Bhajji and Chartered Plane...

sources close to bhajji said that like last time this time too it was 'misinterpretation' of words...

instead of 'hard luck' he allegedly heard 'hard @uck'...

hence the slap...

anyway, Bhajji is banned from rest of IPL for doing what others were contemplating to do but had no courage....but now they wont have to worry...

hopefully sree santh too has learnt overtly due lesson...

Hayden and Symods too know what to expect when shaking hands with bhajji next time...

we have learned from our sources close to BCCI that more than the slap...huge charges of 'that' chartered plane did it for bhajji...

BCCI just gleefully accepted the long awaited opportunity...

as for bhajji...

he has more options up his sleeves...



see everybody is happy...

except for certain Mr. Mukesh Ambani...

last heard...he is looking for where to complain for the daylight robbery of his $112 millions...

can you help him...oh sorry...who can help him...?

We want Justice!!

for the bowlers i.e.

IPL is about quarter complete...though there is no doubt it has been a success...

but its also a fact that there were only two close matches so far...

the sixes and fours are being hit almost on demand...and its already getting monotonous...

while our first wish was to retain original boundaries of the ground so that hitting sixes and fours becomes more of skill than norm...

we are getting more greedy...

so here we suggest/mute following changes...

1. batsmen should retire after scoring 50
   
   
2. one premium bowler should be allowed 6 overs...which they should declare at the time of toss...to balance things out...

let your imagination run guys...give us more...

Shane Warne - Living a Deam !?!

The list of players realizing their dreams through IPL is getting bigger...and better...

last night Shane Warne was the latest addition to the list...

you may argue that for hardcore professional like warne what could possibly be left there for him to achieve...

then you most probably didn't saw the jubilation after he hit six of second last ball...

most remember him best captain australia never had...

you guessed it right, its the 'captain' shane i am talking about...

though he has captained hampshire earlier...but captaining in IPL carnival...besides so many international stars...its different ball game altogether...

...with humble but gritty team at his disposal...he is making them look like winners when nobody gave them a hoot...

any other team would have melted against the storm of roy innings (like royally challenged did against brendon's) but he had other ideas...

starting from the introduction of pathan to halt the gilly storm...to hitting the six off second last ball...it was the high voltage stuff...

last night he had a match many captain only dreams off...but rarely comes true...

...and the best part is....its only the start...

way to go shane!!

Afridi Joke...

today Q of well pitched the famous founder of Allen Stanford University for Cricket Bloggers (aey modi bhai dhyan dene ka, kya...) have posted that afridi is not happy with the presence of cheerleaders in the ground sighting disturbance as the reason...

so guys let me present a joke how it started...sorry english folks...if i translate it (in english) it will spoil the fun of the joke...

Afridi: yaar mujhe woh cheerleader pasand nahi hai...

organiser: kaun see sir!

Afridi: khonche jissne peelee top pehni hai...

O: sir woh to sabne pehni hai...

A: abe yaar jissne neelee skirt pehni hai...

O: sorry sir woh bhi sabne pehni hai...

A: (gusse mein) yaar woh jissne haath me chamkeela as kuch liya hua hai...

O: (ghabratey hue) sir who bhi sabke haath mein hai...

{Afridi bahut gusse mein cheerleaders pe pistol se fire karta hai)

DHAI DHAI DHAI...

ab kewel ek cheerleeder bachee hai...

Afridi: ye waali jo bach gayi hai...YE MUJHE PASAND NAHI HAI...


so now you know how it all started...


Enjoy!!

IPL - The Dream Merchant

you are talking about IPL and posting the image of ICL Head Kapil Dev!!

what the hell!! you would say...

Guys have a look at the snap again its the person shaking hand with Kapil, i am talking about...

his name is...Dinesh Salunkhe (who??)

well his story goes like this...courtesy www.andhranews.net

Life for Dinesh Salunke took a very interesting turn in Dec 2006 when he got selected to be a part of the Cricket Star Academy. From then onwards he started living his dream of learning from and rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the Cricket fraternity - Kapil Dev, Sanjay Manjerakar, Geoffery Boycott, Monty Panesr, Waqar Younis and then being chosen the 'Man of Series' of first ever cricket talent hunt and reality show, Cricket Star,. Dinesh Salunkhe has just returned to Mumbai on Wednesday, 19th September 2007,after spending the English summet training and coaching with Leicestershire County Cricket Club. The Chembur resident played for Little Thorpe and Narbourough club at Leicester. Dinesh played 8 matches in which he scored 287 runs and took 28 wickets. Salunkhe got an opportunity to meet English pace man Sajid Mahmood. Robin Singh and Romesh Powar, who were a part of the Indian Team that was in England recently, met this Mumbai lad and appreciated his performance at Leicester. Salunkhe, the leg spinner and an all rounder found out how tough it is to turn the ball in England. But Salunkhe learned a few things in a very short span and adjusted to the tough climatic conditions in England.

