India's fading dominance & not to forget mystifying team selection...

When it comes to Indian cricket, I have been getting more and more disappointed by the way the team performs. Yes, I agree we won the T20 World Cup and finally also won the 50 oer World Cup as, and that also on home soil but thinking about about it, I actually preferred India under Sourav Ganguly to the team now. Yes, we have been successful but I preferred the cricket we played then both at home and away.

It has got to a point that now that playing at home doesn't mean a test series victory as I can not remember the last time India got raped by 10 wickets. After winning he 2011 World Cup, I really thought India were going to reach a new level. I understood the fact that the test team would be going through a transition with Dravid, VVS and Sachin about to leave but in players such as Pujara, Rahane, Tiwary, Yadav and Aaron, I trully believed we could have a test team for the future but I have been proven wrong. 

How many times will the likes of Raina, Yuvraj and Rohit Sharma fail the team. I am not bothered about T20s or ODIs as now they really don't mean too much for me and even though I'd like to see India win, it is in the test arena where they have to dominate, and they are not. Beating West Indies and New Zealand is great but what about the likes of England, Australia and South Africa? To be honest, I do not rate England that highly but they have become a better side but we should be putting teams like them away based on the natural talent we possess.

I can not remember the last time an opposition spinner has outplayed the spin twins we usually have on display but this has happened. Is Monty that good? NO!!!! When thinking of that song WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE...I start wondering where have all our classy spinners gone? I rate Ashwin and Ojha but must have better than Ashwin and no legsinners? Forget Chawla and Mishra. When it comes our batting, we're playing Yuvi and Kohli with both of them being rather disappointing with the exception of Yuvi's 70odd in the first test. Should they not be replaced? And if you're wondering by who, then what about the batters who have been on the sidelines for ages such as Tiwary and Rahane. Such talents have to be brought outta the cupboard sooner or later otherwise it'll just be a waste. Pujara was given a chance early and look at him now.

It's hard to say this but look at Ravindra Jadeja. He has just scored two triple hundreds this season and is taking wickets. Is he being considered? I just do not understand the selection process and it is an old story so repeating it over and over again is of no use. 

The sooner the BCCI selection panel start making the difficult decision of giving unknowns a chance, Indian test cricket will deteriorate into oblivion. I want to see the best of Team India and not what I'm seeing now. I want to see repeats of India vs Australia 2001, India vs Australia (Adelaide) and India vs England (Headingley). Time will tell but till then all we can do is wait ad hope to see a change in fortune. FINGERS CROSSED.

Reality is an illusion...

Well I didn't say it, my wife did. But after thinking about what's happened this last year i.e 2012, I have to admit I have to agree with it. So many things that happen in life make me realise more and more than that statement is oh so true. You always think that you're gonna have this great childhood and go to a fab college and then get a great job, make shed loads of money, drive a fast car and then get married and live happily ever after in this massive house. Yes, a lot of this does happen but life is definitely not THAT easy. You take people for granted and vice versa, you get used and you hurt the people you least expect to or want to but THAT IS LIFE or REALITY. 

Our parents are like superheroes and we think and expect them to be there with us for eternity, but is that true? Not really. I lost my dad when I was 20 and now 13 years later, I'm left seeing my mum, who's worked her heart out raising us in a cast with pins in her wrist. It breaks my heart, but reality sucks and my mum's only human. If life were ideal, I would be working right about now considering I've just finished an MBA and would have expected to land a job sooner rather than later. Everyone says DON'T WORRY IT'LL HAPPEN,  but they're not the ones jobless and it's not it's been the first time so yeah...it aint easy. 

On a lighter note, The men in blue are considered to be almost unbeatable at home but we still got hammered but an average english side but this is reality after all and to be honest what is Bhajji doing wearing the India jersey as he has to be one of the biggest let downs of this test series. Should Sachin be retiring? Well, I definitely think so but maybe reality hasn't hit him as yet as his illusion of a currently successful career is still on going but his time is up. 

U never forget...

When I got married over 2 years ago, my wife and I always talked about dogs way before even thinking about kids. Not that we don't like kids but that's just not on our mind and dogs are as you know dogs. You cant but love’em and we couldn't wait to have one. In the month of October I think, I got in touch with a friend of mine with the prospect of bringing a dog home. Had already talked to mum about it and she wanted to see where it would go. On finding a candidate, we got a call to come see a lab pup. We jumped at the chance and drove all the way to Dhaid to go see this motu (ie fat) little guy that just blew us away from the moment he was put in his to be new mothers lap.

Names had already started flying around and Swati said that he had to have a Bollywood villain name…hence Mogambo, Bheem Singh & Gabbar were the final 3 choices, obviously Gabbar won.

Being too young to come home, we anxiously waited for Gabbar to get to 8 weeks and finally got to pick him and drive him home. I don't think I have ever heard a pup cry so much. Swats couldn't take but we managed and got him home safe and sound. Both of us still remember him trying to figure out where he was and who were these this husband and wife who could do nothing else but stare at him in amazement. I could never forget that night. Both Swati and I sleeping downstairs on the sofas and regularly waking up in the middle of the night to play with this duffer until he got tired and dozed off. This was definitely Gabbar’s passion…sleeping. The amount of photos Swati got of him sleeping everywhere around the house in the most awkward positions is just baffling but hey…it’s all good.

There are just so many moments with this stupid boy that spring to mind every time I think of him. His first bath, which was one crazy job as he just wouldn't stay still and of course being a pup, he just hated the water.

