is raping again, this time law and justice, by using delaying tactics and one-by-one appeals.
If you were truly sorry, you would not even consider arguing, let alone appeal for anything.

Now, for the good bit:
India (oh, this is not good stuff if you happen to not follow or like Indian cricket) has begun the year on a great note, pummelling Sri Lanka and Australia at home.
At the time of writing, we are on course to beat New Zealand in their own backyard.
Augurs well for the T20 World Cup.
It may be (and is) nowhere near the pedestal that Test victories or even World Cup wins enjoy, but T20 victories also work as catalysts towards spurring a new generation of cricketers to adopt the fearless brand of cricket, where the "we can chase any target" or "win from any situation" mindset germinates.
If you need any voices to second this fact, Cc: Class of 2007 T20 World Cup

Let's pray for good things in the new year, and only good to happen to everyone in this year and for all times to come.
Ameen!