Selected Sixteen

Selected Sixteen
[Indian Cricket Tour to Australia]

Once again the credibility of selection committee of Indian cricket team is place under the microscopic observation. The tradition of coming up with shocking inclusion was kept intact when yesterday board secretary announced “Sixteen Selected” to tour the kangaroo land. It was looked a few days back that selection process of Indian cricketing team is started to run on the reasonable and transparent level when the selection committee announce the probable 24 touring and out of form Shewag was not in the list. The message went to the world of players, at least now the performance at domestic level will get recognition but what happens on the day of picking the team is unsolved mystery. Look at the list of selected sixteen
Anil Kumbale [captain]
M. S. Dhoni [Vice Captain]
Vriendra Shewag
Wasim Jaffar
Sachin Tendulkar
V V S Laxman
Rahul Dravid
Saurav Ganguli
Yuvraj Singh
Harbhajan Singh
R P Singh
Zahir Khan
Irfan Pathan
Ishant Sharma
Dinesh Kartik
Pankaj Singh

My objection is not for the sudden inclusion of Shewag, eventually I was surprised not to see his name in the probable 24 list, but for the pseudo reasoning tactics adopted my the board, why not they are able to generate courage to admit the mistake? How long will they shelter their shortcomings under the fitness cover of players? This it is said fitness of Gambhir forced the selection of Shewag, my question is that even if it was true, why the preference is given to shewag [not in probable in 24] over the in form Aakash Chopara [included in 24].

Inclusion of Shewag has made the process of playing eleven more complicated; accommodating Yuvraj was a burning problem for the team management. If we go with the reports coming out about the Indian playing eleven in Australia, not only Yuvraj but inclusion of Laxman [most successful batsman against Australia] seems to be remote possibility. It is said that Indian think tank is planning to go into the field with combination of 6 batsman and 5 bowlers that means the first five slots will be occupied by Jaffar, Shewag, Dravid, Sachin & Saurav than Dhoni and five bowlers to follow. Over the years spin is the strength of Indian attack and when playing with five bowlers, inclusion of two spinners is most reasonable. Selecting only two spinners for Australia tour is yet another question mark on the selection process.

Looking at the team selected I think the playing eleven will be as follows [in bating order]
1] Virendra Shewag
2] Wasim Jaffar
3] Rahul Dravid
4] Sachin Tendulkar
5] Sourav Ganguli
6] V V S Laxman
7] M S Dhoni
8] Irfan Pathan
9] Kumale
10] Zahir Khan
11] R P Singh / Harbhajan

Kangaroos on Indian Land

Kangaroos on Indian Land

Those were the days when we waiting over 2-3 years for a cricket series against teams like Australia or West Indies and these are the days when even cricket wonder and genius like Sachin are complaining in direct way about the excess of cricket with words like Now it hard to get time for the overcome fatigue and recover from injuries when there are matches one following other at the interval of 2-3 or 4-5 days.

Things on and off the cricket fields went under the dramatic and speedy changes with the introduction of twenty-20 format. Indian team was still busy with felicitation for winning the twenty-20 world cup at Wankhede stadium Mumbai, when Kangaroos landed on Indian earth at Banglore for the seven matches ODI series. It is not easy to change from one format of game to other and that too when you are still under the hangover of winning the world championship of shortest version and going to face three time world champions as the opponent in the longer version of the game. India is fortunate in many senses, this series is home series in well known and familiar ground conditions with the support of home fans, which will be touching sky after the winning twenty-20 world cup [ this might work for increasing the pressure and may produce the adverse result], Three most successful ODI Indians players, Sachin, Sourav and Rahul are back to team, in all probabilities one among the world best opening pair Sachin and Sourav are going to open the inning for India, The famous wall Rahul Dravid is playing the inaugural ODI on home ground and has to prove how his bating is blossoming without the responsibility of captaincy, Irfan Pathan is in the mood of celebrating his come back where as aggression of Shrisanth is creating a concern in the opponent dressing room. The new find of twenty-20 cup, captaincy of hard hitter wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni is shifting the pressure ball in the court of Australians. Even all these favorable, it is quite possible that India might loose the Banglore encounter just because of hangover of twenty-20 world cup win, failure in maintaining the dressing room and on the field energy level as some of the twenty-20 team players are being replaced and it needs time to reach with same energy level and interaction among the players. Unfortunately Indian team is not with time, players will be hardly with just 24 hours for all these adjustments. One thing is sure Indians are over 70% of chances of winning the series.

