It's 31st October 07

Thanks a lot for your wishes ….

Day was awsum yesterday …. And to add to it … I was leavng for Mumbai … so it was the day I was waiting for actually

It’s like a tradition at my place (in bangalore) … of celebrating b’day at midnight .. and my roomies surprised me with Pizza cutting ceremony .. haha!! :) It was a good change .. Pizza and choclates … :) and ya .. not to forget frnds calling at the stroke of midnight … It started with Sridutt singing “Happy b’day to u” and Neelam with “Happy Birthday Janab” .. and few msgs ..

My day starts at 8:00am when I get up … but I guess bhagwaan ne thaan li thi … that he will wake me up early atleast on my b’day … and who will not like to … if parents call to wish happy b’day .. and then a sweet frnd asking .. “shall I sing?” and singing b’day song .. for me … what a start for the day… Debo calling the same time … thnx Debo … aur dost .. mai tera b’day bhul gaya yaar :(

A frnd had planned to come to my place early morning and give me a surprise … but somehow .. plan could not be executed .. (ofcourse, it was a surprise which she told me later) ..par koi gal nahi … try it next time :) apki bhavnaaon ko hum samajh gaye … and thnx for making that plan … execute it next yr now :)

Office gaya … and it wasn’t a great feeling to start with … cos .. mere colleagues bhul gaye the .. but suddenly another office frnd called to wish me and baki colleagues ko strike ho gaya .. :) Although we don’t celebrate birthdays in my office … but somethng nice happened, team did .. which I didn’t expect .. :) We were in Barbeque Nation for lunch and suddenly someone came up with an idea and my team of 15 started singing the birthday song … it really surprised me :) was niceeeee …. Thnx all!!

I will never regret not having deserts at Narbeque Nation this time and running back to office only bcos .. two of my frnds from Wipro wanted to come to meet me in office .. and although they were busy, they managed it … nice … really!! Kiske scooty ka mujhe fayda hua … :) Gifts and ya … I got gifts too .. but don’t ask me .. what .. :) I ‘ll say .. “do bandaro ne, bandar ko bandar gift kiya” .. haha!! They left and I started my final bit of packing … and left at arnd 4:30pm for airport .. I was finally starting my journey towards Mumbai (after 5 months) wowwwww … was really excited .. and wanted to reach home before midnight … But not a good start with flight not even listed in the schduled departures … (imagine how it feels, not finding ur flight in the departure list, when u r desperate to board the flight) Me n Harsh waiting on airport and then waiting in flight … Delayed start and finally we took off at 8:00pm and landed Mumbai almost an hr late … Ohh .. I must say .. we both were amazed looking at the Airport makeover .. wowww .. it really is!!

Rick to Mulund and then on our new Activa .. and finally I reached home at 23:20 .. It was so nice to c everyone at home .. after a long time .. with bit of “gappa goshti” … mom hurrying me up and asking me to get fresh and come for dinner … and me as usual getting irritated … J but then came a kinda surprise ..

[ While I was in flight … It struck me … last year .. on my birthday I had 3 cake cuttings with three groups and this time it was pizza cutting yesterday night ]

Mom had prepared her special “Thumps Up cake” … (ya, she can prepare these wonderful Miranda cake, Thumps up cake or Pepsi cake) and I cut it at 23:55pm ….. fir kya .. cake khana .. gappe marna .. photo nikalna .. aur so jana …

And yes …. A very wonderful and memorable day … :) :)

Thanks to all ………….

India - T20 World Cup Champion!!

INDIA IS TWENTY-20 CHAMPION!!

Well, Well .. Well … Who would have believed it before the tournament that at the end of second week of tournament, India would be holding the T20 World Cup!!

It was a stage set for a perfect T20 Final when India and Pakistan made it to the Finals. Imagine the atmosphere, when India meet Pakistan anytime, anywhere in the world and finding both teams together for the World Championship match is like icing on the cake.

India, again lucky with the toss and electing to bat first as they have done for the whole tournament, didn’t enjoy a perfect start. Sehwag injured and Yousuf Pathan taking his chances as an opener gave India a reasonable start with in-form Gambhir. But then India struggled and had to dig deep to get to a respectable total of 157.

Nahhhhh .. not at all a winning total in T20 cricket … but yes .. definitely competitive.

Sreesanth cannot keep the game simple … He tries different things and pays the price. That’s what happens when Imran Nazir took him apart for 20+ runs in his first over. This match had all the ingredients of an exciting thriller … the balance shifting from one side to another.

[I am suffering from fever and I am still glued to the TV set. Excitement to the fullest, really!!]

The final over, as usual Dhoni showing confidence in Joginder Sharma, or was it a confidence on Joginder’s luck. He’s by far the “bakwaas” bowler of India’s side .. but he brought an element of luck with him … whatever may be the case, he got us two consequtive wins … first Australia and then Pakistan. Misbah played a superb knock and am sure he would have been a candidate for the Man Of the Match. Irfan bowled his heart out .. and he deserved a trophy, really …

So, finally India won the Cup, one might say it is of the shortest version of the game .. but who cares … that is what people like today.

