Category: Cricket

‘Afghan’ Khan Superstar

A question often asked in the larger scheme of things – can one man make a difference ? No, it’s not about the one who is always talked about and dissected, but of another man’s  coming from the relative obscurity of a small strife-torn country, to becoming a sensation through sheer brilliance and who is largely responsible for minnows, Afghanistan becoming a unit and  their remarkable entry into the international cricket scene !

In our country where films and cricket, are followed like religion, three famous ‘Khans’ have ruled Bollywood for the last two decades but now face stiff competition from others (somewhat like the present ruling party !). As is it’s wont, IPL ( cricket’s big annual bash ) has thrown up a new ‘Khan-icon’ in form of that unflappable leggie, ‘Rashid Khan’ who’s inscrutable bowling skills and on-field exploits has taken the cricketing world by storm !

Such has been his meteoric rise to fame (in the shorter format of the game) that an improbable story became viral in the social media of our people seeking Rashid’s citizenship to add to our cricketing assets and the Afghani authorities politely refusing to spare their hero from his national duties !

A  leading Indian magazine has carried out a two-day feature on him aptly putting the poser – What does it mean to be Rashid Khan – a big-league cricket star in a war-ravaged country .. and carrying the expectations of the entire nation, expecting a five-wicket haul in every match he plays. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, but despite the adulation coming his way, so far Rashid appears a perfect role model – committed, grounded, utterly loyal to his country and a real hero who rode into big battles from nowhere !

Much is being written in our papers of how cricket in Afghanistan picked up as late as 1980 from the refugee camps and showed amazing progress over the years to almost qualify for the 2011 World Cup in 2009 and later qualifying for World T20 in 2010 to fulfill their dream of playing a major international event. In 2017, ICC impressed with their progress inducted them as a Test playing nation.

Our own star batsman Dinesh Kartik, who’s as eloquent when he speaks as when he bats, said on the eve of historic First Test to be played in Bangalore tomorrow between India and Afghanistan ‘ It’s been beautiful … to have a Test nation like Afghanistan. Their journey has been an inspiration for international cricket …’ A feat that the Afghans can be really proud of as they cheer on for their team and real-time hero, Rashid Khan !

Rashid Khan

Making Choices and the ‘Toss’ of Life

Sports like everything else in life faces the challenging dynamics of change . Take the recent proposals in the cricketing world for doing away with the most important first reel of a cricket match ‘the toss’ or the flick of the coin to determine which team has the right to choose to bat or field first.Since there is another version of the ‘toss’ in other sports like tennis and badminton which is not facing any removal, why is toss so vital in the game of cricket ?

As the buffs will understand, in cricket the pitch conditions have a bearing on how the ball will swing/move/bounce and turn to the detriment or benefit of the team batting first. The home-team always has the distinct advantage of preparing the pitch to suit its players and to negate this, it was proposed by ICC officials, that the visiting team would have the choice ( to bat or field first) and the toss became redundant in that case. Deliberations by the Committee appointed by ICC has opined that the ‘toss’ remains an integral part of cricket’s game of ‘glorious uncertainties’ and adds that bit of suspense and agility of the teams and its players to adjust to conditions, often to expect the unexpected and learn to cope with it.

Extending this to the broader canvas of life, management gurus have conceptualized it into the ‘choices’ that one must take (right from Lord Krishna’s epic exhortation to Arjun on the battlefield !). As all of us have experienced, to make the right choice is uncertain but not making a choice is risky, for chances and opportunities lost may not fall our way again. The elements of risk-taking abilities start playing a role but as fund-managers of mutual funds always advise – study, spread and balance your risks. They add, however, that more risk will also fetch more returns !

Some whom we may call adventurers (and reckless ?) are the ones who love quick bucks, job changes, flashy cars, stock market booms, adventure sports and risks of a life in fast lane ! There are others fearful of making changes or committing mistakes, preferring to stay close to what is familiar and not wandering too far and that includes their choices and decisions.

Today, one would have imagined that the progeny of the average, middle-class parents would grow up to be conservative, austere and reticent in their attitudes. However, modern living brewing in a multi-cultural ethos of big cities is throwing up huge surprises catching old traditions and elders off guard. The liberal socio-economic environment and sense of freedom is making our youth just dive into life and do what they feel is right with enthusiasm and excitement, while two decades ago they would have many reservations at the thought of having to step up to anything that might require taking bold action.

At times, the fault lies with parents who try to control too much of their children’s early lives and actions fearing that they will miss out on what the parents, deem to be important unless they chart the proper course for them. Often this later takes the form of rebellion and expression of new found freedom – doing the exact opposite of what the parents wanted.Despite their well–meaning moves, parents have to retract at some stage.

