IPL - Change in Guard

The IPL fanfare has begun and somehow to me it hasn't been the same as last year. Change in venue is not the issue but the fact that what was meant to be a fun (but money filled event) has turned out to be very very very commercial.

The commercial aspect has been a part of this huge event but not the way its being done this time. The fact the teams are winning to garner publicity even if it means negative methods is catching on real fast. KKR leading the way for this. In the process they have forgotten to win!!! I thought SRK wanted to go to Kolkatta in an open bus with the streets filled with cheering fans, that aint gonna happen until players start letting their bat and ball speak instead of testing their vocal chords..

The next team that seems to be perennially in the limelight (for losing!!) are the Royal Challengers. I actually feel sorry for Vijay Mallaya, because he pins his hopes on a losing cause (be it cricket or F1!) but his spirit is certainly the Winner here.

Chennai Superkings, boy are they drawing flak from even people who hardly follow the game. Why bother calling it the Chennai Superkings when you have just two players from Chennai playing. Maybe another rule can be imposed in the team composition from next year, that being the inclusion of minimum 5 domestic players who havent represented the country. After all this is a 'domestic tournament'!!!!

Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty seem to be getting a hang of this game quite alright although its quite funny to see some of their reactions. :)

The one team which is going about its work professionally are the Deccan Chargers. Its not easy going from the bottom right to the top. It comes only with commitment and hardwork. One of the reasons I thnk they seem tobe doing well is because all the BIG BIG names that they had last year are absent this tiime and thats lending the right balance to the team. Gilchrist is leading a pack of ordinary cricketers who will listen to what he has to say, whereas last year VVS had all high profile players who were very big in their league, which meant that getting theor attention to perform for the team was going to be a daunting task, make that impossible.

Delhi daredevils have also been going about their job quietly and I guess there is a thing or two to learn from that.

These views of mine come from being a true fan of the game. The vagaries and eccentricities that this game offers is incomparable and so my emotions run high when I feel tat things are going amock with the game I love.....

Holding our heads high

This saturday Nikhil and I finally managed to drag ourselves out of our abode and ventured into a part of Mumbai that never ceases to amaze me. In fact, everytime I've been to Colaba or Marine drive(and I've been there maybe 4 to 5 times) I cant stop myself from wondering if this really was the way Mumbai used to be maybe a 100 years back!! The beauty in the buildings and roads command a silent respect for itself and I'm sure no other part of this great city can ever be tis way.

Well we went to the Gateway of India and although I'm not too appreciative of the reason for it was built (no one really cares about my appreciation now, do they?!?!?!?!)I have to admit that it was really nice. The statue to Shivaji ( The Maratha Warrior) standing right opposite the Gateway made me think of the resistance he would have provided against the so called mighty British.

But what struck me and maybe everyone who was there was the new fight that the Indians are up against. The terrorists who brought this brave city to a standstill. The way we look at 'The Taj' has changed forever. Its resilience stood out among everything else. Those working at the gates of the Taj certainly had a cautious look about them. Every vagrant was looked with suspicion, so were the well dressed ones and who can blame them for feeling this way. Their personal territory was invaded, friends were killed and there is nothing that anyone can do to change their memory of 26/11 and we shouldn't expect that either. I looked at with awe and pride. My thoughts went to the people who were there that ill fated day. Why did any of this happen? Questions shall never cease to go through our minds and the solutions may never be satisfying. But we've come out of it, not entirely unscathed but with dignity.

This was my country, a country that many thought were weak, but we proved them all wrong, didnt we? We've been hit so many times but we refuse to fall and we'll never fall. The power of a billion is still unexplored and the day we all feel the inner implosion, we'll all see the change. No one will be able to come anywhere close to us. The world shall look in awe and we'll walk away with our heads held aloft!!!

Breach of Trust

Lots of fervour about the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers and why not? Its not everyday that sportpersons face the brunt of extremists. In fact, the faith that sports unites people of different races, cultures, countries, languages etc. has just been disturbed. One may wonder, whats so special about cricketers that an attack on them is generating as much noise as it has been over the past 3 days. To me its just one thing, trust has been breached, the trust that Sri Lankan players had. I guess for them its a similar emotion too, after all Australia was willing to forego its points in the '96 World Cup and just refused to travel to the island.

Sri Lanka is a country that has seen many wars and strifes and there are many who have survived to share their tales with us. I guess thats why they understood how Pakistan felt...... isolated!! When many other countries, India included, put their foot down and have refused to travel to Pakistan, Sri Lanka made a brave decision and a heartfelt decision and embarked on their journey. This is what they get in bargain? The authorities could certainly have done more to prevent such an event, no excuses can be accepted, however apologetic or genuine they may seem.

