IPL 4 started today. I was so excited about its start that all I wanted was to reach home back from the college gig with Cirkles. I managed to catch the last ball of a riveting contest which was eventually won by the Chennai Super Kings.
But the real question is will the Indian public relish the T20 format and IPL when they are still basking in the glory of the World Cup win? I might be excited and pumped up to watch most of the matches (as much as I can). But I'm not sure about the rest of the Indian public.
Hence, I'm expecting low turn outs in the grounds. Let's see what happens!
Showing posts with label World Cup 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup 2011. Show all posts
It's not over yet
Yesterday, the Indian ODI team achieved what 1.2 billion people desperately wanted them to. They won the World Cup of Cricket in 2011. The best part is that, they did that without much help from their senior statesmen, the same people who make the Indian team's balance awry. Yes, I'm referring to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.
Honestly, I didn't have a lot of faith in the present Indian ODI team (which is otherwise termed as Men in Blue) because of several reasons that I have stated in an earlier blog post.
Fittingly, India's younger generation of cricketers, led by the magnificent MS Dhoni, played superbly (at least during the chase) to win us the World Cup. Now that they have achieved this remarkable feat, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) should invest in youth in the two shorter versions of the game. That is the only way that Team India can remain competitive to the rest of the top-brass international teams.
Bring us more of the likes of Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin etc, please.
Honestly, I didn't have a lot of faith in the present Indian ODI team (which is otherwise termed as Men in Blue) because of several reasons that I have stated in an earlier blog post.
Fittingly, India's younger generation of cricketers, led by the magnificent MS Dhoni, played superbly (at least during the chase) to win us the World Cup. Now that they have achieved this remarkable feat, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) should invest in youth in the two shorter versions of the game. That is the only way that Team India can remain competitive to the rest of the top-brass international teams.
Bring us more of the likes of Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin etc, please.
Anti-Pakistani sentiment
Yesterday was the big India-Pakistan semi-final. I was working full day and had a rehearsal at my friend’s place in the evening. So I decided to watch the second half of the Pakistan innings there. Out of the six people out there, three were very biased anti-Pakistani people. They would swear at each move made by a Pakistani player and despite having cricket-oriented brains, would comment negatively on everything. Apparently, they were totally enjoying this.
For me, however, such behavior takes the fun totally out of watching an interesting, high-octane match. Even I wanted India to win, but I don’t hate the Pakistanis. I love them like everyone else. Later, when I tweeted about it, I got a response from a Pakistani tweeter that he felt the same when he hangs out with people with a strong anti-India sentiment. Soon, more users were complaining about people more interested in swearing at Pakistan than celebrating the Indian victory. Such behavior should be condemned and discouraged.
On the positive note, I was encouraged by Shahid Afridi's responses in the post-match ceremony. He said he was proud of his team's effort and was happy for the support that he got in India. Here's a snippet.
Later on, when he reached Pakistan, he gave another brilliant reply to some of the anti-India questions he was asked.
I have full respect for Shahid Afridi and the way he reacted. More Indians should be acting like him and accept Pakistan, its sport, culture, people with smiles and respect.
For me, however, such behavior takes the fun totally out of watching an interesting, high-octane match. Even I wanted India to win, but I don’t hate the Pakistanis. I love them like everyone else. Later, when I tweeted about it, I got a response from a Pakistani tweeter that he felt the same when he hangs out with people with a strong anti-India sentiment. Soon, more users were complaining about people more interested in swearing at Pakistan than celebrating the Indian victory. Such behavior should be condemned and discouraged.
On the positive note, I was encouraged by Shahid Afridi's responses in the post-match ceremony. He said he was proud of his team's effort and was happy for the support that he got in India. Here's a snippet.
Later on, when he reached Pakistan, he gave another brilliant reply to some of the anti-India questions he was asked.
I have full respect for Shahid Afridi and the way he reacted. More Indians should be acting like him and accept Pakistan, its sport, culture, people with smiles and respect.
ODIs are back
The Quarter Finals of the World Cup cricket are on. After the horrible mismatch in the first Quarter Final between Pakistan and West Indies, the India vs. Australia match and the New Zealand vs. South Africa matches have proved something that even I had stopped believing - that the good old ODI had life left in its legs.
Four years ago, when India won the first T20 World Cup, I had given up hope on the ODI. Every time I tried watching an ODI, I would feel that each innings was at least 20 overs too long. But this World Cup has proven me and many others wrong. I think there are two reasons why this World Cup has rejuvenated the ODI.
- The England cricket team, which consistently provided close finishes.
- The not-so-batting-friendly pitches, which have brought the gap between the bat and the ball down, albeit slightly.
I hope the ICC goes and makes things better by arranging for longer bilateral series and scrapping the Champion's Trophy.
Four years ago, when India won the first T20 World Cup, I had given up hope on the ODI. Every time I tried watching an ODI, I would feel that each innings was at least 20 overs too long. But this World Cup has proven me and many others wrong. I think there are two reasons why this World Cup has rejuvenated the ODI.
- The England cricket team, which consistently provided close finishes.
- The not-so-batting-friendly pitches, which have brought the gap between the bat and the ball down, albeit slightly.
I hope the ICC goes and makes things better by arranging for longer bilateral series and scrapping the Champion's Trophy.
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