so InSaf ho gaya... and we tied the test series 1-1 with south africa...
before the series started not many gave chance to team india but ended up saying they could have pressed more to create history... this is as lop sided assessment as one could get...
before the series started... there were customary or shall i say phony talks of bouncy pacy wickets that will test this 'aging' line up... how india will be cream rolled coz they don't know how to play short bowling etc etc... the talks that creates headlines before every series only to melt into oblivion after the series is over...
so how do you feel about the stalemate now...?
would you boast about the fact that south africa with arguably the best bowling attack in the form of life... with the pitches of their liking... could not press matter beyond a point...
that with all the class and pluck... they could not get pass that 'aging' line up in their own backyard...
that india with arguably the thinnest bowling line-up were in a position to actually win the series against the batting line-up that consist of some of the best in business in the comforts of homely conditions...
that despite the goof-up, even before the first ball of series were to be bowled, from the bcci in the form of accepting/finalising such itinerary in first place and selectors doing the icing on cake act with the kind of selection blunders only they can manage and getting paid for it... and yet despite all those hiccups team india not only surmounted the challenges from the opponent but also from a bigger opponent at home... their own board... their own selectors...
south africa had all they wanted to upset indians... but they would or rather should be the first to admit that their best of best was not good enough against the grit of team india... that despite all the requisite armory in their tank they could achieve only a stalemate... to show for their efforts...
if left to me i would say... gautam gambhir's performances on the proteas tour epitomizes team india in all possible ways...
before the start of the series... there were doubts raised about gambhir's technique and temperament...
it was gambhir's first tour of south africa where even the best in business have come short before him... first innings started with 'look what we said'... but by the time tour ended... lots of those doubts were put to bin... step by step... innings by innings...
gambhir emerged with an enhanced and enviable reputation... and so did team india...
how do you feel about the stalemate...?
shared by straight point on Friday, January 07, 2011
in the realm of senses...
shared by straight point on Friday, December 17, 2010
if you came here looking for Nagisa Ôshima's classic of same titled movie In the realm of Senses review... sorry to bother you... its about cricket...
first day at centurion of india vs south africa test series to be precise that will decide who is the second best team in the world... InSaf ho ke rahega...
it is very easy to dismiss india's performance on opening day as "oh! look how they would struggle in south africa coz these ain't roads..."
how india would struggle to keep straight face on sa pitches with bounce and pace... i would like to remind them that this was just the day one of fifteen days of competitive test cricket to come... remember we did the same to them with better results last time in johannesburg in similar circumstances... so just wait and relax...
if i say india were kanpoored at centurion it won't be an exaggeration...
but having said that... i was most disappointed by two performances...
our openers... sehwag and gambhir...
sehwag coz... if you see action replays of his dismissals of last fateful tour of sa that cost him his place... his dismissal in just the 2nd over of the match would just be that... action replay... which in turn means that he has not learned anything from his last experience... that you just can't play ball on the up so early in innings without taking the stock of things... when there is bit of movement and carry... as we witnessed yesterday...
before you jump on me and say "o come on... this is the way he bats.." i say it means that of late you are not watching sehwag bat in tests... or rather just watching him bat in evening highlight shows...
the sehwag of today is more patient than ever before... today's sehwag gives four-five overs to bowlers... leaves lots of balls outside off stump... let his eye in... take stock of the bowling and pitch and then unleash himself on balls that to him are boundary balls...
contrary to perception he is very shrewd cricketer and he must feel disappointed with his shot selection so early in his innings of a historical tour...
its one thing to accept the challenge and its completely another to blindly succumb to the billing of the most feared batsmen in indian lineup... the champion players don't walk into that obvious a trap... not on the second over of the match...
sehwag of yesterday was the sehwag of last south africa tour who was rightly dropped...
another disappointment came from gambir... who never looked like an opener of a no.1 test team... he looked very nervous from the start... appeared like cat on hot tin roof... and never looked like the partner of most lethal opening pair in cricket world today...
the conditions were no doubt difficult... but he never appeared that he belonged to the test on offer... and his eventual dismissal rather had the air of inevitability than anything else...
it remains to be seen how he compose himself coz i fear the damage could be deep than just the half-hearted poke... that eventually cost him his wicket... and a long walk back to some serious introspection...
this tour will go a long way in establishing gambhir as the true world class opening batsman or he will just simply chicken out... like his last dismissal...
my elbow is penalty free than yours...
shared by straight point on Wednesday, July 14, 2010
when ponting successfully managed to elbow amir the way that it was visible to everybody but to the on-field umpires and match referee... michael holding was on air... and this is what he said (though the words may not be the same) almost justifying him elbowing amir... on behalf of pricky...
