Hansie Cronje : Superhero to forgotten past !

It’s been 16 long years of lifetime exit (1st June 2002) for once a living legend but fallen from grace posthumously Hansie Cronje ! His has been a story to remember, respect, regret, introspect and to an extent forgive and forget especially as he is no more there to tell his own story in his own way.

As a true cricket fan we were super excited to see South Africa back from hiatus of apartheid and hoped to see old giants perform at the highest level. Wessels ,Rice, Kirstens, Cooksies graced the green platter soon to be faded in memory being past their prime and all of a sudden we found young Hansie Cronje at the helm of South African Cricket.

Hansie stood out as a different cricketer, made a mark as serious allrounder and proved to be a cool head over young shoulders. His authorative, no-nonsense approach and care for his own team members made him a fatherly figure with peers probably of the same age as he himself. He soon made it a habit for us to listen to him for post match winning discussions and was destined for bigger glory as one of the greatest to grace the game.

Hansie always carried that stern but focused face on the ground but in the background had a very sensitive past due to a very shocking incident in which his car had killed a small child and that had made him a bit vulnerable too. His human side made South Africans empathize and sympathize with him and he soon became a role model and icon for many amongst them. At one point of time, its said his popularity in South Africa was next to none other than the Father of Nation Nelson Mandela only.

Under Hansie, South Africans were roaring with success and innovative captain in Hansie made headlines when we found him taking instructions from the then equally tech-savvy coach (Late) Bob Woolmer on microphones in a 1999 World Cup match against India. Till then, there was no written rule barring microphones and Hansie made full use of it along with Alan Donald. The move to an extent was appreciated and also faced some wrath but leader in him made a point across, how a captain needs to know the rules of the game and use them for his team’s benefits.

Another year down the line, Hansie was seen talking to Naseer Hussain in Centurion test after 4 days of rains and both captains decided to make a game out of the match with each one them agreeing to forfeit an innings so spectators see a result on the last day of test. South Africa lost the test while defending but the world took a note of it and smart thinking of Hansie as a captain who saved a Test match for getting washed away and also a different approach while saving a dead match.

No one ever doubted Hansie’s integrity in any controversial episodes, till one fine day when his conversation with bookies revealed a match fixing scandal. Not only was he involved but the same fatherly figure in him had spoiled his teammates integrity and in just one night Hansie’s world crumbled and once a superhero was looked upon as a modern day villain spoiling the gentleman game’s repute and his own stature. In his testimony, he cried like a baby, but wrongdoings could never be undone and he found himself banned for life from the game which was his hobby, passion and gave him all the glory.

Controversies and life in isolation made him stay away from the limelight again to be on front page as ‘Disgraced Captain Hansie Cronje killed in a plane crash’.

Cronje’s charisma , shrewdness and talent still makes us wonder what made him choose a wrong path and get into history books as a sorry figure at such an young age of 32.

As an ardent cricket fan, the choice remains with us whether to remember him as a disgraced cricketer or one of the most inspiring captains of all times ever to grace the game. Howsoever you remember him, Hansie Cronje will always find a mention whenever South African cricket and its greats come for any discussions.

Till then, keep wondering what would have happened in Hansie’s career when fixing has become a set pattern in last few years in the most beautiful game of cricket.

P.S. The blog neither justifies nor glorifies Hansie Cronje and his controversial lifestyle and decisions as a cricketer and captain. Its only aimed at revisiting a past superhero's life and wilderness thereafter.

- Jayawant

Madhuri Dixit : In your own bucket list !

As a college going teenager, you come across one of the most beautiful girl you have ever seen. She sometimes looks pretty, sometime bold and many times gives homely vibes too !!

She keeps meeting you quite regularly and you are used to her. You develop a special bond with her and always look forward for seeing her again. Each time, you meet her you realize she is more talented than what you had thought .

Your friends, neighbours, relatives all love her and for a change your parents approve your choice and may be, like her more than probably you do!

Being a Maharashtrian, you wish she would speak Marathi but she doesn’t and whenever she is a asked about it, she comes out with an affluent English and talks about her love for Marathi and her obsession with Maharashtrian food. Though you are not convinced, that effervescent smile makes you believe her and your wait continues.

Years pass by, she is not visible regularly and one fine day in the month October comes a flash about her marriage and she moves to US. Whatever appearances thereafter, even her Hindi and English become more American and one starts realizing that Marathi will never happen.

Few years down the line, she is almost semi retired but is seen sometimes and out of blue moon, comes the News of her going Maharashtrian way and that too fully! Your long time wishlist is fulfilled and you immediately establish that long lost connect with her.

That’s the ‘Bucket List’ and she is ‘The Madhuri Dixit’ for you !

After ruling our hearts and making all Maharashtrians proud for more that 30 years, she comes back with the same exuberance, amazing screen presence and that Bubbly(by the way her pet name) smile which made all of us fall in love with her.

Madhuri Dixit-Nene, you did it previously with elan and you can make it happen even today !

‘Bucket List’ is worth a watch and even if you don’t understand Marathi (subtitles obviously help) make it to theatres to complete a tick on your own ‘Bucket List’.

P.S. The views mentioned in the blog are primarily an expression of Madhuri Dixit's fan being extremely proud of her achievements along with her Maharashtrian lineage only and it does not intend or comment on any language and its supremacy.

- Jayawant

Raghu in a domestic cricket tournament

Raghu’s story ...continued !!

Raghu and his team was participating in a domestic cricket tournament. 

Raghu was depending on his team to score and beat the opposition. For a change, his team had some homework and groundwork in place and appeared to be in good form but somewhere stayed in their own smug. Raghu had full confidence to win the tournament due their capabilities so this time he didn’t go to worship much and tell everyone how simpleton he was ! He in the meanwhile also picked up few fights with other schools and teams.

Few of the other schools knew their limitations well in advance, so they practiced day in day out and when they realized they can’t win the tournament on their own potential, they called upon current inter school group captain Naru to guide, mentor and teach them few of the nuisances of the game.

One of old schools had lost its sheen completely but they still had capabilities to win few matches and their aim was only to upset Raghu’s and Naru's teams to make a point or two. They were depending on their coach more than their current captain and was known as Ajja's (Dadaji) team.

Tournament started and complacent Raghu was enjoying his summer vacations and what appeared to be a straightforward win started to get converted in a big loss for Raghu’s team but his team somehow managed to reach finals. Ajja’s team lost the semifinals and thought they will have to wait for next tournament.

Tournament finals began as if it was a tough one but suddenly pinch hitting began from Naru’s team and they performed way beyond Raghu’s team. Naru’s team started celebrating and thought they have won the tournament.

As Naru’s team started to celebrate, Raghu and Ajja’s team added the scores of Raghu’s team in finals and semifinal score of Ajja’s team and started to claim that they have won the tournament and are the domestic champions.

The spectators are now in a complete mess of thoughts as they neither understand the new rules of the game nor they know who is the champion. Surprisingly the organisers will tell them the result and the spectators will have to believe them and accept the identified domestic champion, till then they have to watch all the drama

P.S. This is just a story of an imaginary character Raghu’s current status and any resemblance to reality is purely unintentional and coincidental.

- Jayawant