May the best team win!

My day started with a breakfast over the news channel. I see the IBN reporters coax Dhoni about the Australia series. But the guy’s tough and see what he’s been saying.
A few (read many) pessimist friends of mine are tensed and feel Australia is all set to shatter the 20 champions. I prefer to ignore them. (India has won only one of last 11 one day matches against Australia)

Many of us play our important games everyday tensed with performance pressure. How important it is for us to win? If we were to win all the games then it should be unfair for the other side. And how does it feel when you know you are going to win all the games of your life. Loss of excitement….. I am going to enjoy the match and may the best team win!

Selling Rahul for Dhoni !

When Sonia Gandhi called up the Indian cricket team, I was wondering what could have been topics of discussion except a few congratulation notes. But I was wrong. It was more – it was, “Dhoni and Yuvraj, tell me the secret, I want one for my Rahul Baby”!

As Rahul, takes up the position of AICC General Secretary, the Congress has got its moves right. It may be a mere coincidence that the AICC reshuffle with young faces has come on the day when young Indian team lifted the T20 World Cup, but Congress is ready to take the credit. What is being sold is “Rahul will do Dhoni to Congress and win the next big match”. (read next elections, thanks to the undecided left parties on what they want to do with the present coalition)

So will he or will not? Let’s wait and watch. The Hindustan Times-CNN-IBN State of the Nation Poll results are seen as an opportunity and the Congress party is geared to grab it. Is the BJP/NDA listening (amidst the Ramsetu noise)?

Dhoni Boyz & the Chak de Moment

Twenty – twenty is here to stay! The glamour and sensation attached to the game, it truly has managed to revive cricket audience in India and abroad. Look at the welcome Dhoni boyz are getting on their way back home!
I have been tracking all the games of the series and with great interest the Indian innings. What started to be the batsman (read stroke players) game has nicely turned out to be the “bowlers” dream. Joginder Sharma, Pathan, RP Singh and Bhajji are the real eye candies. Don’t forget the “bowl out” that made India win against Pakis!

I see this as a birth of new generation young cricketers! Dhoni's body language at South Africa has been impressive and it seems he’s ready to take on. Back home, what is interesting also is the emergence of the India Cricket league. I hope it will provide ample opportunities for the young talent to break through the bureaucracy that has engrossed Indian cricket for so long. (We are happy Mr. Greg Chappel that you left us!)

And for Saurav, Sachin and Dravid its time to play the mentoring role for the young blood! Dravid could have not asked for a better time to move out as Indian skipper. What we can see is, he has left behind a team that has new energy levels and passion to be the World Champions. The world is looking forward to some sensible and neat cricket.