Why Sehwag doesn't learn

Lightning strikes from the very first ball of the innings – he sends the ball smacking and the bowlers packing. Fielders run for cover and the fielding captain begins to shiver. This onslaught continues until he throws away his wicket. Welcome to the world of Virender Sehwag.

Many recognize him as a disciple of the little master Sachin – right from his stance to the extremely fruitful hand-eye co-ordination that can pick any length to ease. Be it the most demolishing fast bowler or a weaving magical spinner, the don’t care attitude has de-motivated every opposition until smart captains realized Viru’s unforgivable potential of throwing away his own precious wicket after setting up a beautiful stage. It is most similar to David Bechkam missing out on a penalty shoot out, that too sending the ball over the goalkeeper outside the goal scoring area. But Viru’s wicket-throwing capability can be analogous to one such soccer star who does a Beckham even without a goal keeper in place.

Every cricketer takes guard with one thing in mind – not to lose his wicket. Of course, scoring runs is primary, but it can only be done on preserving the wicket. I personally get embarrassed when I give my wicket away, even in under-arm cricket. The art of preserving the wicket is not easy, but can be mastered and for all reasons it should run in the blood of any cricketer playing at the international level. Proper shot selection is one of the key lessons taught in coaching centers and I’m sure every coach will expect compliance at it. Poor shot selections can cost a wicket that could most often lead to a loss through butterfly effect.

Like most parents who keep complaining about their brilliant child for careless performances in examinations, there is every sense when Viru fans will keep complain about his lackadaisical attitude. With the capacity of scoring big scores being self-disturbed due to negligence and irresponsibility, no true cricket fan would be able to digest. Few cricketers are gifted with the ability to score of any delivery, but a genius proactively takes responsibility to care for it and Viru seldom does it. There are few innings (201* @ Galle) that makes us feel he is maturing enough to convert all brilliant starts into huge scores, but the very fact that he does it only once in a blue moon causes irritations in fans – and sometimes to fellow team mates. Not only it affects the break in such a brilliant innings, it also provides an overwhelming confidence in the opposition which might turn into an extreme pressure for the batters yet to come.

For a player to have scored 2 triple hundreds in tests, it shouldn’t be difficult to mature himself into a much balanced cricketer. Its high time Viru should learn to take care of his precious wicket than to shun it away in crucial situations. A little balance in shot selection should definitely convert quick starts into mighty scores.

Bang in Bangalore - Day 3

Day 3, a Monday, was as important as a usual working day although I wasn’t travelling to MCity. Instead I was supposed to travel to Electronic City – where the other parts of my project team were located. Karthik and I rushed to the bus stop to catch the 6:40 bus as we thought we missed it by a whisker. We had to wait till 7:15 for the next one and I boarded the bus to find a window seat for myself while he diverted himself to his workplace. I forced myself not to sleep, as I usually do back home, so that I could get an idea about the Bangalore city. Half way through I slept involuntarily and woke up somewhere close to the office. I reached the office around 9:00. Couple of my team mates accompanied me for breakfast which I had at the TERMINAL food court. I then started to get into my regular work and also met up with all other folks in the Bangalore team.

Lunch was a terrific experience – my manager took me to a 3-star like restaurant within the campus and we had a good discussion there – not to mention the good lunch too. I preferred to take vegetarian then although my motive of the entire visit was to hog as much as possible. She took me around one half of the campus after filling our stomach and I truly felt that the campus was looking beautiful especially with the drizzling atmosphere. There was not much activity in the afternoon as I pulled Preethi out of her work to take me around the other half of the campus. We spent an hour around the campus tasting a cup of tea and an “ice-cream-gulab jamoon” combo. I rushed back to my temporary workstation and wrapped up the day’s work to catch hold of the first bus back home.

