Rest In Peace, Sridevi

In the tragic passing away of Sridevi, we have encountered a tragedy that is perhaps even bigger than her demise.
The way people have begun speculating about every possible scenario and the way every More-than-smart Know-it-all-Alec has started jumping to conclusions, is sad...even disturbing.

When one does not know the exact sequence of events, when one is so far off from what transpired, the scene of the incident, and in the absence of a first-hand account or the details of the 'crime' scene, who is anyone/how can people so conveniently run up every facet of their imagination/conspiracy theory, and pronounce their judgement in their self-anointed fast-tracked court of justice?

Alas, be that as the way it is, what I found worth sharing (in case you haven't read it already), was a heartfelt letter.
An open letter that Ram Gopal Verma wrote, as an ardent fan, whose adoration, admiration and love for her is palpable in the words that have poured through, straight from his heart, into this letter.

This is a person who is sad, distraught, even agonized and shattered.
He has not minced any expression - be it his feelings, his recollections, and their intensity (regarding the memories of his experiences and times with her) or the pain that he has felt on losing her.

We will miss you Sridevi, the great legend.

From all your fans:
May God rest your soul in peace.
Rest In Peace. Rock In Peace.

Open Letter : From an Indian Cricket Fan

Dear BCCi and other custodians of Indian cricket:

As an ardent follower and fan of Indian cricket, I have had the pleasure and privilege of watching many memorable performers and performances.

However, it is also prudent to think and assess the ramifications of how we are performing overseas as well as in our talent scouting and talent grooming processes.

Apart from using the national team's performances outside the subcontinent as a benchmark and barometer for the standards we have set ourselves, it is also quintessential to look at our bench strength, the grooming of our A teams, the exposure they get through quality tours, the domeatic cricket structure apart from the IPL razzmatazz, and the junior level cricket (U-19s et al).

If we can ensure transparency and accountability on these aspects, I am sure we will be a much better team, not just despite the system but because of it too.

Here's to better days and better tours ahead, Amen!!

Cheers,

Just one of the millions of well-wishers of Indian Cricket.

To a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous 2018 and to our till-date best version of ourselves!!

It's that time of the year again, when we meet another new calendar, reflect on another year gone by, and make resolutions for yet another time :)

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of this year and ushers in a 2018 which brings about peace, happiness, positivity, good health, prosperity, and joy to everyone!!

As we bid goodbye to 2017, I hope that more than anything else, we all become better versions of ourselves.
Let us all become better persons and what I consider most important is that may all of us be able to say that we were better in 2017 than what we were in 2016, and likewise, we would be the best-ever version of ourselves in 2018 (to be at a stage where we can say we have never been better than what we are now, in this year), only to be able to repeat this statement thereafter, in 2019, 2020, 2021, and so on, for every forthcoming year too!

Wishing all readers of Choc-a-blog a very healthy, joyous, happy, and prosperous 2018 :)
May you - in this year - be the best you have ever been, and may you be able to say this statement in every year henceforth! :)

Bye bye 2017, Cheers, and Welcome 2018!!

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!!