Mhaari chhoriyaan chhoron se kam hain key?!

Alright then, 2023 has begun on the right note for Team India.

Only, this time, we are (pleasantly) talking with our focus being on the Indian women's cricket team!

As you would have read, our eves have conquered the U-19 World Cup in South Africa, beating England quite convincingly for a comfortable victory in the final. And yes, I know there must be enough cynics around to pooh-pooh this achievement, terming it just as a kids-playing event. But make no mistake, this victory is historic in its own way and is the precursor to many senior, international-level achievements.

In fact, let's just start with the U-19 level itself: agreed it is a junior level, but even till now, how many times have we won it earlier? How many times have other teams won it? Check and you shall realize the magnitude and impact of this achievement in terms of the U-19 level too.

It would also be pertinent to look at the track record of such events. From Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif to Virat Kohli to Ravindra Jadeja in its early years, to Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill now in men's cricket, we have been able to unearth many such potential superstars from the U-19 level. Their victories at the U19 World Cup not only instilled sky-high confidence in them to not just believe in themselves and compete at the senior level. So this is HUGE from our girls.

Let's also not forget, that Shafali Verma is already an established player in the senior Indian team. The mere presence of such a star creates wonders for the confidence of the team and the players have only made everyone proud through their performances. Shafali herself has gained a lot from this tournament, as she has emerged a World Cup winner now and after the disappointment in the previous World Cup at the highest level in Australia, she has now set her sights on the upcoming senior World Cup. Another feather awaits!

This success of the Indian eves also augurs well for the upcoming Women's IPL, where the best of the best in women's cricket will participate. Wins always enhance not only respect but also generate more attention as well as expectations. Our women (and girls) will now rightly be respected much more and will also dazzle much more, both at the Women's IPL as well as at the international level, both in the junior as well as senior categories.

Last but not the least, apart from the all the accolades that all the players and the coaching staff richly deserve, a huge shoutout to every support staff, every selector, every coach, every state association, and most importantly, to all the parents and families of these girls, for encouraging them and supporting them all the way!

Way to go, girls. Here's to many more and even greater laurels in future too. 

Jai Ho!

Bye bye 2022, Hello 2023!

As we wrap up 2022 and welcome another year, this is just a quick thankyou too all the readers for their love. Thankyou for mailing in with your thoughts on my posts and sharing your inputs with me regularly.

I just want to send the best of wishes everyone's way, for a happy, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous new year! May everyone achieve all that they want and more while also retaining their health, goodness, humility, and sanity. God bless!

See you around on the other side of 2022.

Take care and be well!!

14 years on...

It's been a little more than 14 years since the dastardly attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai.

While the world has moved on to other stories, other tragedies too, the memories of that horrible night continue to haunt the nation. I was nowhere near Mumbai that day. I lost no one from my known circle of  family and friends. Still, it was a day when one felt the entire nation lost someone or the other.

Perhaps a lot of the angst has come from the fact that the people being targeted were hapless, innocent civilians, and many foreign nationals identified by citizenship and religion,

It was made worse by the satellite channels which beamed live and "exclusive" coverage of the attacks and our counter-operations in defense.

We keep recounting the horrors of that night and the ensuing days but what will remain etched in my memory is the valor of our armed forces and the resilience of our citizens. It was a tragic day but it was also a day to ensure that we do not let any of the perpetrators rest till we bring them to justice. Most importantly, to Pakistan, as the nation being the sponsor and mastermind, orchestrating the entire series of attacks that day across Mumbai.

I am confident that we will always remain united and will continue to defend the motherland, and if need be, even go on the offensive to defuse and/or pre-emptively extirpate any sinister plans by anyone against our country. 

To the martyrs of 26/11 - Jai Ho!

What a birthday!

October 23, 2022
Generally, birthdays are a happy time. Apart from reflecting on another year as you age and be thankful for all your blessings, you also get greeted and loved by your family and friends. All in all, a relaxed, fun vibe all through the day.

This year, it was slightly different. Of course, all usual stuff I mentioned above did happen. Only, there was another ingredient in this year's birthday. October 23, 2022 also happened to host an India Pakistan match. That too in the World Cup. That too, after the heartbreaking loss 364 days ago in the previous World Cup (and another loss to them recently in the Asia Cup in August). 

This meant my birthday was also going to be a tense day, filled with the usual racy heartbeats and sweaty palms you come to expect from a typical India-Pakistan match.

The last thing I wanted was for us to lose on my birthday. Sure, it would not have been the end of the world. But of course, sentiments and rationality need not always coexist happily. I knew it would not have mattered but I still did not want us to lose to Pakistan, certainly not on my big day.

And as the match began, India won a good toss, had a great start with its bowlers but we squandered that advantage and Pakistan managed to make almost 160 (159), despite no contributions from Babar or Rizwan.

And then, the horror start. After the quick procession of wickets in the first 10 overs, my "happy" birthday began to seem more like more of a sad day. Until a certain Mr. Kohli and Mr. Pandya decided to take things in their own bats. From biding their time initially and rotating strike to counterattacking Nawaz and taking him out of the attack to taking the game deep continuously and staying in the hunt to 28 from 8 to the legendary consecutive sixes by Virat making it 16 from 6, to the controversial no-ball, to the 3 smart runs after being bowled on the free-hit, to the sensible left alone wide by Ashwin and to finally, the lofted off drive for the winning single - every single moment thereafter was a pulsating account of how we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. And of course, to the one and only Virat Kohli's chasing masterclass.

Thank God for making my birthday one of the sweetest eventually, by making India victorious and for all the lovely, unforgettable moments!! What. A. Day!

As I write, Pakistan has lost to Zimbabwe last night, in the most shocking manner, by 1 run. Their fans must be distraught and have every reason to feel so. They were not even chasing a score of 180+ or even 160-odd. Just 131. And with all due respect to Zimbabwe's bowlers, they aren't the most menacing attack in the world either. Even after Pakistan committing harakiri like only Pakistan can, they were still in a position where they needed just 3 runs off the last 3 balls, with 4 wickets in hand. And an in-form Nawaz in the middle. Yet, the pressure got to them and they are staring at an early exit, barring any miracles and all other results going their way.

For the Indian team, we have managed to thrash Netherlands quite comprehensively in our next encounter and now await South Africa on Sunday. Let's keep the momentum going and continue playing the best cricket we can. The rest should take care of itself too. 

Keep rocking, Team India...Jai Ho!