"ponting was just trying to create the space for himself... by stretching his elbow he was showing aamer that this is my space and i don't think there is anything wrong with that..."
i did not know, before this, that only pricky is entitled to create his space this way...
though there is also this small matter of icc rule that says... under no-circumstances... you cannot make physical contact with your opponent with an intent to hurt him... and i don't think ponting meant a gentle hello to amir there... but this is pricky... the most 'behaved' captain in the history of cricket... and this is our system... if one cannot see it... one cannot penalise it...
i also blame pakistani players and for that matter... all players other than oz team... who just do not show courage to stand up for their mates... remember... only a gentle pat at the back of brett lee by harbhajan, which even lee did not mind, led to monkeygate...?
related story – log-on to achettup's soal... guess who? we’ll be keeping an eye on this... for more insight into this incident...
insecurity or irreplaceable camaraderie...?
shared by straight point on Thursday, July 08, 2010
before india's departure to unfinished business in sri lanka... kadambari murali talked to gautam gambhir... and this section caught my attention...
Like Sehwag does... Was it tough not having him around?
It did play on my mind, his not being there. We know each others' games and needs so well and it's always great fun batting to open with Sehwag. It also takes time to understand someone else's batting and change your role to adapt to theirs and there's not always that time.
it's good to have a close friend at the other end which is comforting coz you both know each other inside out hence you tend to be more relax... but is it good to take it to the level that, if your friend is not there, it plays in your mind... you feel bit insecure... and take time to adjust to the player who is batting at the other end...if suppose... your close friend is your opponent would you bat or bowl differently facing him...?
being a professional cricketer you are supposed to do your job and if other than the competitiveness of your opponent... the pressure of playing at international level for your country... and your form bothers you... and prevents you to be at the top of your game... it should count as superfluous thought... and certainly a handicap...
gambhir is stretching 'yeh-dosti' thingy too far and should guard against it...
its time gambhir make some tough calls...
shared by straight point on Friday, April 16, 2010
it came as no surprise when gambhir came down heavily on top order after yesterday's match against chennai super kings...
"Chasing 113 was not an easy job and you can't just bat irresponsibly," he said at the post-match presentation. "The top order needed to bat with some responsibility. You can't bat just like that and leave the job for the lower order"
top order is consistently letting the team down with zero commitment towards team cause... everybody seems to shrug his responsibility by saying "that's the way i play..." and it is nothing short of a minor miracle that delhi is still in the hunt of semi final place...
from now on... gambhir should read the situation as the question of how he can win three matches on trot (to win ipl3) and he should channelise his energy... his resources towards this goal...
the time has come when merely issuing statement in disgust will not do... gambhir will have to take some tough calls and if it means he will have some sore egos in dug-out then so be it...
my team from now on, barring injuries, will be in following order...
karthik, warner, gambhir, dilshan, sehwag, collingwood, manhas, mishra, nehara, nannes, ladda/yadav
sehwag's role should be of a finisher in the team which should be conveyed to him in no uncertain terms... though both can take the game away on their own but gambhir and collingwood should look to tie the one end down and let players like karthik, warner, dilshan, sehwag dominate from another...
i still believe that delhi is the strongest team and if some of our players can bend their back for team cause... we can not only take the best of other teams in ipl... but even beyond...
delhi boys on the roll...
shared by straight point on Tuesday, April 06, 2010
we all know how positive jatman is when he plays... but the crux of his positiveness, according to him, is that he remains positive even after getting out... but i rubbed my eyes when i read this...
How does he handle success and criticism? “I welcome both. Praise will come when you do well. So, be prepared for brickbats when you fail. You are learning from both. Success prepares me well for the failures.”
jatman has started to learn the art of speaking well too...
another delhi boy who has started to open up a bit and let his talk do the bowling for him is amit mishra... who feels its important to be thick-skinned to play for india... and though he is disappointed to miss out t20 caribbean party... he is already looking ahead...
I have been doing well, but then I can't control certain things. In fact, if anything I am motivated to do even better. There are a couple of counties who have offered me a pro contract. If I get permission from the BCCI, I may just go and play for them.
but, thanks homer for the link, the one who set the ball rolling... who really talked tough without mincing words... the one who provides steel to delhi flair... is gautam gambhir...
If I listen to opinions seriously, it is from people who have played the game. Who understand what it is to desperately want to win, who know what it’s like to try and out-think the opposition, who’ve gone back to the dressing room and cried because they missed out, shared a joyous moment with mates who did the impossible, or been captain of a professional side and felt the pressure of responsibility.
take a bow gambhir... nice to see the glimpse of a 'steel-man' behind the gentle exterior...
gambhir langde pe mat ro!
shared by straight point on Thursday, March 18, 2010
this is what sums up the delhi daredevils vs mumbai indians game for me...
if any of the eight teams in the ipl has the best name that defines the team... its delhi daredevils'... for they will always be in pursuit of doing the things in dare devil's ways even if that can be done normally... sensibly...
however well mumbai indians played... and kudos to them for outplaying 3Ds in all departments of game... but i was pissed of at the toss itself... gautam won the toss and handed over the advantage to MIs on platter...
we know that t20 game is too abbreviated a game to let go any advantage that you have over your opponent...
we also know mumbai indians do not have a good record chasing... in fact they have choked to defeat from winning position on many occasions... but no... our devil's will take none of that...
they wanted thrill and they got it... by chasing the leather... and i do not even expect them to learn the lesson...
