Category: Cricket

Arsh’s cool, but time to question Bhajji

Arshdeep knows he dropped a dolly. It was a crunch moment. In a crucial match against Pakistan! Encomiums were not likely to come his way for this costly drop. Mollycoddling is still not a national pastime. India is not yet a ‘woke’ country. We might never become a liberal heaven. He had erred big time….

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फॉर्म हुआ फुर्र, कोहली होजा हुर्र

शास्त्री तो बहुत पहले ही रेस्ट prescribe कर दिया, सनीभाई ने इस आरामखोरी को criticize भी कर दिया, कपिल पाह्जी ने ‘drop him’ ऐसा advice कर दिया, चोपड़ी-भोगली ने फिर भी कोहली को eulogize ही किया, क्या रे विरटवा, professionalize करते-करते सब commercialize कर दिया? रोहित ने भले खराब फॉर्म को trivialize कर दिया हो,…

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The FALL of ROY- An Obituary for Andrew Symonds (Poem)

( I wrote this poem in 2009. Pup had refused to stand-by Symo, and the latter was sent home by the Australian team management. His career seemed to be as good as over.) Warnie’e era was over, the Pigeon had flown, The explosive Gilly retired, giant Haydos gone, Suckers took over the Cricket Down Under,…

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An Ode to the Blonde Conjuror of Leather-ball Tricks (For Warnie!)

Records drew the contours, Charisma filled-in colours, Bamboozled by his craft, Magic was lent by charm. (4) The promise of ball in flight, Realized in dip or drift, Beautifully it then ripped, The woodwork lay shattered. (8) Crunch brought out his best, The Showman came alive, He always had one more trick, Forever carried that…

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God Bowls a Googly, Warne Plays for Leg Break (Obituary)

Shane Warne was never about innocence, he was always the romance of cricket. He did not play the sport like boys do, he was always an adult playing mind-games. He did not approach cricket like a game of chance or glorious uncertainties, he plied his trade by luring, teasing, testing, trapping and outfoxing the opponents….

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The Unbearable Pain in Watching India make a Mess of One Day Cricket

One day cricket has been squeezed out of its urgency. There is no mad adrenaline rush nor excitement left. Run chases have lost all charm. Asking rates of even twelve and upwards do not cause sweat. Sixes have become as common-place as spot-fixing scandals. Fours are more frequent than the doubles. Quick running and run…

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The Muddled Affairs of the Brand Conscious Club of India (BCCI)

The President of the Club loves taking below-the-belt potshots but mistakes them for wisecracks. Lampooning the coach of your own team for being a drunkard might qualify as humour or candour in public galleries, but points towards lack of the former and excess of the latter among grown men with big responsibilities. Whatever happened to…

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ए कोल्ली, रण कब बनाएगो? टिप्स लेगो के? ( क्रिकेट बकैती)

इंग्लैंड से एक टेस्ट छोडकर भाग आए, आईपीएल पूरा होग्या, विश्वकप में पाकिस्तान से पिट लिए, दीवाली निकल गयी, कोच बदल गया, आधी कप्तानी छिन गई, आराम की खातिर एक टेस्ट छोड़ दिया- इतना कुछ हो लिया पर विराट कोल्ली, तुझसे रन कोणी बन रे । थारा बल्ला नू जो साँप सूंग कर गियो छो,…

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Hello Mr. Virat Kohli, How Much is Your Carbon Footprint?

I am a big fan of Virat Kohli. Not particularly of his cricketing skills or his attitude though, but of his eagerness to play a social activist. If he plays his game the right way, he might end up as India’s Thunberg, although Tendulkar’s peak level and popularity might still elude him. Then again, Woko…

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पाकिस्तानी क्रिकेटरों की साफ़गोई का कायल होता जा रहा हूँ (व्यंग्य)

विश्व कप में बारह बार हारने के बाद पाकिस्तान को अंततः भारत पर जीत नसीब हुई । छियान्वे से हरे वकार युनूस के घावों पर अब जाकर कुछ मलहम लगा । कसम से जडेजा ने तब इसे बड़ा कस के कूटा था ।  तीस साल बाद मिली इस दुर्लभ खुशी में भी वकार को सबसे…

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