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 …