World Cup 2019 : A story retold !

God said, “Chase your dreams, they come true!” But God never complained that he chased them unsuccessfully for more than 22 years in the hope that he will hold the trophy some day and play a vital role to make his country World Champions in 2011. 

Winning World Cup is neither a fluke nor a cakewalk. It is neither a one man show nor is it the win for the most talented team. It’s all about the belief, consistency and the one who does not buckle under the pressure makes it to the podium.

As 2019 World Cup nears its final phase, many dreams will wind up theirs careers without ever holding the coveted trophy. Gayle, Amla, Matthews won’t be there for 2023 edition and the dreams for them and their fans would  remain an unfulfilled wish.

Each edition of a World Cup has a tradition of bidding a final goodbye to one such great player and we never saw the likes of Gooch/Gatting, Martin Crowe, Lara and Smith/ Kallis or Pollock hold the trophy.

The failure of such stalwarts prove that wining the championship is more about building a core around the mainstay of the team rather than expecting the gifted ones to carry the teams on their shoulders.

It’s normally a story that more than the star of team, it is one of those other players who make difference to the team.The story what was told by the likes of Amarnath, Arvinda D’Silva, Yuvraj, Damien Martin is getting repeated with Flinch, Shami and Morgan coming to the party, atleast till date and who knows one amongst them might produce their best to take the trophies back home.

The story unfolded so far has been quite impressive for India and it remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Captain Kohli hasn’t converted his fifties into hundreds but the team is backing him by collective responsibility and it could turn out to be biggest differentiator in the days to come.

Australia seems to be on a song with the exception of India loss whereas the Black Caps and England have started showing chinks in the armour of late. 

It could well be a story of being too late for Pakistan unless miraculous turnaround happen for the top four.

The journey to the top for all the teams will now depend on how the top order performs, middle order sustains and the lower ones roar when they make use of pitch to get at their opponents through their opportunity to bowl.

The World Cup is at its crucial and intensive best and the team who performs on the day will outclass others to be the next World Champions. Till then, it’s time to glue yourselves to your television sets and support your favourite team.

Disclaimer: The blog is written as a cricket fan and does not intent to comment on any individual player or the team.

Image courtesy: iccworldcups 

- Jayawant

The invincibility of Tennis called Steffi Graf !

Not so long ago, if you had asked any youngster who was his/her favorite celebrity female personality? The answer might have differed between various divas of Bollywood or Hollywood but beyond those names, it had to have an identical answer and who else? It was none other than the legendary Tennis player Steffi Graf.

Steffi came, played and conquered the imagination of a generation of youngsters across the globe. Those were the days when Tennis repeatedly presented a clash between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and most of the times; it was Martina who took all the honors.

Tennis fans were eagerly looking forward for a new star, a kid of next-gen, a new style and youth icon who could break the monotony of age-old rivalry and breathe fresh air in the game of Tennis and boy! Steffi not only shattered the invincibility of Martina to rule the Tennis court but also made a place in history as one of the greatest ever to grace the game.

Media tried to recreate the Evert-Martina era between Steffi and Gabriela Sabatini but it could never match the aura of the earlier stalwarts. As Steffi ruled and demolished the dreams of her peers, came another lightening kid on the horizon, Yugoslav Monika Seles and the crown started crumbling for Steffi. An uneventful disguise to Tennis saw Monika being taken away from the game by an obsessed Steffi fan, Günter Parche who stabbed Monika during a Tennis match. It almost closed doors of Tennis stadium for Monika Seles for years and who knows we might have lost the greatest of them all due to an insane fan in a rush of blood.

Steffi went to win many hearts (with her game) but lost it to America’s youth icon Andre Agassi, a Casanova himself with many predicting a short fling. Both of them, however, proved the world wrong with their mixed double partnership still going strong as ever.

For the records and hall of fame, Steffi Graf is regarded as an all-time great and with her kitty full of 22 Grand Slam Singles titles, she is still sitting far ahead of her compatriots and next generation of players who follow and wish to imbibe her.

The teenage sensation is turning 50 today and the world is still waiting for a new Steffi Graf to rise. The fans will remain indebted to Steffi, for it was she who taught us professionalism of the game and also gave many memories to cherish with her superlative game of Tennis.

Disclaimer: The blog is an expression of a Steffi Graf fan and does not intend to comment on her peers and their combative Tennis during the same era as that of Steffi Graf.

Image courtesy: abc.net. au

The Yuvraj of Indian Cricket bids adieu !

Some ‘Yuvraj’ are known over the world for their power, arrogance, talent, and ruthlessness against their opponents but are never catapulted to the title of ‘Maharaj’.

The ‘Yuvraj’ then leaves aside a legacy of what could have been one of the best ‘Maharajas’ ever to the throne the kingdom.

