Thank you Dravid, Rohit, Virat!!

As the dust settles on India's historic T20 World Cup victory, a poignant moment emerges. Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, three stalwarts of Indian cricket, will no longer grace the T20 dressing room. Their departure marks the end of an era, but their contributions to Indian cricket will be remembered forever. Each of them has played a pivotal role in shaping the team's success, and their legacy will inspire future generations.

Rahul Dravid: The Steadfast Warrior

Rahul Dravid, the "Wall" of Indian cricket, thoroughly deserves this victory. Making his international debut in 1996, Dravid's career has been a testament to perseverance, determination, and unwavering dedication. For almost 28 years, he has epitomized the spirit of cricket with his never-say-die attitude and countless sacrifices. His journey to lifting a World Cup trophy has been long and arduous, but his moment of glory has finally arrived.

Dravid's influence as a coach has been profound. His emphasis on discipline, technique, and mental fortitude has molded the team into a cohesive unit capable of overcoming any challenge. Under his guidance, the Indian team has flourished, blending youthful exuberance with seasoned expertise. Dravid's calm demeanor and strategic acumen have been instrumental in navigating the team through the highs and lows of international cricket.

Rohit Sharma: The Master Strategist

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has been nothing short of exemplary. Known for his astute leadership and ability to change the game's complexion single-handedly with his bat, Sharma has been a cornerstone of India's T20 success. His knack for making crucial decisions under pressure and his strategic brilliance have often turned the tide in India's favor. Just ask Mitchell Starc, who has witnessed Sharma's batting prowess firsthand.

As a batsman, Sharma's record speaks for itself. His ability to score big runs in crucial matches has been invaluable. Whether it's his sublime stroke play or his knack for finding gaps, Sharma has consistently delivered when it mattered the most. His leadership has instilled a sense of belief and confidence in the team, making them a formidable force in world cricket.

Virat Kohli: The Prodigious Performer

Virat Kohli has been the epitome of consistency and brilliance in T20 World Cups. Known for his aggressive batting style and unmatched passion, Kohli has been a driving force behind India's success. Although he started this World Cup campaign slowly, he saved his best for the big day, stepping up when it mattered the most.

Kohli's performances in crunch situations have often been the difference between victory and defeat. His ability to chase down targets and his hunger for runs have made him one of the most feared batsmen in the world. In this World Cup, he once again proved his mettle, showcasing his class and determination on the grandest stage.

The Journey to Glory

For Dravid, Sharma, and Kohli, the journey to lifting the T20 World Cup trophy has been filled with trials and tribulations. They have been second-best on multiple occasions, particularly through 2023, enduring heartbreaks and near misses. However, their unwavering ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence have finally borne fruit.

This victory is not just a testament to their cricketing prowess but also a reflection of their character. It proves that hard work, perseverance, and dedication eventually pay off. Their triumph is a reminder that divine justice prevails, and that extraordinary moments are written by forces beyond human comprehension.

Parting Thoughts

As these legends bid farewell to the T20 format, they leave behind a legacy that transcends cricket. Their conduct, both on and off the field, has been exemplary. They have not only excelled in matches but have also shown grace in victory and humility in defeat. Their contributions extend beyond this tournament, encompassing multiple formats and numerous unforgettable moments.

To Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, thank you for your impactful and legendary T20 careers. Your contributions have been immense, and your presence will be missed. May you continue to grow from strength to strength in whatever you do. Jai Ho!

Champions Forever

To Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, you are richly deserved champions. Your journey has been a testament to resilience, dedication, and excellence. You have given Indian cricket fans countless moments of joy and pride. As you step away from the T20 format, know that you will forever remain champions in our hearts.

This victory is not just about lifting a trophy; it's about celebrating the spirit of cricket and the legacy of three extraordinary individuals. Thank you for the memories, the inspiration, and the indelible mark you have left on Indian cricket. Your contributions will continue to inspire and guide the future generations of cricketers.

In conclusion, while the Indian T20 team will move forward without Dravid, Sharma, and Kohli, their legacy will forever be a part of its fabric. Their journey has been remarkable, and their triumph is a fitting end to an illustrious chapter in Indian cricket. As they embark on new journeys, the cricketing world salutes these legends and wishes them success in all their future endeavors.
Jai Ho!

