One for the road.. One for the cause... One for the loss!!!

The first ODI match at the state of art MCA stadium was played in Oct 2013. 

It was Australia Vs India. Where Aussies won the toss and elected to bat first and won the match convincingly.

Ind Vs WI was second ODI since then.. Well, this time around India won the toss and yet elected to Bowl first...

Result the same... One who Bats first wins the 50-over game...

Pune wicket once again has proved –  not to be a lucky ground for the Indians... 

Nonetheless the only highlight was Kohli’s century... 

His first century in this series made sure India won the match... The second century helped India to draw the match, but the third one came in a losing cause.

On record front:

There are dozens of batsmen who have achieved the feat of three consecutive centuries. However, only one man in a history of the game Kumar Sangakara has hit 4.  

Can Kholi match his record!!? 

Mumbai to answer!!!!   

A Date With The Past!

It was year 2007 when one of the best team in the world got shock of life. Not once be it the Indian cricket team and or Indian fans had thought of losing to Bangladesh which eventually resulted in India’s elimination from ‘WC’.

It was a shambolic performance and one of the darkest day in Indian cricket history.

Fast forward since the day Bangladesh has failed to beat India in ICC or a major tournament.

If beating Pakistan helps heal past wounds seeing Men in blue beat Bangladesh is treat to eyes.

After all; their players and fans are so overconfident that one game win makes them think they are unbeatable.

And to see super passionate Bangla fans in tears every time is best thing of the day…

Well, unless the match is not fixed like 2017 Champions Trophy India is a clear cut winner.

Let the fun begin!!!

Sun has rose in the evening for Hydrabad... "Warner’s Warning!!!"

This batting display was bizarre... When SRH as a team reached 100 Warner was 82.... When Warner reached 100, SRH was 124 runs for no loss!! 

This batting display of Warner of 2017 reminded us of 2009... 

What Gilchrist did in 2009 Warner did in 2017... 

Seeing MI / (SRT) and KKR / (SRK) getting nailed is any-day a beauty to watch but, what is it of left-handlers and that too guys from down-under that they make things so not just beautiful, but intimidating? 

This wasn’t just a batting at its supreme best... This is an absolute humiliation!!

For tonight, Rain god may play a spoil sport, but forget not Sun has rose in the evening for Hyderabad... Already!! 

Beware rest of the teams!!

They swim, they sink and now they even SCREW-UP!!

The most devastating batsman of word cricket Gayle, multi-talented Watson, very special ABD and the classic finisher Kholi..

These men have been part of RCB for couple of years and yet one wondered what is it about the team which has failed to win a single tournament?? 

Well at start of IPL season 10 hopes from this institution of batting line-up was all time high but, as the tournament has progressed the best moved to bad and now to all time worst!!! 

Who to blame arrogance, overconfidence, carefree attitude? 

This is not a war but, RCB’s game plan over the years reminds us of what of Winston Churchill had then said; 

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results” 

Given the point table it looks extremely difficult for RCB to make it to playoffs... 

Forget the Holy Grail now it’s all about redemption!!! 

87 to go....

13 Test matches against 4 different countries is what India played in last one year.
And yet, the most awaited series of all has come down to wire. 

A lot was to be played for and every one had a point to prove.  

The authority of visiting team on Indian soil was always in doubt and yet at Pune, in less than three days of first test, the host were in shambles. More than shame it was a shocker, an eye opener.

Then came Bengaluru, and “brain – fade” saga took center stage than India win. 

Series was one – all, momentum had shifted on India’s side but, had it not been for the resilience shown from Aussie middle order batsmen Ranchi could have sealed the deal in India’s favor. 

Without Kohli India’s chance of winning a series looked doubtful but, maiden test for left arm spinner Yadav in one of the most picturesque venue Dharamshala proved blessing in disguise for the hosts, as they wrapped Aussies first innings at just 300 runs and later went on to take a minuscule lead. 

It was all about day 3 of 4 test and what one witnessed just after the fall of inform Aussie captain was the team which went down like ninepins in a matter of time. 

The target set was of 106 out of which 19 runs are in kitty already. Can host make remaining 87 runs without making too many blunders and end this grand season with a win. 

The heart says yes but, mind knows the reality of the game. It’s not over till it’s completely over.   

Fingers crossed for India win!!!

25years back… "A HERO WAS BORN!!!"

Sport inspires us!! Be it Football, tennis, table-tennis, badminton, swimming. 

These are few of the sports which are attracting Indian kids like never before. This is good thing for Indian Sporting Eco system. Nonetheless, it is one sport in Indian context which has ruled the lives of people across all generations is none other than Cricket. 

Be it 7 / 8 year old kids or the ones playing galli cricket, club cricket, under19, under21 they all dreamt of sending cricketing delivers out of the stand, while some were eager to run in fast and bowl at a lightning speed. 

But, none of them ever thought of fielding until March, 8, 1992.

Yes, it was 25 years back a Hero was born. Who took fielding to a different level all together. 

I was just 12, when I saw a man flying midair to claim a run-out. 

Well, he not only got Inzamam (Pakistan batter) run-out but, went onto become a fielding legend. 




Since then it was an astonishing piece of athleticism which he carried on the field.

He was a HERO of our generation who made fielding look like a poetry in motion.  

Every guy since the day celebrated SRT, Lara, Ponting and many greats but, deep down every kid someday wanted to fly like Rhodes.

Thank you Jonty for helping us realize joy of diving!!! 

Mad is beautiful... England’s nightnair Ka-RUN ;-)

Chennai it is…. Just when Cricket crazy nation was feeling low on Day 3 of 5^th test against Brits in came magic from a rookie.

Sometimes, mad is beautiful and this innings was no different. A day earlier man had witnessed madness, a heartbreak 199-times. But, what followed in less than 20 hours was beautiful…  

Karun Nair a name unknown to many till yesterday got himself in record books for more than one reason… 

He not only became third highest individual scorer for India but, became first Indian and third round the world to score maiden test century followed by a triple ton. 

What’s more in all eight triple hundreds are scored against Brits, but, it was for the first time an Asian cricketer had caused misery… 

Thank you for the fun…. 

Wish you best of times ahead Ka-RUN…  

Mohammad Azharuddin of 2016!!? ;)

The highlight of KL Rahul century wasn’t just about his determination… But, King Kohli’s celebration… 

That for me showed quality of a leader who was happy for his teammate…  

Having said that, what mattered was 200 not, 199…. 

Not just KL or King Kohli but, entire County got disheartened in the moment… 

I for one wanted him to just play the ball on its merit and go to double figure but, destiny had something else in store…

Be it first run in Maiden test or first hundred in Maiden test or first Maiden double ton… ’THOSE ARE SPECIAL’ 

It wasn't case with him... 

Well, now the Q is…. Is he next great Azar in making?? 

Guy who never made it to double ton. Is KL Rahul following same destiny??   

 

Hope someday KL Rahul cross his highest score… AMEN!!!