WELL PLAYED TEAM INDIA

A FAIRY TALE JOURNEY COMES TO AN END

Courtesy: Times of India

Days before the Men in Blue took on their arch rivals across the border in their World Cup opener, most of the fans and former cricketers had virtually written them off. In the aftermath of the disastrous tour Down Under where India lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-0 to Australia and then failed to qualify for the finale of the ODI tri-series, not many would have expected the Indians to finish as one of the four semi-finalists in this edition of the Cricket World Cup. However, as they say, "Cometh the hour, cometh the man". In this case though, it was not one man, but a team of 15 men who brought joy to a cricket crazy nation of over a billion. The Indians dominated the Pool B vanquishing all their opponents including a mercurial Pakistani side, routing pre-tournament favorites South Africa and seeing off the challenge posed by the West Indies. Though the quarter-finals against Bangladesh was mired in controversy thanks to umpiring blunders, there was no doubt as to which was the better team on that day. Though the fairy-tale ended with a massive 95 runs defeat against a strong Australian team, the Indians could still hold their heads high; after all, they had played superb cricket throughout the tournament.

Perhaps, the biggest revelation of the series, from the Indian perspective was our bowling. What was suppose to be our Achilles heel turned out to be the most potent weapon in our arsenal. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for me, finishing with 17 wickets in the 7 matches that he played with an enviable average of 17.29. Umesh Yadav who bagged 18 scalps in the tournament, including a four wicket haul against the mighty Australian line up ended as the third highest wicket taker in the series. One aspect that the pacer from UP can improve upon is his tendency to bowl at least one 'bad' ball per over. Meanwhile Mohit Sharma who got a break after Ishant was ruled out of the world cup due to an injury, justified his selection into the side by maintaining the pressure that the strike bowlers had built up during their opening spell. Ravi Ashwin too was spot on; he was amongst the top three spinners of the tournament behind Vettori and Tahir. In fact, India was the only team to take all the wickets in the first seven matches they played. Moreover, two of our fast bowlers or as the critics call them 'medium pacers', namely Yadav and Shami feature amonsgt the top five wicket takers of the series. And for your information, there was just one Indian batsman in the list of top five batsmen in the 2015 edition of the World Cup. Surprising, isn't it?

Apart from our bowling, our fielding during the course of the world cup was spectacular to say the least. Diving, sliding and direct hits have never been our forte in the past. However, one of the reasons for us to make it so far in the tournament was our excellent fielding. Perhaps, the one moment that epitomizes the high standards that the Indians displayed throughout the tournament was the run out of A B de Villiers due to an bullet like throw from Mohit Sharma along the boundary line in our second group match. Other highlights during the world cup include Jadeja's run out of Imrul Kayes and Dhawan's juggling act to send back the in-form Mahmudullah in the quarters.

India has always been known for producing some of the best batsmen in the world. Be it the textbook of batting - Sunil Gavaskar or the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, our batting has been our USP and has won us a lot of matches. Coming to the 2015 World Cup, four of our batters - Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli scored centuries in the tournament. Serious questions were raised over the form of Shikhar Dhawan before the tournament; however, the southpaw answered his detractors by finishing as the fifth highest run getter in the tournament, scoring 412 runs at an average of a little over 51, including two centuries. Raina's century against Zimbabawe and his innings against Pakistan were a treat to the eyes. Though there is no doubt that our batters did well, in my opinion, they did not realize their full potential on the big stage. Rohit took ages to finally break free, Virat failed to live up to the expectation after that century against Pakistan in the opener whereas Rahane too could have done much more.

MSD, possibly playing in his last ODI world cup proved why he is the greatest captain in the history of Indian cricket. He marshaled his troops well. To be frank, I think that the team that won the holy grail in 2011 was far stronger than this one. In spite of this, Dhoni led from the front and his tactics were largely responsible for us doing so well in this series. Again, one aspect that he could have done better was team selection. It was heartening to see the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel and Stuart Binny just warming the benches throughout the tournament. I mean, these guys could have at least got an opportunity against the lesser teams like UAE or Zimbabwe, especially after it was pretty much clear that we were sure to finish at the top in our pool. With Rohit Sharma failing to make an impact, Rayudu should have got a call whereas Jadeja's indifferent performance should have led to the selection of Binny, a player who was picked ahead of Yuvraj.

There are a list of the things that the team could have done better. But then, the big picture is that we played well, just like the defending champs. Of course, we failed to make it two times in a row. However, the good part is that we did not surrender the trophy tamely, as many expected. There were lots of people who said and wrote a lot of things of how the Men in Blue had let the country down. However, the truth was that team played some very exciting cricket and tried their very best against a well balanced Australian side which was far better than us. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of the fans felt this way. Well played, Team India! We are still proud of you guys!

