Letter to Dhoni

Dear Dhoni,

I am not sure if you are aware, but I as one of the billion Indians, would like you to know that we love and respect you. Now that being said, I know we just won against Australia, kicking them out of a world cup even before reaching the final after almost 15 years, but there are some things we should talk about…

First and foremost, what is up with your batting. I know you are in a pressure situation leading a team which is always surrounded by way too many expectations, but dude, c’mon, you know you are way more than just gifting the ball to fielder to get out kinda guy. Don’t you?

Secondly, I do understand that Indian players have never been the greatest of fielders, I mean everyone knows that, but I don’t understand the point of repeatedly making public statements saying, “We gotta do with what we’ve got, our fielding is not going to get any better,” “This is the best fielding we can come with, it’s not going to get better,” and so on and so forth. I get it.  I get that we probably won’t get better, but why can’t we try? If we can succeed in being a no.1 team, why can’t we be better at fielding, or at least try?

Lastly, I am sure you know that this is Sachin’s (the God of cricket) last world cup. Let’s face it, there is a very small possibility that he will play at 42 in 2015. So why don’t you fix this little bit of attitude that you have (which reminds me you have started sounding like Ponting, the way he did right before his downfall) and just focus on the team and the game.

And of course, I am just a fan, sitting and watching the game from thousands of miles away, without knowing what/how you guys strategize, but you all matter collectively to me. And as much as I have to agree that you know way better, I have to say what I feel is right. And since I am saying this after you have won the most epic game, it means that I mean it, because unlike most other people I am not getting over shadowed by the victory and losing the sight of what is important, the world cup.

So if you ever get a chance to read this, think about it. Think about where you are, and how can you be great by being a little better (learn from God here).

Thanks so much.

Regards,

A crazy fan

Freaking out

So I have established I do very well under pressure and deadlines and I suck when I don't have deadlines.


Anyways that is not what I want to talk about, but rather some other things I have established.


I don't have faith in people when it comes to believing they'll be there in times of sadness and need. This has been established based on certain incidents in the past some weeks. As it appears, I am not that chill either with uncertainty and anticipation, I freak out and want to run away.


The point here is, I know all these things about myself, and there is absolutely nothing I can do to fix it while not spoiling my relationships with people. The only fix in my head is to say 'bye-bye it was nice knowing you.'


It's amazing how I lose my sleep and food over things that are mostly the creation of my mind, sometimes instigated by minor events or few upsetting comments. And even worse is, I repeat, I can control it with most people, because I try not to be attached, but with some people, the ones I am attached to but not completely well versed to their personality, I have PhD in freaking out.


Sigh!


(This is my emotional outburst after maintaining a sane silence on heart filling information)


I sometimes really wonder is it just me, or the woman kind is like that in general. I would like to believe it is not just me and we are one of a kind, but when I am freaking out, every other woman seems so sane, that I sometimes doubt my capability to rationalize in instant situations.


(Not that you all want to understand the ***k out of me)


One thing I would like to add though, all this freaking out usually lasts for a few hours, may be a day, and once I am done freaking out, all I do is wonder why the hell was I freaking out in the first place.


Go figure!


It's almost like I have two parts to the sane part of my brain (Makes sense?)


I think I function best without attachments of sorts, but good friendships of sorts (This definitely doesn't make sense to you, I am very sure of that)


Anyhoo... today apart from all the meaningless conversation I just had with the internet up there, has been a very good day (I know it's not over it). Being recognized at work, makes my life go high-five itself. I wish I had way more of these awesome days. But then I think they only come after a couple of 14 hours days... had one of those yesterday.


Which really brings me to hopefully my last point, sleep after being exhausted at work, is the best sleep ever made by mankind God. I slept for barely 5 hours but the best 5 hours.


:D


So yeah basically I wonder how to not freak out.


P.S: I know I have typos all the time, but I am too impatient to double check. Can't lose that flow yo.

Let's talk about cricket

If you know me, then you know Cricket and Bollywood makes my life worth living (like for most Indians).

So, since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is on, I can't help but be glued to games and watch some unexpected results while wondering how the hell is India going to make it to the next rounds, all at the same time.

Let's talk about some games that make this world cup a heart racing, jaw dropping, unorthodox and unexpected series of events.

England vs Netherlands


Most of us can't even name one player in the Dutch team. They are a bunch of players who come, play and leave. There are no hoardings or banners with their names. They just play for the love of the game barely making it to the world cup.

So when these players play England, a country where cricket was essentially born, I don't think anyone pays much attention to wondering who'll win, the question is, how badly will they lose.

But then there are players like Ryan ten Doeschate. (Yes, I know his name now). Who comes and plays so beautifully, that we all as spectators are suddenly wooing for the underdogs, the Dutch, to win. Yes England won the game, because in the last few overs, the Dutch started showing their amateur roots but Doeschate proved, doesn't matter which country you play for, it matters how you play, and how much you love the game with a century and two wickets under his belt.

India vs England


Not to be biased or anything, but the world knows that the Indians can bat. Before the game started, it was suppose to be an even game, with either side having similar chances of winning, but once the game started Sachin Tendulkar proved once again, he is here to stay and how.

When Sachin hit his century against the Englishmen, the world bowed down, and the English felt helpless. That's the sheer magic the man creates around him. A score of 338 is never assumed to be chase-able. It has never been chased in the world cup. It is always enough to put the opposition in pressure, even more so during a world cup game.

But then again, Indians who can bat like there is no tomorrow, somehow forget every now and then, cricket is a game of batting and bowling. Yes Zaheer and Harbhajan are good bowlers, but we need 5 of them, or may be good 4 of them, and that's somehow never understood.

Strauss, the English captain, made use of India's inability to bowl and hit his first world cup century crossing the 150 run mark, making the chase seem so easy, that one actually wondered if any score is ever enough?? England, at one stage, were positioned to win the match well before the 50th over mark, till as it always happens in the game of cricket, twists and turns, or a batting powerplay in the last ten overs changed the game and resulted in a tie.

That game just proved that no team today truly no.1, like the Australians used to be few years ago.

England vs Ireland


The biggest upset of a world cup ever. Not because England lost to their amateur neighbors, but because a country who is still fighting to get its test status managed to chase down 327 in 49.1 overs against the likes of Anderson, Swann and Bresnan. Such was the joy on Irish faces, it seemed like they had won the world cup in their own way.

The Irish have Kevin O'Brien, who has proved time and again that cricket is his passion, and he will play till he can prove that the Irish deserve more than just a world cup entry every 4 years. The Irish did it once before in 2007 when they kicked Pakistan out of the world cup, and once again they are ready to prove that they don't want to be underdogs, they are here to play cricket, like any other test nation.

England on the other hand must be wondering if they are capable of beating South Africa who they face next on March 6th. All the weird games had their name in common, and it's probably time for them to think if they are surviving through talent or just luck.



There is still so much of cricket to be witnessed and I can't wait to see how this all turns out. There is no favorite team this time. Australia is no more the super power, super confident, invincible team it was once. And right now, the cup is a fair game. Anyone can win it, the question is will it be one of the test nations, or we'll be surprised this time around?