Why is it so hard to achieve success?

This is exactly how I felt after losing an elite play-off game. We (99ers - team that I play for) are a good team and on paper deserve to win the elite cup for every tournament we participate but every time there is some screw-up or something does not go our way and we just do not make it. Last weekend against Packers we posted 58 in 15 overs, I scored scratchy 17(32), strike rate of 54 which is unacceptable but I tried really hard but I just couldn't get going. The only positive to come out was that I did not give up and fought it out (earlier I would have thrown my wicket away). Nonetheless we were 10 runs short but still 59 was very much a defendable total but thanks to lapses in the field (missed catches & poor ground fielding at crucial moment) and a bit conservative approach on-field we lost the game in last over.

Every elite game loss is bitter and after the game one thought always crosses my mind, is succeeding really this hard. The feeling crossed my mind because of loss in a cricket game but I am sure the feeling is same when one fails after a sincere effort in any other venture. I do not know when a day will come when everything is perfect and we succeed. I am really tired of losing and feeling bitter after it.

Hopefully things change in the near future. 

Respect the Wall

Thank You, Sir.

Technically correct and huge appetite for batting are the first qualities which come to my mind when the name Rahul Dravid comes up. I am a huge Ganguly fan but I must admit that I am Dravid fan too. I am lucky that Rahul Dravid  was a cricketer from my generation. I followed his career from start to finish and grew up idolizing him. He played a huge role in the way I have approached batting. I learned so much just by watching him not only about batting aspects but the way he handles himself on and off field. He respects the game, very disciplined, and willing to fight it out no matter in what batting form he is in. He had a dogged approach to batting. I remember when I used to play with my friends at Sital Baug (toughest place to play - bowlers used to bowl of 16 yards and it was really quick and good bounce) I would just imitate him, try to play as correct as possible, long hours and not worry about scoring runs.

The first time I came know about him was after 1996 WC Semi-Final debacle in Calcutta, India was suppose to play an ODI series in Sharjah and he was picked after the side had undergone major changes. He played a couple of ODI innings but didn't do too well. Later India were off to England where he got his chance at Lord's at number six, he had a perfect technique for English conditions (hist record in England is immaculate). He was unlucky to be out at 95 but that was a start to a magnificent career. Initially he and Azhar had some wonderful partnerships and you could see he was learning from the senior. There was a time in late 90's when he almost fell into the trap that destroyed Manjrekar's career, delving too much on batting technique and forgetting that batting objective is to score runs, this cost him ODI place. The quest to regain his place in ODI team led him to be more positive and play more shots which also helped him immensly in Test matches. He played his best cricket once he comeback to ODI and formed a strong middle order.

There are quite a few memories of his career which has stuck with me, debut innings at Lord's, fighting innings on 1996/97 tour of SA in Durban where India was all out for 66 and 100, six to Donald in a final in 1996/97 series, couple of 100s in NZ where batting was tough, 2001 Kolkata test, 2003/04 series in Australia and the list goes on. He was one of the reason India started doing well abroad in 2000's and one person who thrived in foreign condition's. The only time I didn't like him was when he captained the side, I am not sure if Greg Chappel had a part to play or not but he was never in control. Looking at the way he captained Rajasthan Royals in IPL6 (2013) which was brilliant, I think India was robbed of an astute leader.

Wish you all the luck in life after cricket Sir.


Note: I started writing this piece when Rahul Dravid announce retirement in 2012 after Australia tour only to complete it now.

Time to Think about 2015

Right time to build for 2015 World Cup

Next World Cup is three years away in Australia/New Zealand but India has a long way to go to stake a claim. Last world cup being in sub-continent, India relied on strong batting and good slow bowling (part-timers) to win but it will be a different proposition next time around. Fitness and fielding will be a huge factor for any teams fortune and India has a lot of work to be done in those department. Mind you not four or five great fielders will be enough, you want all 11 to be great with strong throwing arms. Although New Zealand grounds are smaller so mis-hits will sail for six and strong throwing arms will not be a factor but most of the important games will be played on the big grounds of Australia where fitness and fielding does matter.

Selectors in India are appointed only on annual basis which is a huge hole if you are planning for 3 years ahead. I do not care who but some one needs to fix this or come up with a way to devise a plan so no matter who the selector is, final goal and planning process is not compromised. First thing is to identify a captain who they think will lead the team and he should have a say in the planning process too. Despite Dhoni's poor test record he still is the best man to lead India in next WC and he is one of the fittest guys in the team. I would like him to give up test captaincy because I do not think his place is guaranteed in the test side and also not to lead an IPL team too so that he always fresh for ODI's.

The first thing I would do is drop Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar and even Zaheer (or keep him to groom younger bowlers) because I do not expect world class fielding from them by 2015. I would identify a pool of 30 players who have potential to become great fielders and also are good players too and keep tab on their fitness and give them chances in the team provided they make progress on their fitness and fielding. The downside is we will not do to well in short term but if it will put India in a great position for 2015 WC then why not. To have a chance of even identifying 30 players, the domestic standard has to improve significantly in every aspect(number of tournaments, number of teams, nature of pitches, etc) how on earth its going to happen, god only knows that. Lets take the current crop of players who stand a chance for 2015:

Batsman
Yuvarj - A real gem in the team if fit.
Kohli - Definitely and a future captian contender too.
Raina - Definitely but would need to work on his short pitch stuff.
R Sharma - Definitely but can be slacky at times
R Jadeja - Definitely but needs to learn to finish games
M Tiwari - Definitely, needs more chances
A Rahane - Definitely
R Uthappa - Definitely (Well has faded away, but should be kept in the sights)
S Dhawan - Definitely
D Karthik - Definitely
M Vijay - Definitely

Need to identify more batsman

Bowlers
I Sharma - Definitely, I do not know why he is not selected if burn out is issue then manage him well but yes needs to work on his fielding.
U Yadav - Definitely, Great athlete
V Aaron - Definitely, needs more chances and needs to be fit
V Kumar/P Kumar - weak fielder, I wouldn't count on them
R Ashwin - Not pick him, he seriously needs to work on him fiedling/fitness
B Kumar - Is still raw, needs to be groomed

We seriously need to manage our bowling resources.




Note: This piece was written in Feb 2012, right after India's disastrous tour of Australia.