THE PLAYERS WE WILL MISS...

AT THE 2015 WORLD CUP

The 2011 World Cup is extremely special for all Indian cricket fans, me being no exception. With India winning international cricket's most coveted title after a gap of 28 long years, the scenes of captain M S Dhoni sealing the victory in the finals over the Lankans with his trade mark 'helicopter shot' or that of Harbhajan Singh and Virat Kohli carrying batting legend Sachin Tendulkar post the prize distribution ceremony on his home ground at the Wankhede in Mumbai still fill our chest with pride. Overall, the entire 45 day tournament hosted by three Asian countries was hailed as a major success, generating millions of dollars in revenue apart from the display of quality cricket from players of the 14 participating nations. As the next edition of the series co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand is all set to kick-off in the next couple of weeks, here is a look at the five players who we will miss at the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

(5) Muttaih Muralitharan: For the legend that he is, the spin wizard from Sri Lanka did not set the stage on fire, at least in the manner that he and millions of his fans would have wished, four years ago. With the world cup being held in the Sub-continent which is known to favor the spinners, a lot was expected from him considering that he had already announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of the tournament. Of course, that does not mean that the Lankan spinner did not leave his mark on the 2011 edition of the tournament. In the nine matches that he played for in the series, he picked up 15 wickets at a bowling average of 19.40. His best 4 for 25 came against New Zealand in a group match. Facing a confident Indian side at the finals, he was expected to turn the match in favor of the islanders by destroying the Indian middle order which was known to have problems with the turning ball, after Malinga had sent back openers - Sachin and Sehwag. However, Dhoni who was Murali's team mate in the IPL side Chennai Super Kings, negotiated him well, thereby helping India lift the cup. The highest wicket taker in both ODIs and Tests, he called it a day at the end of the world cup, a tournament that he had won way back in 1996. Truly, for the kind of bowler that Murali was, Rangana Herath has big shoes fill in.

(4) Jonathan Trott: The stylish right handed batsman was England's most prolific run getter in the last edition of the world cup. Having scored five half centuries and ending with an excellent average of little over 60, he was fourth on the list of the highest run scoring batsmen, behind some of the best batters of our generation including Sachin Tendulkar and Kumara Sangakkara. In 2011, he became synonymous with 'consistency'; top scoring in 4 of the 7 matches that England played in the series including a brilliant 86 against Sri Lanka in the fourth quarter finals that saw the end of English efforts to win their maiden world cup. Possibly, the only thing that Trott could have done was that he failed to convert his starts into big scores. Battling stress-related issues since 2013 that even saw him pull out of the Ashes midway, the 33 year old was left out of the list of 30 probables for the tournament in a move that surprised many. It is now up to the young guns - Morgan, Root and Ballance to shoulder responsibility of the English batting order in absence of ace performers including Trott and his then captain Andy Strauss.

(3) Zaheer Khan: At 32 years, the left-arm pacer was in peak form in the summer of 2011. Spear heading the relatively mediocre Indian bowling attack, he proved to be a match winner, snapping 21 wickets, finishing as the joint highest wicket taker along with Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi. He bowled about 81 overs in the tournament, the highest by any bowler, showing how fit he was back then. An average of below 19 and a strike rate of 23.2 portray his ability to pick up scalps on the 'dead' pitches of the Sub-continent that are considered to be the 'graveyard' for fast bowlers. Apart from striking early, he also displayed the unique ability to get scalps with the old ball when he came in for his second or third spell in the death overs. In the course of the tournament, he was Dhoni's go-to guy whenever a partnership was going strong. He took three wickets against four different teams in the qualifying stages - England, Netherlands, Ireland and West Indies. He produced another brilliant spell in the finals, taking three wickets in spite of conceding 60 runs in his 10 over quota. Though he won a lot of praise for his role in India's world cup triumph, his slump began immediately after the tournament when he injured his hamstring in first test in the disastrous tour of England. To be frank, we have still not found a replacement for the old war horse as yet; Yadav, Kumar and Shammi still have a long way to go.

(2) Sachin Tendulkar: There is hardly a list which the batting maestro from Mumbai does not top. Still, I rate him the second on this count down. Anyway, international cricket's greatest batsman who like Murali was playing his final world cup always has a penchant for delivering on the biggest stage of them all. Featuring in all editions of the tournament since 1992, he is the highest run scorer in world cup history having amassed a staggering 2278 runs. Of this, 482 came in 2011 when Sachin emerged as the second highest run getter behind Dilshan. The batting legend scored two centuries, both of which came against quality oppositions. An innings of 120 against England and another ton versus South Africa, the only match that India lost in the series. Besides, he went past the 50 mark on two occasions. Playing the final in front of his home crowd in Mumbai, he was out cheaply. Nonetheless, appreciating his contribution to Indian cricket as a whole and for inspiring a generation of Indians across different streams, the young brigade honored Sachin by carrying him on their shoulders in the post match celebration while he waved the tricolor. With this win, he achieved the only laurel that had eluded the Little Master for so long, silencing his few remaining critics. There is no doubt that India is going to miss its greatest cricketing son in this edition of the world cup.