As I alighted at the bus stop near Utham Sagar I already had had the experience of what people fear as “Bangalore traffic”. That evening was even worse with the rain gods showering their blessings on the city. Karthik picked me up and we had a meal at Utham Sagar. I bid goodbye to that restaurant with a sort of disgust for the only reason that he misled me with “Tomato Omlet”. It was still raining as we reached home and by that time it was time for me to start packing my bags for return. I had booked return in a Volvo bus for a comfort factor. The bus, which was supposed to pick me up from the pick-up point around 22:15, made us wait till 23:00 after which the next thing I saw was CMBT bus terminus. Although several auto drivers were pleading for a “savaari”, I preferred taking the bus as I stayed close-by. I reached home around 5:30 and from then on it was routine life.

Bang in Bangalore - Day 2

Day 2 started earlier than a usual holiday – I started waking myself up starting from 5:30 to 6:00 when I had to convince myself that it was already too late to get up for a function that starts at 7:00. Although the initial plan to attend the function was around 11:30, I was called in to be available as early as 7:00. Function???? What function???? Where did the function suddenly come in during a holiday???? Ye….. The primary purpose of my Bangalore visit was to attend the first birthday of my cousin sister’s darling daughter - Kavya.

The supposedly family visit had turned out to be an individual visit, thanks to health situations at home.

Karthik was too generous in accompanying me to the place – we struggled a little bit in finding out the house. He left me and his car there and walked off to watch a movie. As I entered the house, it was already 8 am. I sat along with everyone till the priest finished off the rituals after which we were all ready for breakfast. I hoped there was no “Tomato Omelet” this time!!!! We were served delicious Idly, Vada and Kesari. That might sound so suprising – the fact that "‘Idly’ being tasty" coming out from my mouth. I never liked Idlies and it’s only been in recent times I started eating it. After wrapping it up with a glassful of coffee, we sat down to rest for sometime (as if we’ve been working non-stop for 48 hours inside NASA) and this was the time I got to play with the little one. After Ria’s entry to our family, I learnt how to enjoy playing with little kids and I demonstrated the same in this case too. She was dressed up in beautiful violet “Pattu Paavaadai” and it was so pleasing to watch her reactions to the environment. Soon it was time for us to get ready for the birthday party and I helped my part for decorating the party hall that was situated close by. Although not many people turned up, it was a nice gathering and a decent environment and of course the food was way beyond satisfactory if not brilliant. I got to meet up with couple of my relatives who were more than happy to see me there representing the family.

Now, where was Karthik? I was sure the movie would have got over – no movie in India runs for more than 3 hours nowadays. He was almost nearing the place where I was and I quickly met up with him after leaving my cousin & family back home and collecting a bag of “function-snacks”, I drove back to pick up Karthik and we decided to go straight back home. On the way back we changed our mind and drove into "Vishweshwara Museum". Although it was not as interesting as it would be for a school-boy, it was a good way to while away some time in the afternoon. We visited all floors unambitiously and finally left the place with some road-side snack in hand. I drove all along the way back and finally reached home around 5 pm. I didn’t have an intention to wander after that, given the fact that I had to go to work the next day. I watched “Harry Potter” along with the left-over DBC, browsed for sometime and we headed off to buy dinner. Although I wasn’t really hungry I chose to taste chicken and felt satiated. With the “next day office” mindset, I sank myself into the bed with 2 thick bed sheets wrapping me to safeguard my chill-prone skin.

Bang in Bangalore - Day 1

I stepped out of the house with a heavy heart not because I was travelling alone. I looked at the dark sky outside. None would expect it to be bluish at this time of the day, rather night, unless you think of a polar existence. It was almost 9 PM as I waved goodbye to people at home carrying luggage on one shoulder and an umbrella on the other. It was pouring in Chennai while I was feeling guilty of not kissing my dream-girl before I left. Of course she would have cried if she knew I was leaving, what else would you expect from a 2 year old?

My wife accompanied me till the bus stand and I was left standing alone for another 30 mins for my bus. A bus came at last, but that would only go half-way and I didn’t hesitate to run into it. To my irritation, the traffic, along with the rain, was not letting me any closer to the railway station. Alighting at the CMBT bus stand, I ran without an umbrella to catch my connecting bus and seriously thought I would miss the train. But to my delight, the traffic cleared soon and I reached the bus stand well before the scheduled departure of the train.