Rohit the HeToo

In these times of #MeToo, we have a clear case of Rohit Sharma as well. No no, it is not about any misdemeanors on his part, but about his now legendary stature in the Indian One Day team, making his exploits do the talking despite the presence of a colossus called Virat Kohli.

In the era just prior to this one, we can recall another fabled legendary duo of the great Rahul Dravid and another great, a certain Sachin Tendulkar.

While Rahul was a much more dominant force in Tests than in ODIs, it is a diametrically case for Rohit. He has struggled to even cement his place in Tests, and even in the ODI team, the initial phase of his career, as a middle order batsman, was at best, average.

What changed his fortunes was the Champions Trophy of 2013 and MS Dhoni's decision to try him as an opener. The rest, as they say, is history.

With potentially he entire batting innings - a full 50 overs available for him, alokg with the initial Powerplay overs' field restrictions, he has taken full toll of all bowlers across all conditions and has just not looked back since then.

What has been most exemplary is his ability to hit those daddy hundreds, with ridiculous ease and mind-boggling consistency.
All this, despite having titans like Kohli, Dhoni, Dhawan, and Pandya sharing the spoils of each innings that he is a part of.

To come out as nothing less than a superstar in such a pantheon of greats is a huge achievement in itself.
He too, is a great, among greats.
More power to you Rohit, and hope you score many more!!

AahUsTrailYeah!

That's right, mate!
Believe it or not, we have received a shellacking from the Austraalllyans in Pune.

As we head onto Bangalore for the next match trailing 0-1 in the four-match Test series, the writing on the wall is amply clear: Good (Rude) morning Team India - Wake up call!!

Time we pulled our socks up and correct the blunders we committed in the last match.

Here's what I believe:

Pitch
While there is no denying that the Aussies completely outbatted us in Pune, it is equally true that the kind of pitch we saw there, would not be the same across other venues.
Yes, Virat Kohli did not blame anyone but the batting for the inept performance.
But as much as he was honest in introspecting, he might also have been brave in discounting the impact that it had on the game.

Couple this with the fact that we dropped so many catches and lost a very good toss to win, and you know, the tables could well have turned had we batted first (and well) on the same pitch.

My expectation: I think the pitches in the remainder of the series will still be turning pitches but without the amount of turn or bounce that Pune offered, from Day One.

What that would do, is to make it a typical Indian wicket, best for batting on the first 2 days, kind of progressively getting tougher from Day 3, to then start breaking more, taking turn, and also generate uneven bounce, on Days 4 and 5.

Playing Eleven
I think Kohli will need to make sure that he puts out the best Playing XI, most suited and most equipped in form as well as temperament, to suit the surface and dent the opposition as much as possible.

Karun Nair might make his way into the eleven at the expense of a bowler (Jayant?) and there is also the possibility of Ishant being sacrificed for Bhuvi.

Eventual Result and Scoreline
Despite the loss, I still see India bouncing back, leveling scores, and eventually clinching the series.
So much for Us-Trail?Yeah!

Here's hoping each wish comes true :)
Go for it, Team IndiYeaah!!
Jai Ho!!

Whose Shame Is It?

Imagine coming back from a long, tough, and hard day at work.
Don't we all have days when we ourselves are disappointed that we could not do as well as we normally do?
Don't we already feel low about our competence and productivity on that day?
Does that mean we have become disloyal or unscrupulous?

Imagine being the subject of stupid jokes or lengthy gossips about your beloved - by one and all, just because that person happened to come by, watching you or if you happened to call/talk to that person in the middle of an already terrible, avoidable day.

Imagine your integrity, commitment and passion towards your job being questioned because of this one day?
That too, by people who do not even know a fraction of what all challenges your job requires, and what all efforts you put in, despite the lack of performance/desired results?

Imagine all this being done to you and your family/loved ones - being subjected to judgements being passed, by anyone and everyone, non-stop, in full public glare, across social networks, television debates, tea-time idle gossip sessions.

Perhaps this is just the kind of emotion that is running through our cricketers who would have failed yes, but who - if you could care to give the the benefit of doubt - could also have wanted and tried to win as much as (if not more than) anyone else would have wanted to.
Ofcourse, since the result did not turn out as expected, there must have been mistakes.
But to blame them to lack of commitment, intention, passion, other priorities, affairs - without any credible proof?
How fair is that?

Yes, so we gave it back, we came a cropper in the match against Australia, bowled timidly, batted tamely, could not defend our crown, okay.