Australian are wounded with semis defeat of twenty-20 and history supports that kangaroos always become hard to defeat team after such humiliating defeats. Though some things are going against them, Australian attack is not looking as effective as it should be in the absence of Glen McGraw, Ricky Pointing is not in the best of form and health,there off the fields statements like "return of three senior players will make Indian team weaker" are not producing desired effect just because new Indian captain Dhoni says we don't believe in winning or loosing, we believe in enjoying our game. It is sure when you are enjoying your job success is intended to follow you. All these are not sufficient to write off Australia, after all they are ODI world champions and know the business better than any body else so this is going to be turn into battle that promises cricket at its best, just cricket and pure cricket with all its uncertainty and glory, Who ever loose the series but surely cricket is going to emerge as the winner.

Miss of just a fraction of second

Miss of just a fraction of second

I have seen it over hundred times and still wish and love to see it again and again. It was the climax of all those three hour filled suspense of traveling through the destiny, going under the never before experience of sinking and returning back to life heart beats, excited curiosity to reach and be the witness of final moments with the fear sufficient to raise body hair. Some may thought and wait for my announcement of the name of the movie, I am talking about. No dear it wasn't a movie, I am talking about the latest product introduced into sports shopping malls, Yes twenty-20 , the shortest version of the game for it was said in the past 22 half made people are creating a war of non existing supremacy and battling out it on 22 yards long strip. Yes it was the grand finale of twenty-20 World cup, the New wonders ground of Johannesburg was the betel ground and arch rivals India and Pakistan were fighting out for the ever first "King Title", to bring moments of "National Pride" for millions and millions of respective country men for whom cricket is passion, life or even something more than religion. The life was at phase of suspension and supposes to return back to normalcy only after a victory. "Dho…. Dho…. Doni Ke Dhurandharoon Ne Dho Dala……. Petkar Pakistan Ko, Jeetkar world cup, Khushiyoon Se Daman Bhar Dala." [Experts of Dhoni had washed Pakistan and brought never before high of happiness for the country] was the reaction of every Indian when the padel shot of M.U. Hakk rested into hands of ShreeShanth and India won the inaugural World cup by 5 runs. What a relief, this third ball of final over Jogindar Sharma and of the match brought for millions of Indians, who were still finding hard to re gathered themselves after watching ball sailing over the on the previous ball bowled.

All was not started well India in this tournament. A game of almost assured win against weaker team of Scotland washed out due to heavy rain. It was tie against arch rivals Pakistan [both scored 141 runs] and only the new rule "The Bowl out" helped India to emerge as winner and collect full two points to remain in contest for the race of entrance to super eight. On September 16th score of 190 runs pilled by kiwis proved a hard hurdle to cross as Indians were able to score only 180 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs for being defeated by 10 runs. 19th September will be returned as the day of Yuvraj Singh in the history books of cricket as he compiled a 12 ball half century, fastest in any format of game, and hit six sixes in a single over of speedster Stuart Brad. India won this by 18 runs as England made only 200 runs for six wickets. South Africa fall pray of Indian winning run on next day, though the home team restricted Indian score to moderate 153for 5 but succeeded in scoring only 116 making the way for Kiwis to go into semi finals after Pakistan, Australia, and India.

It was repeat 2003 Final of ODI world cup in the second semifinal of twenty -20, when World Champions Australia and Young Indian team took the field positions in Durban ground on 22nd September. India took the revenge and defeated the world champions by 15 runs, bating first to score a good 188 runs and allowing opposition to score only 173 runs. It was all set for the close fight among the arch rivals on 24th in the grand finale as Pakistan won their match against Kiwis by 6 wickets.

As was expected motivating young Indian Captain M.S. Dhoni, chose to bat first after winning the toss. Debutant Yusuf Pathan escaped from a narrow run out on very first ball of the match, which affect so adversely his metal status that he scored only 15 runs [1 six 1 four] of 8 balls before getting out. Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni only succeeded in terms of spending time on central strip only to increase the number of dark balls. The biggest disappointment was Yuvi, who scored just 14 runs from 19 overs, can you believe the same Yuvraj scored a record fastest Half century of 12 balls a couple of days ago? Thanks to efforts of Rohit Sharma [30 runs of 16 balls] in last two overs, specially the second last ball of inning, when due to mistake of Pakistani fielder ball went over the rope for six, India manage to get a bit respect full score of 157.

It was not a great start even for the Pakistan, opener Hafiz was forced by R.P. Singh to toss the ball to Uthapa who made no mistake to hold the nerves and the catch. [Pakistan 2 runs for 1 wicket] At the other Shrisanth was in a different mode he allowed batsman to score over twenty runs, He might be thinking that as cricket is day by day is turning into batsman's game and as this is twenty -20 hence batsmen are with all rights of scoring at least 20 runs in a over. Pakistan reached to half way mark with scoring at about 7 runs per over for the loss of four wickets. Things were started with taking shape of Indian victory with brilliant bowling display by Irfan Pathan [4-0-16-3] and R.P. Singh [4-0-26-3] and it looked that India is going for a easy victory. Harbhajan's third and innings 17th over proved the twister as 19 runs were scored of it and score of 15 runs from the 18th over had insured that all is not over yet. The game extended to last over with 13 needed runs for victory for Pakistan. Joginder Singh started with a wide making it 12 from six. The first legal ball of the over was dark; the next ball was shown the sky direction to sail over the boundary for six making it 6 runs required from 4 balls, an easy target in any format of cricket. When Singh started to deliver the third ball of the over, millions of heart beats of Indian fans went under temporary suspension, a slightly short pitched ball was paddled up in the direction of sky and millions of heart beats were falling down with the downwards journey of ball. What a relief, ball rest into hands of ShreeSanth and victory celebrations were on. India won the first twenty-20 world cup.