(1) Yuvraj Singh: Battling bad form, inconsistency and mostly importantly - Cancer, Yuvraj fulfilled his true potential in world cup 2011 where he was adjudicated as the 'Man of the Series'. He scored 362 runs in the series at an outstanding average of over 90, the next best only to Kumara Sangakkara. This included a ton against West Indies and four half centuries. His innings of 57 against Australia saw the Indians show the door to the defending champions. It was his bowling performances though that played a crucial role in India's triumph. With 15 wickets in his kitty, he was fifth on the list of highest wicket takers in the tournament. His best bowling performance of 5 for 31 came against the minnows Ireland. However, that in no way belittles his superlative performance in the series. In every match, he chipped in either with the bat or the ball, justifying his tag as an 'All-rounder'. In a team comprising of match winners like Sachin, Gambhir, Sehwag and Zaheer, Yuvi shone like the Pole Star. Unfortunately, he was over-looked in the squad for this world cup with the selectors preferring young Stuart Binny over him.

SPELL BOUND

AMIT MISHRA IMPRESSES WITH HIS INSPIRING SPELL

Courtesy: ESPNCricinfo

The Asia cup encounter between the sub-continental rivals lived up to the expectation. In a closely fought match which was scheduled on a Sunday to boost the TRPs, the mercurial Shahid Afridi led Pakistan to a memorable win over India with a single wicket remaining. Chasing a target of 245, a relatively easy total in a game unfairly favoring the batsmen, Mohammed Hafeez displayed superb all round performance which included a half century and a spell of 2/38 in 9 overs. He was judged the Man of the Match. While I am a bit disappointed that we lost, and lost to a political rival, the closely fought contest was indeed a boost to ODI cricket as a whole. At a time when many including some of the game's best are of the opinion that ODIs should be done away with in favor of the T20s, the nail biting finish will help bring some interest back into the 50 over format of the game. You see I am a little biased towards the ODIs; for all of us who were hooked on to the game in the nineties and the early years of the millennium, cricket was somewhat synonymous to the 50 over format.

As I go down the memory lane I can recollect several snaps from what seems to be a bygone era - the inconsolable Vinod Kambli walking back after in Eden Gardens after the match was awarded to Sri Lanka in 1996, Tendulkar's consecutive centuries against the Australians in Sharjah, Ganguly's brilliant 183 at Tauton in 1999, the spectacular victory over England in the 2001 Natwest Trophy and so on. Times have changed... The interest that I had in the game has all but waned off. A jam packed cricketing calendar, the bastardization of the game after the advent of T20, the 'bloody' IPL and most importantly, the retirement of my cricketing Gods - Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar has killed the cricket fan in me, well almost. While I do keep myself updated with the news about the sport that I once followed so passionately, the 10 odd overs that I saw during the Pakistani innings this Sunday was the only piece of live cricket that I have seen since the beginning of the year, at least as far as I can recollect. While the defeat still hurts, there was this one thing that impressed me the most.

When was the last time you saw an Indian bowler finish with figures of 2 for 28 in his quota of 10 overs. I mean, lets face it. In spite of the fact that we are considered amongst the top five sides in the 50 over version, our bowling attack is one of the weakest in the world. Apart from Mohammed Shami who has been the pick of our bowlers in the last few months, the rest have simply struggled. Zaheer Khan looks a pale shadow of the lethal weapon he used to be earlier, the young Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is failing to find the right rhythm and Ishant Sharma has become the butt of jokes for consistently leaking runs at crucial moments in the game. Though we cannot expect our pacers to spew venom on flat Indian wickets, the fact that they did not too well in ODIs even on overseas tour is a major cause of concern. While we have never had a great pace battery, it is very sad to see that spin, our tradition strength too has become 'impotent'. Ravichandran Ashwin is more of a batsman than a good bowler. Ravindra Jadeja needs to horne his cricketing skills soon so that the team can pick an additional specialist batsman or a bowler as and when the situation demands.

