not a good year for defending champions

As summer sets in, two major setbacks for defending champions can be sited this week. First is Nadal pulling out of Wimbledon this year, starting this week, because of his injury. This diverts the media to Federer, who will now be increasingly pressurized to break the record of # of grand slams of a previous great of the game, Sampras. Murray would definitely give him a spirited fight if they clash. These games are getting so very increasingly competitive. Well, that’s why may be they’re International isn’t it.

Secondly, what a heart-break for a billion fans of Indian cricket! Defending champions, who looked rusty all throughout their title defence, were relieved of their pain by being knocked out comprehensively. And the gung-ho of the media channels throwing personal slurs at individual players. People in general and x-cricketers hired by tv-channels giving nonsensical reviews and blaming. Fans burning effigies. These are very common after a major set back for the Indian team. This forces, and quite rightly so, for international spectators like Mike Artherton to make comments like - Indian cricket fan is very immature.

Optimistically though, think of the billions of man hours saved which otherwise if they would have made it to the semis or finals would have been spent glued to the TV or websites! We've all bunked school or college or called sick or worse saw matches at offices! Productivity during interesting cricket matches takes a definite hit. Hence as the motto of life says, whatever happens, happens for good. This time it's for the world GDP!! When I write that I am torn between whether the TV ratings and the next world cup broadcasting right bids would be effected by it at all! It was interesting to know from Harsha that 90% of revenue for ICC comes out of India and that only four cricketing countries' boards are self sufficient namely - Australia, England, South Africa and India! Rest all are funded by ICC, so effectively India. Hence BCCI is A lobbying group at ICC events coz they know that if they pull out of it, largely cricket comes to a stand still.

Anyways, we have the T20 finals today and we have Pakistan playing against Srilanka. Both the teams are good, Srilanka slightly more dependable than Pakistan. But its cricket, so you never know. If Afridi and guys are fired up, they do have the potential to win this time around. Haah, what a coincidence it'll be, if last runners up for T20 & Wimbledon win this time. (Pakistan & Federer) ;)

In the fever of cricket, I got a chance to play in a tailored version of T20 called Last Man Stands! I regret to say that we were convincingly defeated by a professional looking side. We looked like school boys playing after years - well actually to be fair, it was months for most of us. Noteworthy contribution to the side was an over from me 6 4 6 6 Wd 4! Well in retrospect, it looks like contribution to the opposite side! Lot of running around! But positively sound sleep. Well, I am blessed with sound sleep through heredity anyways!

The pain that the body goes through after a gruelling day is enormous, particularly if you’ve toiled after a long time. As your muscles cramp up, you concede to the thought that the schedules for the actual players of the game are so gruelling. You literally go to the bathroom and come out and bam – there’s another world cup. Its easier for us to comment saying – thats their job and they get paid for it, but actually deep inside we know that its very difficult. We always want a Yuvraj to dive desperately for every ball that whizzes past him and we always want an Agassi to pull out a unbelievable picturesque shot between his legs. But, it surely takes hard work of a lifetime of to reach to a stage where the world audience expects something from you. But its very easy for the world audience on the other hand to expect a “lot”, hence...

Respect

sporting week - cricket football tennis

This week, Federer clinched French open and cried like a baby (as usual). FIFA player of the year switched his allegiances from Man U, who lost recently to Barcelona, to Real. Indian side was restricted by Bravo’s persistence at Lord’s in the T20’s. Many now believe its going to be tough for India to make it to the semis now. But as a adamantly wedded cricket fan – I believe in our guys.

Thanks to a close friend, attended my second Fire Side Chat organised by the IIM-A Alumni members here. The timing of the talk couldn't be better. The guest speaker was Harsha Bhogle. The topic was evolution of cricket with T20. His insight of the subject was absolutely thorough and was at his witty best. From IPL to T20 WC, from team owners to confused coaches, from Australians to South Africans, from match fixing to women’s cricket, from Virender Sehwag to Sachin’s son – myriad of topics came to light in various contexts. All in all, it was a great evening spent with very down to earth gents & ladies. These people want to promote the brand IIM, which has decent recognition back home in India, across the globe. They are involved with fabulous charities and NGOs to help girl child education – through initiatives like Pratham & its UK wing. This was covered by the Indian edition Forbes launched recently in collaboration with Network 18.