Various footages that have been released show the gunmen wandering as if it were a walk in the park. Could have this been possible without prior information? Muthiah Muralidharan and umpire Taufel have mentioned in the papers today their doubts, why did the Pakistan bus leave later than usual? These are things that have to be certainly looked into. It may all seem easy sitting in the comfort of our rooms and sympathising with all or even talk of action to be taken, but thats the least that we can do. We can voice an opinion and thats where our story of concern ends!!!

Apparent Lack of time!!

Despite the fact that I have loads of time in my hand, writing still seems to be taking the back seat. I plan to do alot of things on the comp and the minute i start browsing though some ridiculous and absolutely worthless sites I lose focus and forget to update my blog.

I read once that people who are the busiest seem to have time for everything because its all planned and well executed, whereas people like me tend to waste time and then claim to have time for nothing, what hypocrisy!!!

Another thought just passed my idle mind, why not take up a piece of world news (can be related to sport, human rights, politics.. anything really) and write my thoughts on it!! Doesnt seem to be a bad idea, this might infact give me an opportunity to look into other areas of interest for myself.

Let me start today itself, but not now, simply because I havent really read to through any article of interest yet. But maybe later in the day I can expect myself to write. Until then.....

Changing Faces of My Life

The many facets and ever changing nature of life around is most remarkable and needs to be appreciated with a happy heart.

The above may seem to be a very vague beginning to a blog but thats what has been happening to me over the past two months. It was just 10 months back that I was an unmarried woman, leading the life of more or less a teenager (although its been eons since I was in my teens!!), stepping out of the house much against my parents requests to stay in one place for a period of half an hour. Then came the month of May when I decided that it was the ideal time to get married, June I was engaged (hooked), months of long distance courtship went without much hitches, December I was married( booked) and by January I was cooked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess this is the pattern for almost all and sundry but ME.. No one, most importanly myself, imagined that I would go through what every other woman (at a marriageable age) goes through. But its all been fun and enjoyment. Not one day seems to replicate itself, despite the fact that I've been at home in Mumbai for most part of my time spent in this new city that buzzes with activity all around. Sometime I've felt that my life is like these movies, where life goes all around you and yet the person who is viewing this remains stationery. This is bound to change, no doubt about that and so I've decided ( I made the decision a long time back actually) that I am going to enjoy this as long as it lasts. For, who knows when I might yearn for my life as a home maker again!!!

But there is one thing that I miss alot.. CRICKET.. Its been my way of life for the past 10 years and to abruptly stop it seems very odd to me. I keep thinking about the games I've played and the ones that have been etched in mind forever and that keeps me going. Also frequent communications with my colleagues makes sure that I am not entirely out of that circle. I dont intend to let it go that easily but there comes a time for everyone when they have to choose and my time is now. Its a hard decision but I've taken it with an astute mind and I intend to stick with it.

New Life Out Here In Amchi Mumbai!!!

The marriage bonanza ended, the cricket fever came down and now I'm where I'm where I am meant to be. In Mumbai, with my husband and being a 'home maker' (I hope that tag is there only for a few more months as a full time job description though!!!!)

But I have to accept something, I didnt really expect to fit into this role too well, but from my initial self analysis, I haven't been too bad. Cooking too has been rather palatable and that was something totally unexpected. Am quite proud of it myself.

But if Nikhil thought I would stop at this, he is wrong. I'm going to keep myself occupied by simply dishing out new cuisines for his ever inquisitive taste buds!!! :)

Now that I have enough time to pen my thoughts, lemme get serious about it and be happy. So heres wishing me lots of happiness while I blow my mind off writing!!!

Back In the Helm

The weeks of boredom looks like it might come to an end. The 'season' is about to start and am back at the helm from the looks of it. While I'm certain I can do it, there are others who worry for my well being (more mental than physical).

As for myself, I have already started filling my mind with what is to be done and what is not to be done. I have been given back captaincy (thrust would be a better word though) with the hope that I can fare better than my predeccesor and more importantly, overcome my 2006 failure to lead the team to the nationals.

I already have a few butterflies in the tummy, self doubt and all those familiar emotions. But I have nothing to lose or fear. I will give in my best, as I always do, as a keeper, btsaman and captain and hope that everything falls into place and the victories keep coming.

There is nothing more heartening to see a well thought out win and its my sincere prayers that the decisions I make are correct (faults are to be expected, but I would like to keep them a bare minimum :) ) and followed to the tee.

Its with a lot of hope, speculation and confidence that I agreed to this. I know I have the support of most of the players, Nikhil, Urmi and a few others who believe in me.

I just wish that I live upto their expectations and most importantly my own......