Of course, it hurts.

But there are a couple of things that rankle more than the loss itself:

1. The Media's Uncalled-for Hysteria and Baseless Outrage

2. The Incessant and Nauseating Bashing of a Couple

Both these events, highly deplorable and unprofessional, came about only and only because we lost.

Yes, we understand the angst.
Yes, as true-blue (in more ways than one) fans, we have the right to demand that our cricket stars perform to their very best.
But no, we have no right - no one ever can have - the right to dismiss their performance as lacking in intensity, and/or worse, even lacking the will to win!

Have we not beaten any such (in fact, even better) teams comprehensively ourselves too?
Did we (or their media) then question our vanquished team's motives?
Did we (or that team's media) then cast aspersions on their sincerity or commitment?

To attribute our loss to ulterior motives and sinister behind-the-scenes conspiracies without even a shred of evidence, is downright despicable.

I do not say that we are living in Satyug.
I understand that there could well be the odd black sheep somewhere.

However, to pass a judgement without understanding or empathizing with the subjects themselves, is completely irresponsible.
To attribute a bad performance, howsoever pathetic it may be, to lack of motives, is absolutely abominable, to say the least.

Right from the day we lost, Times Now, a famous/infamous news channel, with an even more famous/infamous host, notorious for his verbal soliloquy, ran a disparaging news campaign: #ShamedInSydney

To all those who say are-yaar-ye-to-easy-(shot/catch)-thi...paise-khaye-hain, sincerity/commitment/intensity hi nahin hai, I have only one submission:

Ok, I can't say for anyone else, but surely, I can say for myself, right?

They say, before we judge anyone else, the best way to understand a situation is to try and put yourself too, in that same situation.

All I can say is that I have played my share of competitive cricket and I don't care if anyone would like to believe this or not, but at least I surely know in my heart of hearts about myself, that I have played it with passion and integrity all my life.

Yet, of course, I have dropped the easiest-looking catches at times.

I have also played such shots in some situations, which I would not have played, had it not been for the match situation (with a run-rate going out of control or due to a belatedly-realized misplaced confidence in my ability to pull it off).

However, mind you, none of this was due to any irresponsibility or lack of will to win/commitment/passion/sincerity.

I have not necessarily showed/displayed emotion or intensity when I did not feel any less intense/passionate/emotional.

My only point is, before we jump to conclusions about the sincerity and commitment of a cricketer, let us not
jump the gun.
Let us try to understand that even a sincere attempt can look horrible if it does not come off.
Why should an incorrectly chosen shot-selection be panned as selling one's soul or not the player not wanting to win?

Yes, we are hurt when we see such a shot, but (if you could believe that a cricketer need not have done so deliberately), pray, tell me, wouldn't the cricketer in question himself be hurting more than anyone else about his dismissal or poor-performance?

Wouldn't he himself be feeling low - without having to be told and reminded through often the choicest of abuses or sarcasm - when we behave the way we do?

I ask of you - what exactly is (more) shameful?

Our team losing to a better team on a given day?
Or us, fans, losing our senses, passing judgements on the sincerity, character, passion, commitment, and integrity of our team - without knowing any better?
Just put hand on your heart and ask yourself.

If I could share, let me tell you what is more shameful.

No, losing is not shameful - not even when losing badly, if we tried our best - to a better team on the day.

What is shameful is our insensitive, crass, and instantly judgemental reaction.
What is shameful is our inability to separate reason from emotion and pull down someone's integrity, so easily and publicly.

What is shameful is to see that people who have never held a cricket bat, go on to question the commitment of a team, just because the captain did not cry as much to their liking, after we lost.

What is shameful is that we pass judgements on a couple - especially on a lady who is out there cheering for her love, the way any other better half would - just because she happens to be a celebrity and a lady who has openly admitted her commitment status - just because it seems easy for us to make them our favorite target.
How easy it is for us to send jokes, one-liners, sarcasms, even give our own spin to what happened and what all they were doing before the match by our know-all 'experts'.
ALL THIS is what is indeed shameful.

Congratulations, Team Australia - not just for getting the World Cup back and playing top cricket, but lucky you, in also getting fans who would not indulge in passing judgements about your (and/or even your better half's) character on the basis of your win/loss.

Any and every team - including Team India - deserves better too.
We keep asking our team to get better all the time.
Fair enough.
Perhaps, it's a good moment to reflect and ask, whether Team India too, deserves its fans (and media) behaving better than this.