At the end of the day, decision-making is something we all need to learn how to do. More importantly, it has to be taught from very early on since decision-making takes years of practice and the developing right attitudes towards taking responsibilities for one own actions. Learning how to make good choices and wise decisions is not included in school curriculum –they form part of life’s experiences and in owning up to the mistakes made !

Courage

Indian People’s League of Rising Stars

After a marathon 45 days of  T-20 cricket extravaganza, better known as Indian Premier League (IPL), the curtains came down with glittering gusto and fanfare on one of the greatest sporting events of today – the Finals watched by some sixty thousand at the Wankhade stadium in Mumbai and in huge numbers in the many fan-parks specially designed for public viewing on giant-screens and more significantly, the live telecast and related buzz and peppy program contents on Star TV channels, followed by several millions of cricket-loving Indians across the country, all for a game of cricket, surprisingly played by the fewest nations in the world !

If Europe is world’s soccer playground with the various team’s incredible popularity and badminton is major game of  China and many of the major South-east nations who wield their domination, India doubtlessly can take the pride of place in the shorter format of cricket as ‘the land of the rising cricketers’ – youngsters, some even under the age of 20, with amazing talents coming to the fore on the biggest stage with confidence and consistency, whom the IPL format is able to unearth year after year !

While the IPL Final winners, the ‘old’ favourites ‘Chennai Super Kings’ ( lead by the unbeatable ‘Captain Cool’, MS Dhoni and making a comeback after two years with many of it’s earlier stalwarts ) took home a mind-boggling bonanza of Rs.20 Crs, the runners-up team also pocketed Rs.12.50 Crs. This kind of moolah and spotlight has turned many of the young IPL heroes into international sensations overnight, some even acquiring the rockstar image and hype thanks to media and fashion houses chasing them.

What happens to ‘cricket’ the game of elegant cover drives and majestic hook shots, as the hustle-bustle, the sledge-hammer shots and bludgeoning sixes becomes the face of T-20 cricket and bowlers struggle on flat tracks. The purists decry this brutal hit-and-run kind of play but the crowds go into a frenzy as batsmen clobber the bowlers all over the park with certain players specially recruited in the team for their big-hitting abilities.

T-20 is carnival cricket which provides non-stop entertainment and wraps it up in about 4 hours, has come to stay. The IPL and its stars will continue to laugh their way to the bank – till another and maybe even shorter, zanier version of the game comes along to replace it with greater dividends !

IPL Final 2018

 

Gambhir’s Lessons in Probity

Gautam GambhirIn a urbanized society and corporate world inundated with under-performers and non-performers, cover-ups and con-artists, Gautam Gambhir, one of Indian cricket’s most brilliant left-handed opening batsman with a great record and proven leadership skills ( having previously played for India with distinction and led KKR to lift the IPL trophy on two occasions) has done something rare and bold.

He has not only stepped down from the captaincy role of the Delhi Daredevils taking full responsibility for the poor show in the ongoing IPL 2018 ( at the bottom of the points table) and even confessed that with poor form and lack of credible performance he doesn’t deserve a place in the team, leave alone lead the side. Not only this, he has offered to forego his wages of Rs.2.80 Crs to the Franchisee owners. He feels it’s not well-earned,unjustified under the present circumstances. Having made these most exceptional appeals, he has magnanimously named his successor( young Shreyas Iyer) and agreed to play if the new captain selects him !

What now happens to the fortunes of the ‘Delhi Daredevils’ in this edition of IPL remains to be seen. However, Gambhir with his selfless act, has put some high benchmarks and exemplary lessons in probity, not only for others in cricket and international sports but in all walks of public life and specially in today’s corporate world and for those in positions of power, where accountability must come hand in hand with the heights of success and the fluctuating tides in leadership roles ! Some of these benchmarks are :

  • The team and the cause is greater than the interests of the individual
  • When you lead others, lead by example both as a performer and a person
  • It is better to give way to a better alternative, if the present is not working
  • Rewards are commensurate with results and cannot be taken as a ‘given’
  • It is necessary to contribute to the team or cause in any position or capacity

This is not the first time that as an individual citizen, Gautam Gambhir, has done an extraordinary act worth emulating – be it in contributing for the welfare of families of slain soldiers or other noble causes and standing up for what is right ! To fans like me and many others, Gambhir, may not get to lead matches on the cricket field for some time but has emerged ‘Matchless’ for a long time to come –a real man with a heart thatthe over-hyped icons of today could well emulate.