Coming back to the big clash, you may argue that Ashwin with 3/44 has better figures than Amit Mishra. However, if you had seen the match, you will know why I single out the leg spinner for praise. Considering that he had not played an ODI for the last six months, the kind of pressure on him was huge; in fact it was compounded many times by the fact that were facing Pakistan. However, Mishra looked lethal right from his first spell. With his intelligent bowling, he along with Ashwin applied the breaks on the Pakistani chase in the middle overs. He set up Ahmed Shehzad nicely as the right handed opener hit one straight to Ashwin to give Mishra his first wicket. He also removed the dangerous Umar Akmal whose mis-hit went straight up in the air as Jadeja snapped a good catch. Till his ninth over, the leggie had conceded a meagre 16 run. His economy of 2.8 was the best amongst the bowlers on either side in the match, a superb achievement when you take into account the presence of quality spinners like Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez in the opposition camp. After Mishra, the bowler with the best economy rate was the debutante Mohammad Talha who took 2 for 22 giving 3.14 runs per over. While his bowling has improved, it will be an additional feather in his hat if Amit can concentrate a little more on his batting too. More importantly, while stand-in captain Virat has showed his faith in Mishra, will Dhoni do so. With such form, it will be difficult even for Captain Cool to keep the leg spinner out.

IMAGES 

(1) Courtesy: ESPNCricinfo
We showed a lot of character - Kohli (Link)

Q TIME: LEANDER PAES

THE AGELESS WONDER AT THE GRAND SLAMS

Original: Sports Pulse

(1) Leander Paes won his 14^th Grand Slam last week when he and his partner Radek Stepanek beat the pair of Peya & Soares last week at the US Open. In which year did he win his first grand slam and who was his partner?

1997 & Martin Damm

1998 & Lukas Dlouhy

1999 & Mahesh Bhupathi

2000 & David Riki

(2) When was the last time that Paes did not feature in the finals of any grand slam in a calendar year in both Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories?

1998

2002

2006

2010

(3) In terms of numbers, which has been Leander's most successful grand slam in Men's Doubles category?

Australian Open

Wimbeldon

French Open

US Open

(4) When was the only time that Paes met his former partner and fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi in the finals of a Men's grand slam tournament?

US Open 2007

US Open 2008

US Open 2009

US Open 2010

(5) How many times has Leander faced the pair of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the finals of grand slams?

Six

Five

Seven

Eight

(6) Apart from Mahesh, Paes has played in the finals of grand slams with four other partners, namely David Riki, Martin Damm, Lukas Dlouhy and Radek Stepanek. To which country do these guys belong to?

Czech Republic

Slav Republic

Serbia

Croatia

(7) Name the former Women's No 1 with whom Paes has won two Mixed Doubles titles.

Billie Jean King

Martina Hingis

Steffi Graf

Martina Navratilova

(8) Who has been Leander's most successful female partner in grand slams?

Lisa Raymond

Martina Navratilova

Cara Black

Elena Vesnina

(9) Apart from two Men's Doubles trophies, Paes also won a Mixed Doubles title in the year 1999 at the Wimbeldon. Who was his partner here?

Lisa Raymond

Martina Navratilova

Cara Black

Elena Vesnina

(10) Which is the only grand slam which Leander Paes has not won in the Mixed Doubles category?

French Open

Australian Open

Wimbeldon

US Open

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING SACHIN'S 200^th TEST

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - arguably the greatest Indian to be born in the post independence period is approaching yet another milestone. After having dominated world cricket for around twenty-five years, having claimed all the top records and more importantly, having carried the hopes of over a billion people in a cricket crazy country, the Little Master is today, the top most sporting icon in our nation's history and is counted amongst the best sports persons in the world. For the boy from Mumbai who first burst into the international scene at the tender age of 16 against arch rivals Pakistan in 1989, Sachin has indeed come a long away. Today, at the twilight of his glorious career, he has left behind his other illustrious contemporaries - stylish south paw Brian Lara, three time World Cup champion Ricky Ponting and the classy Jacques Kallis and is undoubtedly, the greatest man ever to wield the willow since Sir Don Bradman. Apart from scaling new heights on the pitch, the respect that he commands among his rivals, the cricketing fraternity and  the people all over the world only adds to the aura around him.

However, Indian cricket has always found itself at the center of one controversy or another and at times, even Sachin's name has been unnecessarily dragged into it. Take this for example. With Tendlya all set to play his 200th Test match in the upcoming home series against the West Indies in November, a war of sorts has broken amongst cricket associations as to which stadium in the country will get this ultimate honour of hosting the God of Indian Cricket as he achieves yet another milestone. The Wankhede stadium in Mumbai where Tendulkar played in his youth, the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Chepauk in Chennai where Sachin averages in the nineties and finally the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad and the Chinnaswamy ground in Bengaluru which are next in line to host a five day match according to BCCI's rotation policy are said to be the possible venues for the second match of the series wherein the batting wizard will become the first and possibly the last person (considering the lack of interest in this format today) to complete this unique feat.