Why this Kolaveri, ji?

One of the reasons why cricket is (hard-nosed realists might hasten to say 'was') labeled as a gentleman's game, is because of the impeccable, sporting and disciplined conduct by everyone on the playing field.
In fact, the sport and the conduct of its players used to be held in such high esteem that any unscrupulous act was coined with the term 'this is not cricket'!.
Can you imagine anyone making such a remark using any other sport as a metaphor?

This is what makes cricket different from other sports such as soccer, tennis, etc. where at least some level of intolerance is often passed off without being reprimanded.

And to then see, a shining young star of the Indian team, Virat Kohli in the latest instance as of yesterday, not only showing his dissent openly, but even abusing the umpire, was downright disappointing, to say the least.
Article 2.1.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct about "showing dissent at an umpire's decision" is quite clear and unambiguous too.
And even if it were not, is it not clear to us, that the umpire is the sole authority, who should not be disputed, least of all abused, in public?

I am a great fan of Virat Kohli's talent and he doesn't need a certificate from me anyway. The fact that he has made it to the international stage and is shining there too, is proof enough of his ability. What is terrible, though, is that he is making his mouth bigger than his bat. That too, to spew profanities.
Alright dude, you might have got a terrible (debatable) one, but he could have been disappointed, not disgruntled.

The most important and unfortunate point is: this was not the first time Virat has committed such an offence.

Time and again, one has seen Kohli expressing his anger at even taking a catch, throwing the ball, abusing an opposition player or umpire, and getting away with it.

One would like to know what gets inside the head of such otherwise gifted, intelligent and talented stars that they behave so abominably?

It is not even as if it's aggression. Aggression (if positive) is like alcohol intake. Your limit, propensity, ability or capacity for aggression would be different from mine.
Again, it is acceptable only if it can be controlled and handled within permissible limits of decency and propriety of public behavior.

Like the popular rage these days, the Kolaveri song, which roughly translates to 'Why this murderous rage?' - one would like to ask Virat and others of his ilk about their behavior - Why, oh why, this Kolaveri?!!

Please also note here, it is not just a Virat or an Asian. This malaise afflicts cricketers from all countries today, and the sooner we get rid of such sledgers and brats or their attitude, the better.

In this light, I also have a question/action item for the sport's governing body:
Why does the ICC not dock the cricketer's bulk of the fee (if not the entire amount)? Is just a reprimand, a 'don't-do-it-again' good enough? Especially, when a cricketer is found guilty for an offence for the second time (or more)?

On the positive side, such incidents make you admire Sachin even more. He has had countless decisions that have gone against him, in the last 22 years and more. He sure had been disappointed on all such occasions. However, one struggles to recollect even one instance when he has, through his verbal or even non-verbal behavior, crossed the line between disappointment and dissent.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman: RESPECT.

No wonder, you guys have been such a strong middle order for us. You have not only added the spine to our line-up with your abilities with the bat, but also added your character, your respect and your love for the sport.
After all, if you humbly accept the decision of the official entrusted to make the decision, then be it right or wrong, by accepting that decision, you only reflect your love and respect for the game that you love.

What often also beats me completely, is how people take a catch, pick a wicket, or score a 50 or 100 and get so worked up, and angry.

Are we remembering one-upmanship or showing the others how good/right/powerful I am, more than simply playing genuinely for the love of the game?
Would we get so hyperactive and insane on taking a catch/wicket/hitting a hundred, if we were playing for the sheer love for our game?

To everyone who says it is aggression that spurs people to greater heights,
Just these names/facts speak for themselves: Courtney Walsh, Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev.

Despite the fact that the West Indian team of the 70s and 80s was the most ferocious and lethal team (as much as, if not more than the Aussies of the 90s and 2000s), they were and still are the most loved.
I'm afraid not many outside of Australia can say the same of the Aussie team of Waugh and Ponting.
Why?
While the latter played one-upmanship, sledging-filled (euphemistically called mental disintegration by Steve and team) cricket, the Windies played hard on the field, but still with a lot of sportsman spirit and love for the game.
Off the ground, they were the most gentle, affable and loving people around.

The choice is ours - who do we want to emulate?
Virat Kohli and others, I rest my case.
As I said, just need to ask yourself: Why this Kolaveri, ji?! :-)