– title inspiration: homer
thanks to india...
shared by straight point on Monday, December 07, 2009
for not only becoming no. 1 test team in the world... but also to many... who suddenly making the ranking system look crap it has always been... conveniently overlooking the fact that you will always be judged on the prevailing measurable scales which are in effect since the start of twentieth century...
its akin to saying a batsman doesn't deserve century coz he was dropped by fielders on many occasions... or that bowlers were not bowling great line and lengths... but does it matter to a batsman...? is he accountable to the opposition being measurable... or them not having enough good bowlers in their ranks...?
whatever be the adopted ranking system there will always be debate on pros and cons of it...
to be the best side in world india will have to beat top teams at their home... there is no argument on this... but on same token one has to accept that being no.1 and being the best is as different as chalk is from cheese...
much the same way that current no. 1 batsman under the prevailing ranking system is gautam gambhir but saying he is the best batsman in the world... is debatable... but stating the obvious won't take away anything from the efforts gambhir has put in since his comeback to the side...
so while let then sooth their enviously burning asses with this flawed ranking system balm... i for that matter urge you to let not this come in your way in cheering the current no.1 test team... which is india...
cheers!
find permanent player for no. 3 spot...
shared by straight point on Monday, October 26, 2009
whenever sachin opens gambhir comes at no. 3 or sometimes either dhoni or raina come at one down depending upon the match conditions...
its time india finds a permanent player who can come at no. 3 rather than playing musical chair game for this coveted position... and what better than using this 7 match marathon series to test water... without compromising the balance or composition of the team...
we all know whenever sachin is in the team... he opens... and given the explosive start jatman provides he is best utilised there... so this leaves gambhir to vacant the space and drop down to no. 3...
india have invested so much time on raina that its time he should be made to stand up and be tested for whether he has it in him to become one down player... give him the assurance of two full series (oz and srilanka) and see how he responds to the responsibility... currently there is so much happening in the name of flexibility that the stability is being compromised and sometimes player do need to be told about their batting order in the team so that they prepare themselves for the challenges of the job...
its also not going to help kohlis, rainas to come at different positions virtually every game coz they are still in formation stages of their career and it will help them and their overall game if they are told in advance of their batting positions...
so to me either gambhir opens or comes at no. 4 and the dashers bat around him in the middle... what is happening is that once top order goes the onus of keeping the innings together falls on dhoni... subsequently he has to curb his attacking instincts according to the requirements of situation and if the burden can be shared in middle overs then it will only help india to either launch full throttle attack in case of good start... or do the dirty work of consolidation if the start is not that good...
as i said earlier... the goal can be achieved without compromising on the balance or composition of the team and we might just unearth proper and permanent batsman at no. 3... for most occasions...
gambhir groin... kohli going...
shared by straight point on Thursday, September 10, 2009
india suffered another setback... apart from sehwag's shoulder injury... now gambhir is on his way back to home owing to groin injury... leaving team india without their established opening pair of all seasons and formats... before triangular series and possibly champions trophy...
though we may never know how he got this injury but if it has come with the new-age stupid warm ups that cricketers are forced to do these days in the name of 'relaxation'... i hope his case is the last case...
kohli is chosen as the replacement for gambhir... which is a wrong move in my eye despite me advocating him to be in the team at the first place... for me he should have been in the team instead of yusuf pathan... which baffles me even now that how he continues to find place in the team without doing anything of note...
anyways, now that kohli is going the move seems wrong in many ways... murali vijay should have been the natural choice ahead of him... here is why...
- sachin coming in after injury and we still don't know anything about his match fitness and form...
- this leaves only dinesh karthik with some recent experience and form in an opening position...
- kohli too is under going rehabilitation in national cricket academy for shoulder injury... why risk aggravating his injury further...?
- if gambhir's injury turns out to be more serious than anticipated... sending an opener for an opener would have served india better coz next assignment of champions trophy is not that far... it would have helped vijay find some groove and form in real match conditions which one can not find however strenuously one work out in the nets...
- specially since champions trophy is going to be in south africa where chances of specialist opener succeeding are far superior than the makeshift opener due to bouncy and seaming conditions which prevails over there...