It is easy to understand why such a fuss is being made about a trivial issue. While we have produced some remarkable cricketers like the legendary Maharaja Ranjit Singhji who captivated the minds of the English audience in the early twentieth century, 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid who personified perfection, Sachin occupies the highest position in the pantheon of Indian cricket. His records are unparalleled, his popularity cuts across all differences - caste, creed, region and religion and most importantly, the manner in which he carries himself on and off the field has made him an ambassador of both, the country and cricket. No wonder, it will be a matter of great pride for any city to host the second match as India's favourite cricketing son scores a double ton of another kind. Besides pride, one also has to remember the financial aspect involved. After all, the BCCI and the state associations can go to any extent to rake in the moolah. The excitement amongst the public ahead of the series is high and the revenues generated during the match, in terms of ticket sales as well as advertisements will be huge. It should not be a surprise then that different stadiums are battling it out for the right to host this historic test.

Now coming to the likely contenders, it seems like Sachin's home ground - the Wankhede is leading the race. Those in favour of Mumbai are playing the regional card for their advantage. They say that it is only logical that Sachin completes his feat in front of his 'home crowd', at the very place where about 27 years ago, he served as a ball boy. To be frank, I do not buy this argument at all. On numerous occasions, Tendulkar has made it clear that he is an Indian first and then a Maharashtrian. When he scores run, the whole of India and not only the Mumbaikars, cheer for him. He is a national hero and I think, all cricket lovers in different parts of the country, who have loved and adored him for all these years have an equal right to witness their icon reach this landmark. Another strong contender is said to be the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The third largest cricket stadium in the world with respect to seating capacity is said to have the backing of the BCCI Interim President Jagmohan Dalmia. The point being made is that the large crowds - approximately 66,000 and the illustrious history will provide the perfect setting for the match. Again, if this argument is taken into account, then every important cricket match held in the country should be played only in Kolkata. This is unfair to other stadiums who themselves have a rich cricketing legacy in their own right. On similar lines, the Chepauk is said to be making its case considering that the Master has a fairy tale record here. He has scored five centuries on this ground Chennai with the highest being 155 no against England in 1993. While it is true that players tend to have their favourite hunting grounds, the records cannot be the criteria for selecting venues.

In my opinion, it is only fair that the rotation policy that has been in place for several years now is followed and Ahmedabad or Bengaluru get the right to host the game. The policy, one of the few good things that the Board has ever done, makes sure that all eligible grounds in the country get equal opportunity to host matches and the local fans do not have to wait for long periods to see their sporting stars in action. In case, the rule is broken then a wrong precedent will be set and similar requests can be made in the future, leading to more chaos and finally, dirty linen being washed in public. However, past experience only tells us that the matter is only going to get uglier by the day. Soon, our politicians will join in. Self appointed upholders of the Marathi cause - Raj Thackeray of the MNS and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena will soon make some nasty comments. Not to be left behind, the NCP will also issue a press release to prevent their opponents from gaining any political mileage out of the situation. Fiery Mamta will vouch for Kolkata whereas Amma may well bat for the southern metropolis. It looks like the wicket is only going to get more difficult to bat on even before the first ball of the second test match is bowled.

CHAK DE... INDIA

CAN HIL RESTORE INDIAN HOCKEY'S LOST PRIDE

Courtesy: Outlook India

It was once the pride of the nation. For the first few times since it became a permanent fixture in the Summer Olympics in 1928, this sport brought both, name and fame to the country and its people, much before we became a sovereign state. The dominance continued even after independence and subsequent partition. It was here that some of the best players in history - famed right half Leslie Claudius, expert forwards Balbir Singh Sr. and Mohammed Shahid and arguably the greatest player to have ever played this game, Dhyan Chand were born. However, as Dr. Mallya will tell you, 'Good times do not last forever'. Blame it on the introduction of astro turfs and the utter failure of Indians to adapt to it or the callousness of the administrators and the government; the rise of cricket or the inability of the national teams to do well in major tournaments on a consistent basis, post 1980, Indian Hockey seems to have fallen into a bottomless pit, from where there is little or no hope, whatsoever of making any sort of comeback. The very fact that India - eight time Olympic champions, rather embarrassingly failed to even qualify for the games in Beijing and then, finished last in London, sums up the whole story. As the region of influence shifted, first to neigbouring Pakistan and then to Europe and Australia, sadly, our national sport still remains ailed by innumerable malaise which needed to be weeded out for those good old days to come back. I believe that the first edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) that kick started on 14^th January this year could just be the first step in this direction.