I was travelling by 2nd class AC after a long time and of course I had to feel comfortable. I switched on the reading light on my upper berth and continued my Harry Potter until I felt it was already too late to doze off. Keeping 3-4 alarms on my mobile phone, I slept off in an uncomfortable position that would have stiffed my neck, but luckily it didn’t. I had asked Karthik (my BIL) to pick me up from Bangalore (EAST) station and he was well before time. I reached Bangalore with the fear of feeling cold. It reminded me of one of my earlier visits to the city where I had started shivering the moment I stepped out of the train. But this time, to my pleasure, things were different. I didn’t have to wear the 2 jackets Karthik had brought to the station on my wife’s instructions. I was mocking at him as if he was feeling colder than I.

The day started off with a nice tea-shop tea on the way to his home as we went driving. It was still dark and I liked it. I knew it had been raining here too which was evident by the wet roads. As we reached his house I lost all temptations to sleep. We had another cup of tea at his home and started planning the day. I had to meet couple of relatives and we mixed that plan with our own plans. Around 9, we took off for breakfast at Utham Sagar where I was misled by the menu card that said “Tomato Omlet” which ultimately turned out to be a dull-tasting Tomato-Uthappam. We next drove to Yelahanka to meet my relatives and had a nice time there. Soon, it was time for lunch and we sped off from that place to Empire restaurant where we had our fill of grilled chicken and fish biriyani. Being a crazy cricket fan, I took snaps of Chinnaswamy stadium on the way. We then drove to Double Road to meet another relative of mine, spent a hour there and headed back home.

Oh! How could I miss ‘Death by chocolate’ (DBC)? We reached home – I had a bit of horrible time in driving through the traffic. We headed again to Utham Sagar and then to Corner house where we purchased DBC for ourselves and came back home in his pulsar which I was supposed to ride not beyond 40 km/hr. What a punishment!!!!! We ate dinner followed by DBC and watching a Harry Potter movie I slid into couple of bed sheets to signal the end of the day!!!!!

Isn’t this enough???


Working on a Saturday guaranteed a compensatory off. It becomes usually a tough decision to choose the day when you can avail it unless you really have some reason to utilize it. This time it wasn’t difficult. With the India - Australia series evenly poised at 2-2, and the 5th match scheduled at the Hyderabad run-feasting stadium, I had no second thoughts on availing it on that day. The monsoon also tempted me to stay with that decision as it would be cozy enough to stay at home watching the match.

Ten Years ago……..

“He is in his peak form. This is his time.”

Nine Years ago……..

“His peak is already reached. He is into the downfall now.”

Eight…….

“He is struggling to play his old strokes. His health will rule him out of the game soon.”

Seven…….

“His game has changed. It’s high time he retires and gives chance to youngsters.”

Six……..

“He shouldn’t be opening. He should bat lower down. He has lost ability to score.”

Five……..

“He is losing his eyesight. His hand-eye co-ordination is vanishing.”

Four…….

“He’s getting older. He can’t bat for long.”

Three……..

“This is seriously the time for him to retire. How long can he keep going?”

Two……..

“He is having so many injuries. I’m sure he can’t carry along from now.”

One……..

The same blah blah blah ………….

I’m getting too tired of such comments.

Nov 5th 2009, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad – A score of 175 off 141 balls at the age of 36 after 20 years of international cricket for India crossing 17000 ODI runs in the process and still counting. The only unfortunate event being that these 175 runs went for a losing cause. With 45 international hundreds and 91 fifties with a strike rate well above 85 and an average of 45.

But I admire all these critics who come up with some point to still criticize this man; the master; the GOD I worship. We dont appreciate you guys for being out of the ordinary just for the sake of it. The best part of you guys is that you cant find yourself a better player than him although you keep criticising him. HA HA!!!! If Sachin is not a great player, then who else is?????

I follow Sachinism.