One such amazing story called ‘Yuvraj Singh’ comes to an end today albeit in the wilderness when the entire nation is gripped in World Cup fever.

Yuvraj Singh or ‘Yuvi’(You-We) bids adieu to one of the most glittering cricketing careers of all time, coincidentally or thoughtfully at the same time when the World awaits an Indian Juggernaut in 2019.

A journey that started as the son of Yograj Singh, (who was known as an answer to Kapil Dev) was no better than a roller coaster ride till it lasted. Forced by an ambitious father into Cricket, Yuvi made a place for himself at every opportunity presented to him.

A transition from Under-19 champion to a super performer in 20/20 World Cup to player of the tournament in Indian victory in 2011 WorldCup highlighted the fact that Yuvi was made for larger than life situations which he proved beyond doubt as he battled cancer to set one of the most memorable victories of his life.

Yuvraj had many a moment in his coveted career with England being his special bête noire. His Natwest Trophy win with Mohammad Kaif stamped coming of age for Ganguly as skipper and Stuart Broad will never like to discuss those 6 sixes in an over in 2007 World Cup which launched MSD as the captain cool of Indian cricket. And never to forget his contribution of 85 not out against England in a scintillating chase in Chennai Test in 2008.

2011 World Cup was for Sachin and making the country proud after 28 years.

A true champion deserved to make it a success in the longer format of the game, but as they, if and buts of life always make it more interesting.

A terrific performer, Yuvraj went on to score 8701 runs and 111 wickets in ODIs along with 1900 runs in Test Cricket. His contribution can be gauged from the fact that he was always a goto man for all the captains, he played along with.

Such an aura for the sport, he is the one, who chose cricket for his father, won World Cups for his captains and icons, fought his illness with valor and always came out as a real fighter. He deserved a better exit. Nevertheless, every cricketer calls it day at some point of time in his career and ‘Yuvraj’ of the game chose a perfect date when the world is at its frenzy during the ongoing World Cup 2019.

Cricket without talking about Yuvraj will be incomplete. The country and his fans will always be thankful to him for making them, go euphoric over and over again with his superlative performances.

You did awesome Yuvi !! Take a bow master! 🙇‍♀️ 🙇‍♀️

Disclaimer: The blog is a tribute by a fan to Yuvraj Singh.

Jo Burns ! Another victim of modern day cricket.

Australia batsman Joe Burns has been diagnosed with a post-infectious fatigue disorder and another talented cricketer will be away from game for few months to come. He is not alone and has many stalwarts being in company with him.

Not so long ago, we had Marcus Trescothick who was destined for a greater glory with consistent performances across the globe but out of nowhere wound up his international career with depression.

Another Englishman Jonathan Trot was a big English bet in longer version of the game, but just faded away as he could not handle pressures of the game.

Young Australian sensation Will Pucovski is on a long break from the game due to mental health issues and career seems to be  in doldrums even before it has picked up.

All potential greats of all time, in a sudden twist of fate getting into oblivion for non cricketing reasons. Isn’t it shocking and big loss for the game of cricket?

On a positive note, we have not seen any Indian cricketer (or for that matter Asian cricketers) making it to the list of depression impacted players. If one looks at schedule of Indian cricketers, they are on the move due International cricket or IPL and domestic games and the calendar is packed for the entire year. It probably leads to a convenient hidden statement that depression or fatigue syndrome doesn’t come due to excess cricket, it has something to do with the way youngsters are built or groomed for the future.

The rise in Indian cricket comes through competitive struggle within domestic first-class cricket championship consisting of 37 teams, with all 29 states and two of the seven union territories.

So is it sheer luck or fierce surviving conditions that make youngsters, a tough nut in India?

The youngsters in India are mentally prepared for tough days and competition right from their childhood. Indians are also used to paparazzi which can start making any 16 year old, a next Sachin Tendulkar. Once selected for the national eleven, a longer path also awaits for them. Also with money spinning IPL, the opportunities have increased in India even if one doesn’t make it to national cricket team. But isn’t it an assumption that the Indian cricketers can survive pressure in any situation? May be it’s taking them for granted and who knows, stress levels could start impacting Indians too !

It’s high time, the schedules of the game are human. The expectation of the media are realistic. The spectators are supportive in wins and losses. The respective board supports players in failures and last but not the least, the player himself has self goals and keeps assessing self potential and perform to the best of his abilities.

Whatsoever, the time has come to a stage where the player needs to be protected for future. Looking at mental aspect of any individual is the key to uninterrupted career of any individual and if proper care is taken for the players, we won’t see such Burns, Trescothiks and Trotts of the game.

Image : espncricinfo

Disclaimer : The blog does not highlight any individual and issued faced by them in professional careers, rather it intends to highlight the extreme pressures of the game and supports improving conditions for the players worldwide.

- Jayawant