The HIL is a hockey tournament featuring five teams based out of prominent cities that play against each other, at home and away, in round robin format over a period of time. Organized by Hockey India, which is one of the two, yes two bodies, presently governing our national sport and having the blessings of the International Hockey Federation (IHF), this league is based on the lines of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) and some what similar to the much hyped and now defunct Premiere Hockey League (PHL). Consisting of five franchisee - Wave Group's Delhi Wave Riders, Dabur's Mumbai Magicians, Jaypee Group's Punjab Warriors, Ranchi Rhinos promoted by the Patel-Uniexel Group and Sahara-owned Uttar Pradesh Wizards, the inaugural edition will see the international stars and local heroes, chosen by teams via bidding, battle it out for the coveted first prize which carries a handsome cash prize besides several other incentives for outstanding performances for each game, both for the players and spectators. With the IHF allocating a 30 day window for the HIL, some of the most talented players in the world including 'Player of the Year' Holland's Teun de Nooijer, Australian legend Jamie Dwyner and German skipper Morris Fuertze will participate in the tournament, providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for Indian players, especially the younger lot, to learn and improve their games by interacting with them. Besides the moolah, quality coaches and training staff, state of the art facilities and finally, media and public attention will all contribute in building a positive atmosphere for the growth of hockey in the country.

Cricket, which enjoys the position of religion in the country has often been criticized for the sorry state that other sports find themselves in. However, the performance of the Men in Blue over the last two years has been far from satisfactory. After lifting the 2011 World Cup, the consecutive overseas series whitewash, first in England and then Australia, the retirement of stalwarts like Dravid and Laxman and more recently, the shocking defeat to Englishmen on 'turning' tracks at home has meant that India which was then at the apex of test rankings is now languishing at the 5^th spot. On the other hand, though we may have reclaimed the top spot in ODIs, the shock defeat to Pakistan at home over the year end and the failure to qualify for the finals of the Asia Cup, courtesy a defeat to the minnows Bangladesh still hurts all cricket fans, including me. And the retirement of the 'God', Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar from limited overs cricket has left a void, especially amongst those who have seen the game in the 90s when the little boy from Mumbai carried the burden of expectation of the Indian public. Moreover, with the team playing non-stop throughout the year, with minimal breaks, there is a feeling that interest level amongst the spectators is dipping. Thus with the popularity of the game dwindling, it is an opportunity for other outdoor and indoor games to make a mark. With the introduction of the HIL coinciding with decline in cricket, the latter's loss could just be hockey's gain.

Of course, one thing to be added here is that the HIL is not some magic wand that will put the things in order, not atleast for the next 2-3 years. The problems that ail Indian hockey are complex and deep rooted, they will certainly not be solved just by a month long tournament. The power tussle between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has still not been resolved fully and there is an urgent need to bring the two warring parties together so as to iron out all existing differences. Secondly, astro turfs stadiums need to be set up in different parts of the country and all domestic tournaments should be played on them. In fact, training sessions for all levels should be conducted on artificial turfs. Considering that these turfs are quite expensive, the Sports Ministry needs to take a more proactive role here by urging the Union government to announce a special funds for the revival of hockey. Hockey camps and academies need to be set up in places like Jharkhand, Punjab, Odisha and Coorg in Karnataka, which have traditional been associated with this game. Besides quality coaches and support staff, former legends from India and abroad need to be roped in to mentor the younger sides. The Corporate sector too needs to do it part by investing in the development of the game. I must mention that Hero Moto Corp, the title sponsor of the HIL is leading the way here and has been associated with several other tournaments in the past.

And last but not the least, the national side needs to win some of the upcoming tournaments to re-kindle public interest in the game, without which it will die a slow and rather painful death. Remember, it was that unexpected win against the might West Indies in 1983 that help cricket achieve the cult-like status that it enjoys today, turning the members of the victorious team into demi-gods over night. While it is true that Indian hockey too has seen many such glorious day in the past, in fact much more than cricket, it is a fact that our wins have come during a time when European nations had just started playing this sport. As such, a podium finish in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics or the 2014 Hockey World Cup today, at a time when the odds are stacked against us, could tip the balance in the national sport's favour. With the world class players being a part of it, the experience of playing in the HIL will surely boost the morale of the team, helping them perform better in the upcoming days. The players should make the best of the opportunity that this league provides them, picking up tips from the coaches and players around them will certainly come in handy while playing at the international level. Hopefully, the day is not far when we see our team beats the best in the world and re claims those good old times of Indian hockey. Come on India, Chak de!

IMAGES

(1) Courtesy: Outlook India Source: Outlook India - India at the Olympics (Link)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SACHIN

THE MASTER TURNS A YEAR OLDER

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

He is India's greatest sporting icon; at 5 feet 5 inches he towers over other cricketing legends, over the superstars of the past like Sir Vivian Richards, Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar to name a few and has raced far ahead of this illustrious contemporaries - the likes of Lara, Waugh, Ponting, Kallis and Dravid to achieve a stature equivalent to, if not more than that of Sir Don Bradman. As Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar turned a year old on Tuesday - 24th April, many believe that like wine, he seems to be getting better with time, skillfully changing his playing style to keep up pace with a game that is evolving on a daily basis.