Salunkhe, who was offered scholarship by former Indian Captain and legendary Kapil Dev, and a contract with Air India had left for UK on July 14 after being nominated as the Man of the Series of the first ever Cricket realty show Cricket Star I, that was aired in April this year.

regulars of this blogs will remember my first post on IPL... in which i talked about how IPL will be realizing unfulfilled dreams of so many players who otherwise would not have thought possible even in their wildest dreams!

add Dinesh Salunkhe to the list...and i am sure he wont be last...

from nobody to bowling alongside with legendary shane warne in yesterdays match...is the kinda fairytale script even our bollywood is yet to come up with...

PS: after revisiting Dinesh story, i found out that there is definite link between IPL & ICL...apart from ICL Head Kapil Dev financing his scholarship...if my memory serves me right that 'Cricket Star' show was aired on Zee Sports an enterprise of Subhash Chandra the brain behind ICL...hmmm...are we into something... ;-))

We are the POWER!!

to hell with modesty...

if last night was not the eye opener to the rest of world...then i am afraid what will be...

the future is here...

and we are the future...we are the power...

not ICC...

and certainly not BCCI...as many believe...

its WE, the fans, i am talking about...

WE will decide IPL future...WE will decide the millions of dollars that are invested in it are worth it...

WE will make people like Mukesh Ambani...Vijay Mallaya...SRK...BCCI & Co...look like stupid...or genius who saw the future of cricket...

so guys get ready to be spoiled...most sought after but difficult to please breed...

...coz with the start of IPL...WE HAVE GOT THE POWER...WE will decide the fate of stars...so demand nothing but the best...and make it sure they provide just that...don't get easily satisfied...

as i said to hell with modesty...

and OUR first wish is...DO NOT SHORTEN THE BOUNDARY...

let the boundary of a ground remain as it is...

YUVI & IPL...

love him or hate him but you can not ignore him...

same can be said about IPL...

the reason i have put Yuvi and IPL in same bracket is this...

its general feeling about yuvi (the test bat) that he has not paid back the investments india made on him...you look it from any angle and the grudge is justified...

he seems to be with team india forever and yet we see him warming the bench at test level...

yours truly too said in one of his recent post that he just want to be 'the yuvraj' when he can actually be 'the king'...

most of us agree that more than talent its his attitude which is the problem...

i can see you are already getting bored of this post coz its saying nothing new at all...

and where is IPL connection in all this...

wait...

as we all know from tomorrow onwards he will be captaining kings xi punjab...

so now he will have to take decisions...make strategies...plan innings...and all that good captain is supposed to do...

how he will cope with some stupid shot one of his player will make at crucial juncture...

how he will react to the player who he feel has the potential but not delivering the results matching the talent that player supposed to have...

and finally how will he manage the player with 'attitude' problem...

will responsibility on his shoulder for the first time as leader will change him...for better ??

will he come out sensible and sincere player with leadership experience...?

will he realise the same pain which he has been inflicting to the people who have invested so much on him...

will IPL make him understand what other's have failed till now...

i think it will.

do you?

PS: while you make your decision...enjoy this punjabi style unadulterated entertainment...no hold barrier...capsule...!!

But for that DAMN Pitch...

so the distraction from IPL is over now...

i heard murmurs about pitch and how the pitch was the reason for the defeat of saffers...

lets have a look...

if you collapse from 151-1 to 265 out on first day will you blame pitch...then how you were at 150 odd for a loss of single wicket...good batting?

if you field like you did...on second day...dropping catches like hot potatoes...infact dropping gangly when he was around 40...who later went on to become highest scorer of the match...

even after so much of generosity...you came close to bowling opposition out without much of a lead...good bowling?

you allow tailenders to weave a partnership of around 50...on the same damn pitch...carring on with the generosity you showed previous day...bad bowling? fielding?

then you allow that last wicket partnership to screw your head so much that there was nothing left in it...collective brain numbing and you all simply freeze...

see i didn't even used the word c-h-o-k-e-d...

so you batted badly...bowled badly and fielded badly...why?

oh...i remember...that damn pitch...

KING, he wont be...

Fans and expert around world looking at you with doubts in their mind...whether you are good for test match level...

god send you an opportunity by first making room for you at the expense of injury to a senior guy...then by giving you wonderful platform to prove your metal...

two quick wickets...to almost unplayable balls...the stage is set...

you come to crease with an opportunity to cease the moment for your advantage...for once and all...coz if you succeed from here it will go a long way in eradicating those existing hanging doubts...

you get start...on difficult pitch...

things start to look relatively easy...after a while...

to the point that opposition looks at your mercy as you are not only getting runs but at good pace...

then what you do...

to their delight, give the initiative back to them on platter...

confirming that between great and good player...you choose to be later...

yes guys...i am talking about one and only...yuvraj...

who is resolutely, stubbornly sticking to being THE YUVRAJ (prince)...when he can be the KING...

mindBLOWING!!??!!

PS: the post was written when yuvi got out...but later as one would have found...dhoni too seemed more than eager to give company to his vice captain...which culminated perfectly with chawla's shot...

HAS IT GONE?! HAS IT GONE?! IT'S GONE !!!!

it takes courage, mind cool as cucumber, lots of self belief and certain chaminda vaas to hit four and six of last two balls...and he did it in style...

enjoy!!

