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