An orthodox batting style, straight from the batting manual, solid posture, perfect footwork, precise hand-eye coordination, superb timing, the knack of punishing the loose deliveries - the typical features of the best batters from the classical era  way back in the 50s and 60s coupled with the trademarks that the masters of the past paced formats have introduced including excellent running between the wickets, an arsenal consisting of a wide variety of shots, the ability to change the tempo based on the circumstances and clear the boundary at will have made him the most lethal man ever to weld the bat. Apart from blending the best of all forms of cricket, perhaps one of the finest achievement of the 'Little Master' is the fact that in this age of paparazzi and sensational journalism he has largely remained free from all sort of controversies in the 23 year  long career. Thanks to his immense talent yet down-to-earth attitude, impeccable integrity and total commitment towards the country, he has earned the respect of the whole cricketing fraternity, cutting across the lines of nationality. Not only is he the greatest batsman of all times, through his persistent hard work, grit, determination and most importantly, the manner in which he conducts himself, both on and off the field, he is perhaps the best role model for any budding sportsperson around the world.

Every avid follower of the game, whether or not, he/she is a fan of the 'Bombay Bomber' will agree that Sachin has been one of the few players who have consistently performed well across the three formats in the most hostile of conditions against the most formidable bowling attacks. Gifted with a rare combination of a flawless batting technique and exquisite stroke play, one can surely bet on the 'Mumbai Maestro' to bat out a whole day on a deteriorating fifth day pitch to save a crucial Test match or play the sheath anchor's role to help India put on a massive score on the board against the toughest bowling attacks in an important ODI or help the Mumbai Indians chase a stiff target courtesy some fine power hitting in an IPL encounter.

Adam Gilchrist watches as Tendulkar drives Shane Warne at Sharjah 

Even before he made his debut on the international arena in 1989, the Marathi mulga had created quite a splash amidst cricketing circles in the country and many of the top cricketers had predicted that he would go a long way. The first tryst with fame was when a fifteen year old Tendulkar along with school mate Vinod Kambli put on an unbeaten partnership of 664 runs in a match in the Lord Harris Shield inter-school tournament. A sting of consistent performances at various levels soon caught the attention of Mumbai Ranji captain Dileep Vengsarkar and he was called to represent his city at the domestic level. A hundred against Gujarat on his first appearance was the beginning of a dream season that saw the teenage finish as Mumbai's highest run scorer. Next, he crossed the three digit mark on debut in Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy. Thus it was very clear even at such a young age that Sachin would one day go on to perform many miracles on the cricket pitch .

And unlike other prodigies that seem to fizzle out and disappear into the oblivion after an initial bang, Tendulkar has managed to live up to the expectations of over a billion people and continues to go strong, even today, nearly 23 years after he walked on to the Gadaffi stadium in Karachi to play his maiden test match against arch rivals Pakistan. Over the years, 'the Master Blaster' has moved from one level to other, lifting his standards with each game, reaching milestones, setting records and most importantly, winning hearts of the fans around the world. Today, the genius batsman holds several batting records, and at least the record books suggest that he is a strong contender to be the best batter of all times. He has made the maximum number of appearances, the highest runs and the most number of centuries and half centuries in Tests as well as ODIs. He's been a part of the team that was ranked Numero Uno in Tests and lifted the ICC World Cup in 2011. Though he has not been able to take the sport's newest format - T20 by storm, nonetheless, he continues to be one of the top contributors for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL each year.

A closer analysis of the Ton-dulkar's statistics, beyond the records may help us understand why he is the most worshiped player in the history of the game. Apart from scoring over fifty tons in the five day format, his excellent conversion rate - 65 50s to 51 100s puts him in a select league of players who have the skills and patience to play long innings and seldom throw away their wickets once set. In One Dayers, his strike rate of 86.23, courtesy his ability to clear the ropes by playing elegant stokes rather than reckless slogs has certainly made him one of the most feared  play makers of his times. His is the greatest performer in this format, having been awarded the Man of the Match award on 60 occasions and had been adjudicated the Man of the Series 14 times, both of which are world records. Another feather in Tendulkar's cap has been the fact that he performs exceedingly well on the biggest cricketing stage of them all - the ICC World Cup, a tournament that he has been associated with since 1992 and in which he has scored the maximum number of runs and hundreds. Finally, Tendulkar's record against the best team of his times - Australia has been phenomenal to say the least. While he has been the nemesis of the boys from Down Under, tormenting their bowlers, he also enjoys a large fan base from this part of the world, thanks to Bradman's public acknowledgement of his admiration of the Indian batsman.