Where are Bowlers...???

the cupboard of our pace bowlers which was full, live and kicking not so long ago...wears a bare look to it now...

so, where are the bowlers??

or should i say...

fit bowlers...??

India has history of squeezing out last owns of energy from a bowler who shows semblance of bowling form by bowling him day in day out...

so he must play EVERY inconsequential game coz we MUST win every inconsequential match...

yesterday it was zaheer...

today its ishant...

tomorrow...lets wait...let a bowler win us a match or two and we will bowl him out to death...like its written on stone...

lets have a look of prospective list of pace bowlers who can make it to indian team...

zaheer (not fit)
rp (half fit)
sreesanth (fit?)
Ishant (we don't even know)
munaf (he is fit...wait a minute not fit...no fit...again?)
pathan (going by his recent outings in india you wont even bother if he is fit or not...)

i may be harsh on pathan...but i stand by my words...

then who(?)

my fear is that...its not the end...its the beginning...

after this test series we will have IPL for full 42 days!! with a match or two everyday...

then we will be playing tri series in Bangladesh...then...then...then...

oh did i tell you there will be small matter that summer will be nearing its peak here...

when we talk about summer here...its not like summer of say england where people go out to picnic...and take sun bath....it gets bloody hot out there...but never mind...

every time selectors talks about rotation policy...(please control your chuckle)...almost every body talks about how our batsmen (specially some senior ones) needs to be rotated...how we should rest them enough so they remain in good shape to pile huge scores on bowler's death bed...forget about the balls they feed in nets so that these batters remain in form...

and no ones talk about this genre...the bowlers...the rotation of bowlers...

don't they deserve to have some rest...?

then, how we should preserve bowlers...?

who will stand for this endangered species...?

and more importantly will you hand over bowl to your son?

lots of questions...any answers??

or should i talk after IPL...(pun intended)

update: complete and uncensored(?) john gloster's fitness report ...courtesy smoke signals...

Read more >> Options >>

Dont worry...

i cant say dont worry be happy coz i spent quite a good time on blogsphere and verdict is unanimous...

its doom for india...

one thing is for sure that the defeat was worse that could have happened after the high down under...and i am also certain that it would have hurt players equally if not more...

they are now shocked to senses of how much hard work is still needed if we want to see us amongst top two teams in test cricket if not numero uno...

kumble...
i will definitely give benefit of doubt to kumble...coz only two match before he was praised for his leadership qualities down under and he suddenly cant be that bad...

i am sure he would have not played last test under normal circumstances...first tendulkar being out...RP's and Sree's 'form' and they being only (or largely) available options made him play this test despite not being 100% fit...he was let down by our (fast) bowlers big time and i don't think what different he could have done with these limited, and largely unfit bowling resources... including himself...

he is being condemned for batting inspite of having the advantage of winning the toss...but seriously can he be blamed for 76 runs !!

india have not only survived more testing conditions in past but won tests too...but for nakedly brainless display we would be hailing him for positive and aggressive approach...thats how pendulum swings in india!!

kirsten...
i don't know if there was any honeymoon period...and if it was its well and truly over now...
he has, now, got first hand experience of how quickly opinion changes in india...and it will be interesting to see his next few moves...one more nice guy amongst gentlemen act wont do and sometimes its good to be assertive...will be my advise to him...

there were some key failures as well...

sehwag...
you just cant play in one dimensional way...he is still in his triple century mode...
its crime to waist good form like this...specially knowing that your partner at other end is struggling and being one of the senior member...in the absence of most senior player...sedate approach was the need of hour...and it wont harm your reputation a single bit if you put team first on your 'positive' stroke play sometimes...

dravid...
i still feel there's at least good couple years of test cricket still left in him…the problem with dravid (these days) i think is not his form but his ‘concentration’ level…which used to be his forte…somehow he is spending all his energies on survival…if only he needs to free his mind and we will see same old dravid…or else we might see premature end to his test career in not so distant future...there are not many options left for him...

...so Mr Dravid the choice is yours...

dhoni...
amongst few batsmen on either side of indian innings he got start in both innings and threw it away inexplicably...regulars of this blog would remember my post on dhoni titled 'Transformation' during last CB series down under...in which i wrote how when leadership is given to him...he transforms into a different person...and how he never looked like getting out...

though i know the difference between ODI and Test for sure...but i am also sure of what i have seen him so far...he would not have played those shots otherwise...

and thats where he lacks at this moment...he need to feel 'that' responsibility and it attains more means when india is looking at him as test captaincy material...

bowlers...
where were they...??
you cant win with only one match fit bowler who too is not close to his best...

hope...
one collapse can not wipe away the good they have done in recent past and i am more than hopeful that we will bounce back...

the team is same...its our (impatient) perception which has changed...one win and we were world beaters...one loss and we cant do anything right...

so all is not lost and being an eternal optimist (as my friend Ottayan noted in one of his post) i still see way forward for india...with fresh selections...smarting after the worst thrashing...we will see improved display...they will have to for thier own good...