Time to celebrate a bowler's TRIPLE century!

In a game laden with batting feats, and in a country besotted with batsmen flaying bowlers to all corners of the park, we seldom have anything except sympathy for bowlers.

It is brave enough that they turn up.
It is even more commendable that they do well.
But when someone (and again, in a country where spinners are played perhaps better than anywhere else), spins batsmen into his trap as consistently as Ravichandran Ashwin has done, it calls for you to doff your hat!

I haven't even mentioned that he has done it in record time, taking fewer deliveries than anyone else, doing it in the quickest number of Test matches, and generally being dominant over all batsmen.

When you see such facts, you know you are looking at no ordinary bowler, but a great.
But apart from the statistics, what Ashwin has done most commendably in my books, has been to constantly keep learning and keep reinventing himself, all through.

Yes, like any other cricketer or sportsman for that matter, he has had his share of ups and downs.
Yes, you would like to see him dominate more in overseas conditions and on unresponsive pitches too.
But despite every glitch, you know it is not for nothing that he has been the fastest to a record which, even if you attain at the end of your career, makes you revered.
And he has reached there quicker than anyone else, and with a truckload of cricket left in him.

So here's to the triple centurion - congratulations to the wily, crafty, ever-improving and ever-ready-to-learn student of the game, Ravichandran Ashwin!!

Go well, and hope to see you conquer many more summits!!

Thankyou, New ZealAnd.. ..More Respect

There were 2 things that stopped short of making this an even more terrific series victory for India:

1) The series in question, was a One-Day Series, and not the pinnacle of cricketing skills and temperament called Test Cricket.

2) The Indian team was the host, and therefore, we need to deduct points that are always reserved exclusively for those hallowed victories outside of subcontinental shores.

So while we await good news pouring in from the time zones of South Africa, Australia, England, and New Zealand, we cannot blame the Indian team for exceling in home conditions.

It isn't our fault that we have been well-nigh invincible at home.
Any team that toured India earlier too, were always up against a formidable opponent in any Indian team of the last 20-25 years (at the very least).

So what's different now?
So, what is it that has changed now, which has made us so dominant and consistent?

The difference now, is that the magnitude, ruthlessness and consistency of victories that we have achieved over the years, across formats and over pretty much every team that has waded into Indian territory.

We have always retained a batting-heavy armory in our team, laden with precocious and sublime talents - be it the magical wrist-wizardry and exquisitely timed, surgically-placements of our batsmen or the brute power or nimble-footed mastery, destroying pace and spin attacks across the world, with aplomb.

The advent of wrist-spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, attacking and astute bowlers like Ashwin and Jadeja, and X-factored talents such as Yorker-master Bumrah, Swing-King Bhuvi, Seam-Star Shami, and Ace of Pace Umesh Yadav - have all contributed to the current team having all its bases covered, across all opponents, on all terrains.

The thrilling victory over New Zealand yesterday was another case in point.
As written earlier, so what if it came at home, and was only a short ODI series?

The fact that it was earned well and in tightly contested, well-fought matches, is a testament to the quality of cricket and the level of sportsman spirit in which the series was played.
The Kiwis are by far, the nicest cricketers around.
Suffice to say, if I had to wish that any team win any major tournament apart from my obvious preference for my country's team (India), I would any day root for New Zealand and South Africa.
Together, they are the most liked and skilled teams around - in not just cricketing skills but also in their demeanor.

With a population of just about 5 million, New Zealand is a classic example of a country that has harnessed its human and natural resources in perhaps one of the most optimal manners possible.


Apart from being a developed nation, in sports itself, the country has always remained among the best and most competitive cricket-playing nations, it has been a champion at rugby, and has also done commendably at soccer and various Olympic-category sports.

More than anything else, it is the manner in which they approach the game, and always play with their likeable and gentlemanly approach, which makes them respected as well as endearing.

Here's to New Zealand, and more power to countries like you!!
Well done India, and dear New Zealand, there is no loser in this series, but more power and respect to you!

Happy Dashehra!!

Dashehra is a Sanskrit word which means removal of ten bad qualities within you*:
*Ahankara* (Ego)
*Amanavta* (Cruelty)
*Anyaaya* (Injustice)
*Kama vasana* (Lust)
*Krodha* (Anger)
*Lobha* (Greed)
*Mada* (Over Pride)
*Matsara* (Jealousy)
*Moha* (Attachment)
*Swartha* (Selfishness)

Hence, it is also known as *'Vijaydashami'* signifying *”Vijaya”* over these ten bad qualities.

आइये दशहरा मिल के मनाएं...
खुद के रावण को हर रोज़ गिराएं ||

आप सभी को दशहरा पर्व की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें!!

*" Happy Dashehra !!"*

Well done, Bangladesh!!

Finally, after many years, Bangladesh has attained a Test victory over Australia!

Yes, it was on home ground, but the fact that it was over Australia, and the fact that it was achieved in a tough contest, makes it so special and commendable.

It is time for the Bangladeshi cricketers and cricket-loving public to take pride and also use this inspiring and historic win as a springboard for future successes.

Sachin Tendulkar grew up on the heady rush we all felt on seeing Kapil Dev lift the World Cup in 1983.
Cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli grew up watching Sachin smash bowlers all over the world and dominating every type of attack on every type of pitch and match situation.

It could be just a match and Australia can always come back.
But the moot point is that matches and victories are more than just statistics.

What a stat would not tell you is how the victory impacted the cricketers and the nation.

It cannot put a metric to what the victory achieved, by way of inspiring and propelling the country and its cricket to another level.

So here's to Bangladesh cricket and its cricket-loving audience: Hope you get better through this win and evolve further to realize your true potential...well done and good luck for future!!