Sachin lifts his bat after a Test ton

Though his individual record has been exemplary, Sachin has never allowed his larger-than-life image to adversely affect his or the team's performance. Understanding that cricket is a team sport, he has always given priority to the cause of the team, often at the expense of his personal landmarks. Over the years, all the players who have played with him unanimously agree that he brings in a lot of positivity in the dressing room, lifting team morale even during critical situations and most importantly, helping the younger lot in getting adjusted to playing at the international level. For the youngsters, who have grown up idolizing the 'Little Genius', the fact fact that they get to be in his company is within itself, a dream come true. With over two decades of experience under his belt, Tendulkar is the best mentor for these players and all the tips that they can pick up from him will surely come in handy during the future. And it is not only the young guns that come to him seeking advice. It was he who in 1996 convinced a reluctant Azharuddin to come out to bat during an ODI against Pakistan at Sharjah. The former captain who was going through a lean patch made a blitz-kreig 29 off 10 balls and helped India win the match.

Apart from cricketing skills, what the younger player can and should learn from this 'Cricketing Star' is the manner in which he handles pressure. Ours is a cricket crazy nation and the public can be quite harsh and unrealistic at times during criticism. Nobody knows this more than Sachin who is expected to score a century each time he walks out onto the field to bat. And with the 'Magician from Mumbai' smashing a majority of batting records on a regular basis, the expectations that the people have from their favorite cricketing hero has only multiplied. In the early and mid-nineties when Indian cricket was going through a lean phase, it was Tendulkar's effortless batting which brought cheers to the masses. All hopes were pinned on him and people would literally switch off their TV sets once he fell. Which Indian fan can forget that fateful day in summer of 1996 when an upbeat Indian team slumped from 97/1 to 120/8 after Sachin was stumped by Kaluwitharna off the bowling of Jayasuriya after a gritty knock of 65 in the semi-finals of the 1996 Wills World Cup? Fortunately enough, India did find a number of match-winners in the subsequent years but the pressure on Sachin still remains to be the same for there is an air of invincibility that will always be associated with him. 

In spite of all his heroic on the cricketing field, the numerous awards in recognition of his selfless service towards the game and the nation, perhaps the biggest achievement of the great Sachin Tendulkar has been that even today he continues to be deeply rooted onto the ground. In a country where cricketers are worshiped as demi gods, probably, his biggest asset is the fact that even though he was exposed to public spotlight and media glare at an early part of his life, he displayed rare maturity, never allowing the hype around him to affect his game all thanks to the excellent up-bringing in a middle-class Marathi family. Thus while they both started their cricketing journey at around the same time in Mumbai's Sharadashram Vidyamandir High School, the more flamboyant Vinod Kambli fell prey to the temptations of success, failing to  realize his full potential whereas the more restrained Sachin who concentrated more on the game rather than off field activities went on to win laurels and accolades. Even after years of hard work, the physical strain and the mental stress that he has endured in his long and eventful cricketing journey, he continues to march on, flashing the same child-like smile that had captivated an entire nation 23 years ago.

Sachin carries the Tri color after the World Cup victory

Today, as Sachin approaches the final phase of his glorious career, there is nothing that he needs to achieve or prove to the world. He has seen the biggest highs viz a viz World Cup Triumph (2011) in front of his home crowd in Mumbai and the worst lows - an ignominious exit from the same tournament four years ago after a shock defeat to Bangladesh. Apart from holding all the important batting records, he has been ranked as the top player in both formats several times. And the way he carries himself in spite of his stature has made him one of the best ambassadors of the game. Though his body may restrict the number of matches he plays in the coming year, the passion to represent the nation whose colors he proudly wears on his sleeves, the passion to play for his love towards Cricket - the game that has made him what he is today and the passion to entertain the fans - the masses who have been with him through the ups and downs of his life keep him going. A true champion, Sachin is perhaps, the greatest gentleman amongst all the people who have ever played the Gentleman's Game.

SOURCES

(1) Wikipedia : Sachin Tendulkar (Link)

(2) ESPNcricinfo : Sachin Tendulkar (Link)

IMAGES

(1) Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Original : Rare Collections of Free Wallpapers (Link)

(2) Adam Gilchrist watches as Tendulkar drives Shane Warne at Sharjah

Original : MSN Sports - Tendulkar on... his dad, cricket, God, Pakistan, guitar and more (Link)

(3) Tendulkar lifts his bat after a Test ton

Original : Tupaki (Link)

(4) Sachin carries the Tri color after the World Cup victory

Original : Anna Hazare demands Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar (Link)