- and finally the way murly handled out of blue call for opening the innings due to gambhir serving ban of one match against aussies at home series... shows that he has unflappable attitude and does not easily gets overawed by opposition and occasion...
may be cheeka got defensive of pushing his native candidate... or may be the selection is the case of eye for an eye... delhi's loss should be delhi's gain... whatever... the move does not inspire confidence... planning... logic...
yeh dosti...
shared by straight point on Saturday, April 11, 2009
"If ever I would like to sacrifice my wicket for anyone I would do it for Sehwag" - Gambhir
update:
watch 'yeh dosti...' being played on mouthorgan... classic...mesmerising stuff!
its getting 'gambhir'...
shared by straight point on Wednesday, November 05, 2008
i don't wanna defend gambhir here...he deserves every bit of punishment he has got...
but the point i want to initiate debate on is...that...of late it has become like a ritual to settle whatever grudge they have with 'the bully' bcci this way...
gambhir is just a what we say a 'mohra'...in this game...
and i am least surprised with the swiftness of appeal decision taken by ICC...though there are still more important and urgent issues lingering since ages...which needs no further elaboration...
the satisfaction of scoring some brownie points is greater than settling those issues...and i don't wanna deprive them the joy of this 'moral victory'...
never mind that...
the crying pussy watson after referee himself admitted was the one who provoked gets away with...if we can call it a fine...
never mind that...
johnson after abusing non other than VVS (the rare breed of gentleman left in this 'gentleman' game) without any provocation was not even reprimanded...gets away with it...
mind you i said abusing not sledging...there by sending message its ok to be abusive...
...and
punter after clearly showing dissent with umpire decision (and its not one off incident as far as punter record goes) gets into argument with batsman and holds the play 'against the spirit of game'...but we are yet to hear a word from what they call referees...
...and these are just the examples from this series only...
the call is yours...
PS
did i said...gambhir is the highest scorer of this series and is the consistent pain in the @ss of ozies...? oh...never mind that... ;-)
hard but fair...
shared by straight point on Friday, October 31, 2008
the one match ban on gambhir...that is...
while watson the provoker walks off with 10% of his match fees...gauti will be cooling his heels...deservedly so...for being stupid enough to do what he did...
goes to show that we are still learning the art of playing 'hard but fair'...
barge on umpires...hold on the play...
keep on arguing with'em over decisions you don't like...
call'em with choicest explicit adjectives...
name their wives...ask who's is bedding them...
anything...
but don't you ever touch'em...
it was very clear that watson shouldered his run path for a moment only to withdraw at last moment of impact and gambhir being foolish did what he did...in retaliation...
but the difference was...while watson being 'professional' knew when to withdraw...gg being new learner of this 'art' got sucked into it...
hope this will serve as good lesson on how to do it...
one day, we will also learn this art of being 'invisible' to concerned officials...
PS
will it have been miscarriage of justice had he waited? why broad could not have announced the ban at the end of days play...?
coming direct to your home...
shared by straight point on Monday, October 20, 2008
the delhi dare devils...that is...
Vir-Gati...?
shared by straight point on Friday, August 08, 2008
india, your tail starts from no.3...form is temporary class is permanent...
they cant go on to fail for long...they are due...
how can you disregard the services they rendered relentlessly...
this is not the way to treat our heroes...
and so on...
you will or have already heard enough of this bullshit wisdom...
if this is not called denial...i would like to be enlightened...
here and now...
500 reasons...
shared by straight point on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
to cheer and congratulate gautam who is looking gambhir (serious) to crack open one available spot at top of india test team...
infact delhi dare devils (3Ds) should bow to him that despite sehwag captaining them 'brilliantly' they can still dream a place for semifinals!!
his consistency of late is remarkable for a guy who was susceptible to moving ball...that too for an opener he is...but he seems to have worked very hard on his technique without loosing out an iota of his flamboyance...
his feet are moving nicely, surely but positively...
it doesn't harm him any bit that he is one of the best (if not best) player of spin today...
another remarkable difference is...now he seems to carry on the start he was guilty of throwing away in past...
lessons learnt hard way but learnt anyway...
i think jaffer is going to be first casualty of IPL...with GG being the beneficiary...
not by default though...but for knocking at the door till its wide and invitingly open...
thanks Q for the hint
how i want gambhir, yuvraj and rohit to line up...
shared by straight point on Tuesday, March 04, 2008
and kick their a@@ till they are sore like hell and ask them to repeatedly say we wont gift our wickets like this...
special treatment should be given to yuvraj coz he is vice captain and he just dont seem to care about this fact...
i mean what they think they were doing there...oz were on mat...laid low waiting for their fate helplessly and what you do...offer them life on platter...
if not for anything they should have respected the fact that on other end there was a person who seem to be on the mission of life with great resolute and what they only needed to do was to be with him and support him in his mission...
irrespective of result of today's final...they needed to be told this lesson...much the same way as i mentioned earlier
do you agree...??