Just reading the news of IIFA Awards concluding at The Ventian Macao, as the Film industry reaches completes its international step for the 10th continuous year. Its great to witness acceptance of India, as a colourful brand of cultures. Over lunches through the week as usual, we continue to have passionate and insightful discussions regarding various things – EU elections, political turmoil in UK, Christiano’s £80m switch from Man U to Real, Cricket, Football, India and many more. One of my colleagues finds different religion “fashionable”. The colourful threads that we tie on our wrists look “cool” to him. He has this notion that all such threads are dipped in the Holy water of Ganges. Its funny how people perceive such things and interesting question is from where?

I’ve taken on the arduous task of finishing a 500 pager – Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani. Let’s see when I finish it. The T20 is coming at an interesting stage now. As the statisticians are coming into play for determining the teams to qualify in the semis. India play their crucial game against England at Lord’s tomorrow, which Paresh Rawal defines as the Mecca of Cricket in Cheeni Kum. Images of Saurav Ganguly flamboyantly swirling his t-shirt at the Lords Player’s Gallery, in the adrenaline rush of beating England come to my head. Is our current “Captain Cool” Dhoni capable of doing something like that tomorrow? I think not. The only one capable of doing such thing as we know him is...

Yuvraj

exciting week - mixed bag

It's one of the days when you are tired and wish to get to rest earlier than usual time has got other plans. Your usual commute which takes forty odd minutes streaches up to two+ hours! Transport for London screws your plans! Details in a bit.

This week had been splendid in the beginning with great sunny days. Office mates seem to pulling out their summer outfits of shorts and carrebean shirts in anticipation. A different enthusiasm flows throughout the schedule if the weather is supportive. Different styled shades are tried out to prevent the eyes from brightness and reflections. The day starts earlier than usual as light permeates through quite early. The times when you retire to bed in light are still a few days away. Light on mood, busy with work.

The cricket mania about to grip London with the warm up games of the T20 World Cup. India being the Defending Champions, would definately force me to follow the tournament to conclusion. Just defeating our arch rivals in the warm up game, comprehensively at that. Sachins famous words - 'We've now beaten them four times in a row in all our World Cup encounters' come to my mind. Remembering the time, we were in college and had to move the Tele out in the parking for all to see the match. Sachin and Sehwag smashed Rawalpindi expess above third man in consequtive overs with their distinct styles! The jam packed parking errupting with cheers on each boundary and heartburned expletives on each wicket. The victory rally with available vehicles at the time. The whole celeberations of the educational township continuing late in the night. I can imagine the jam packed stadium at the Oval today, celeberations will surely not abate till dawn tomorrow. All remains now of those days is - sweet memories! No regrets - no complains. Things could have been better, but they were best as they have been played by Time.

Coming back to tfl, we had leaving drinks of a close friend who's moving back to Mountain View. So was down at a pub on Portobello Road. Took the sloppy H&C line to Hammersmith. Then had to take the Picadilly. There were announcements of 'minor' delays on that line. I waited with grudging passengers wanting to get to Heathrow to catch their flights. Announcements advices to take the train on a platform and change from the next. Got down at next station, religeously following announcements. 5...10....15 minutes! No train, frustration mounts. In the summer moods, as bright sun was shining in my eyes in the morning, hadn't put on the usual jacket. Weather decides to test me. Temperature starts to fall. Lot of waiting! It's funny expressions on peopes faces when they are frustrated, and more so due to the fact that they can't do anything about it! Reached the station finally and now the bus tests patience. Finally after waiting for quite some time in vain, when I decide and start to walk, a bus zipps by! Aaarrgh, as temperature falls further down.

Interesting day when friends are Skydiving for charity, enlightened EU citizens will be voting for change for better times for their representation in EU parliament! And that's it for my first post from the little genius device called iphone.

Whew!!