It all was loosing the attitude for not more than a fraction of second by Pakistani players. They fail to score 1 run from last two balls in the group match; they fail to score 6 runs from last 4 balls of final.

Once in the blue moon - will India repeat it?

Once in the blue moon - will India repeat it?

Who had thought of it? It is just dream come to true. No one was aiming for the excitement, thrill and play of nerves, when this bonanza of the shortest version of cricket, twenty -20 world cup was went under the getting started in the South Africa early this month on 11th of September.

The first glimpse of golden uncertainty of the game started to get shape of reality with the defeat of ODI, World Champions Australia at the hands of Zimbabwe by 5 wickets on 12th September at Cape Town and of mighty West Indians by the Bangladesh by 5 wickets and 12 balls [2 overs] to spare at Johannesburg.

Indians started the tournament as was expected from them with a 10 runs defeat at the hands of kiwis, it was second outing for Indians but as their first match against the Scotland was washed out by rain hence this was the first appearance of Indian players on the ground. Things were not working in the favor of Indians but Dho…..Dho…..Dhoni , Indian captain was looking forward to apply the things and plans in a different style and Indians hopes were back to life with the most excited and thrilled moments of tournament "The Bowl out" India emerged as winner by 3-0 and kept their record of not being beaten by Pakistan in any of World Cup match. The next match was war of existence and a record 12 ball half century and six sixes in single over by Yuvraj Sing proved sufficient to show the exit gates to English team. Now it was turn of home team to feel the edge of killing axe of Indians on the 20th September at Durban and Indians not defeated them but also by winning by 37 runs have stopped their further progress in the tournament this also helped to make the myth stronger that luck never favors South Africa on the decisive moments in any bigger tournament.

Indians were to face World Champions Australia in the Semis, by the start of match Pakistan has defeated Kiwis and was waiting to know the opposition for the grand finale at wonders. India with winning sprit was in good position to take revenge to defeat in the Final of last ODI world cup held in the same country as Australians were playing without their regular captain and star batsman Ricky Pointing and the teams has already defeated by Zimbabwe and Pakistan in this tournament only even in the presence of Pointing.

Indians are playing this tournament under the young and inexperienced captaincy of M.S. Dhoni, who seems to live with and believe in the realization of marvelous line "Wars are fought and won in the minds and not the grounds". His attitude, temperament and motivation powers are lying in the words which he spoke Jogindar Sharma while tossing up the ball for the final over of the match "Don't get panic, Australian will be going under sever nervous pressure than you, as they have to score 22 runs from your these six balls."


The arch rivals are going in for the war of supremacy on Monday 24th September and will put everything from their armory for winning this. The ever first clash to two Nations, where cricket is not just a game, it is a life style, passion and religion, is going to prove the true thrill and excitement and a real once in blue moon clash for the cricketers all over the world. This is not going to be a game of bat and ball surely it going to be war of nerves, ability to handle pressure, and above all emotions of working beyond ones capacities for the pride of Nation. Surely Indians are holding upper hand as they have reached this by defeating top teams, like England, South Africa and World Champions Australia and that to with gradually increasing enthusiasm and killing instinct and will be feeling comparatively less pressure as in the absence of three star batsman Sachin, Sourav and Rahul, it was not expected from young team even reaching to semis. Young Indians are aware that when they will go into wonders ground, they will have nothing to loose, it will be gain all the way and inspiring and motivating leadership of Dhoni is boosting their morals to win the ultimate pride of the game. They also know that their opponent Pakistani players are going under the tremendous pressure of the situations, Pakistan till date never succeeded winning a world cup match against India. Three top Pakistani bowlers failed in "Bowl out" where as even part time Indian bowlers succeeded to hit the stamps every time. Pakistani players know that loosing here will bring this in lime light and will back troublesome to their back home journey. All this is adding and working for an Indian victory in ever first Twenty-20 World cup. If you ask me I will go for 70-30 in favor of India , but as the cricket is the glorious game of uncertain glories, It is always unwise and dangerous to predict any thing before the last ball is bowled, but that is even not sufficient, we all know what happened after the last ball of the match between these two arch rivals in this world cup. Any way this is neither a hope nor a prediction but a faith India is capable of repeating and will repeat win over Pakistan.