Great Going India …

CHAK DE INDIAAAAAAAAA!!!!

India-Pak T20 match

Given a bowling pitch and IND-PAK match is a history!!

No cricketer, no story writer would have written a better script of the India-Pak first T20 match. What happened on the ground is now a history!!
India with their usual bit started not by hitting runs but by getting out. In no time were they four down for 40 odd. The point to highlight here is that it was a bowling pitch. Well, not exactly a bowling pitch but definitely with juice in the wicket. It was asking the bowlers, “Bowl at right length and line and I will assist you”. That’s what did our bowlers from India and pakistan and we had a thriller on our hands ….

It all started with India playing badly and not showing respect to the excellent bowling display shown by pak bowlers and were really in spot of bother. But then uthappa and Dhoni played sensibly and helped India build a decent, although not a winning score. Everything happens so fast in T20 in the addvertisements are suffering a loss. Not even two adds are telecasted between overs. That’s really nice for us.

Pakistan started their innings with a purpose. Not over aggressive. Indian bowlers showed that they can be more than dangerous if given a good wicket to bowl on. Tight bowling and an amazing fielding kep them into the game but for the late knocks of the Pak lower order batsmen.
Finally, we witnessed which is normally relate with Soccer. The shootout, it was rather a “knockout” Bowlers coming for party again and India winning the knockout and hence the match 3-0

So, this was a match having given a fair chance to each and every cricketer in the team. Bowlers getting a good condition to bowl on and batsmen are always the one taking advantage…and yes … everyone enjoyed it for sure..

What an amazing match .. A memorable one for sure!!!

Time For T20

Well .. Its time to think, who's game it is .. batsmen, bowlers or fielders ... Twenty-20 definately shows, its for no one but People ... for spectators to see, enjoy the thrill and live the moment.
Its just fewmonths that 20T came down to international level and we see a T20 worldcup. the excitment it has created among the cricket playing nations is just amazing. Everyone is talking about it and every person is watching the match. Three matches every day is like a feast to the cricket lovers. Three matches which means atleast 6 nations are involved on any given day is just amazing ..

Lifestyle has changed completely and its very fast paced. Same can be seen in sports too and especially in Cricket. T20 is the outcome of this neccesity. people want excitement and a fast paced 3 hrs cricket is what T20 provides you with. Its a treat to watch when Gayle hits 117 of 50 odd balls or Gibbs hits 90 of 50 balls. The range od shots the T20 game has brought up definately brings an important question to everyone's mind ...

Which game brings out more skill, creativity of a player - one day cricket or T20 cricket?
Well, judging from the things happening from past 2 days, the answer is pretty simple .. Who would have thought that a player can hit a six above his head behind the wicketkeeper. But its a trend now in T20. Sweep to a fast bowler, nick to third man, six over square leg, shots behind wicket keeper are the innovations T20 has brought up ... thanks to the thinking cap put by the players/coaches. But at the same time .. we are neglecting a very crucial element of the game "Bowling and the bowlers" ... Think as a bowler and decide

Is T20 really an asset to the game of Cricket?
Ahhh ... a Bowler would definately say NO... We are thinking about the "game of cricket" and bowlers/bowling are essential part of it. Which bowler can survive in T20. Now the question is, are they suppossed to survive, to start with? :) And really NO is the answer. But then, why is it so cruel towards them. Its like everyone is enjoying the new version of the game and only bowlers are paying for it. Bowlers here have no choice but to hope and get wickets, which ofcourse is at the mercy of the batsment. He makes a mistake and you make for it.
But then, as the whole world is dancing to the tunes of T20, there has to be something about it. Its for sure a good game to watch, spectators enjoying every bit of it, batsmen using their bats like swords and cutting out every trick thrown towards them by the bowlers and the ICC making out big chunk of money out of it. So, should their be something which would keep the interest of the game still very much alive but also give equal opportunities to the bowlers ….

What can be done for the bowlers?
Can something be done by which bowlers can have some confidence while playing this mini version of the game. Cricket pitch plays a very important role in any version of cricket and what if it starts supporting the bowlers. Bouncy tracks, green grass on the pitch, windy and moist conditions are the conditions every bowler dreams to bowl on. Well, cant help them with the environmental conditions but pitch conditions can definitely made to help them. That evens it out. Batsmen have the fielding restrictions, power plays, 10 wickets and many more conditions suiting them then only this change in the pitches can make it even for the batsmen and the bowlers.
Well, finally the decision making committee is sitting pretty and enjoying the T20 world cup currently and indeed it’s the tournament to watch out for. Although it will not take the place of One day cricket or the test cricket but one thing can be said for sure that ..

T20 IS ROCKING !!!! and it is here to stay …