I never forget taking out in to the garden to play and he would just never listen to me. Its like he new what to do to tick me and then he’d just run as if he was laughing at my face….lulloo!

Everyone fell in love with this chubby lab…even my mom. Chilling on his beanbag in the kitchen he would either be playing with his toys, tussling with me playing tug of war or chewing on ice. Swati used to love to photo him and I think there being only a couple of photos of him with Swati (one regret I have till this day).

Gabbar was special to my family and me but I don't think I can put in words what he meant to my wife. Losing him 3 months in to 2011 was probably the hardest thing we went through as a couple and to this day, he lingers in our mind and our thoughts. I’m not writing this post for me; it’s for Swati to read and fondly remember the closest thing we had to a son.

I always tell her that no matter what, one day Gabbar will re-enter our lives in one way or another and I stand by that. I miss you Gabbar, but Swati misses you like you won’t believe.

Filmy ... very filmy!!!

I love hindi films and if you love hindi films, you have got to love hindi songs. Every song has its own special effect on me. You have your dhinka chicka songs that you just love to dance to at parties and nights out. Whether is be the 80s, 90s or the last 12 years, the slower more romantic songs are ones you can listen to over and over again.

Growing up, I had always had this thought that I would meet this girl one day and “background mein ghaana bhajjega”. Sounds stupid but that's me.

Have Indian films inspired me? Do I watch Indian films and realize that this reminds me of moments of my life gone wrong? Do I watch Indian films and miss my Dad, who’s not been with me for over 10 years? If this is not filmy, then I don't know what is. I might not have a favourite song but I could think of at least 15 songs I love:

1. Hazur is kadar – Masoom

2. Afreen Afreen – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

3. Rim Jim Gire Saawan – Manzil

4. Meri Mehbooba – Pardes

5. O re piya – Atif Aslam

6. Kaash – Faakhir

7. Chehra hai chand – Saagar

8. Tu meri aashiqui – Aashiqui

9. Jidar Dekhoon Teri tasveer – Mahaan

10. Tera saath hai kitna pyara – Jaanbaaz

11. Bholi si surat – Dil toh pagal hai

12. Teri deewani – Kailash Kher

13. Phir mohobhat – Murder 2

14. Dil ka qaraar – Sangharsh

15. Ho Gayi hai mohobhat – Aslam & Shibani

This list can probably go on and on but a short-list as a starter and if anyone wants me to go on then I will, no questions asked.

There are also a number of different or hatke songs that I’ve been introduced to and they’re just so different and so fresh that one can not help but want to listen to while walking into University (like I currently do) with a coffee in one hand:

1. No man will ever love you like I do – Raghu Dixit

2. Kaho ek din – Ahmed Jahanzeb

3. Laila – Faridkot

4. Charka – Wadali brothers

5. Ambar – Ragu Dixit

6. Khidki – Raghu Dixit

7. Dooba – Ade Farooq

8. Bahara (Chill version) – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

9. O Nadaan Parinde – Rockstar

10. Kya yehi pyar hai – Kamaal Khan

Should I go on?

Do I know where I’m going with this but felt like sharing and so I did.

Enjoy.

A Step Backward?

2^nd April 2011, India were on top of the world. One of the top 3 test teams as per the ICC rankings and World Cup winners after a 28 year wait. Anyone would have thought that the only way from year would have been but HELL NO! It has been a pretty disappointing run by Dhoni’s men, especially away from home. 9 tests played (3 in the West Indies, 4 in the UK & 2 so far down under) and so far 1 win and 6 losses. When it comes to the tour of England, I truly believe India were due a bad series and with all the injuries that took place, the series was a gonner before it even started.

So far in Australia, negatives have definitely out-weighed the positives. India has had their chances in both test and they have come out on the losing end both times. Is Australia that good? I do not think so. India have failed with the bat throughout the series and one has to really think, if certain individuals such as Sehwag, Gambhir and Laxman have what ti takes to hold their own in the line up. In the sub-continent, these 3 rarely fail but India need a side that competes home and away. Is Ganguly right? Have India forgotten to win abroad? I disagree for many reasons. I mean look at the bench strength of our fast bowling options. Umesh Yadav is great find as is Varun Aaron and Irfan Pathan is back in the fray as well. I do not want to see India lose 4-0 this series so all I can do is hope Rohit Sharma gets a look in for the next test match.

Where is Wasim Jaffer? He still scores bucket loads of runs and to be fair, Sehwag is failing way more than giving us the start we hope for. As a One Day player, there is no way I would even consider not having Viru in my batting line-up, but selectors have to grow a pair start axing where needed or India’s dream of being a test power house will fall apart and cease to exist. I thought the selectors needed, actually deserved a pat on the back for dropping Bhajji and I cant see how he’ll make it back in the side especialy with Ojha and Jadeja in the picture right now.

The next few weeks will give the cricket loving country of India a better idea of what is to happen to the Men in Blue dresses in white.

Don't let us down boys…try your best & you will succeed..no doubt…

IMTIHAAN

What is an imtihaan? It literally means a test….and that's life. Life is a test, one way or another. What is life without tests? Meaningless perhaps?

I’ve gone through such tests over and over again in my short-ish life so far. I wasn't ever as intelligent as my sisters and hence sparks were always flying as to whether this boy will make it or not in the future. I haven’t made it yet but I’m way better off than I was when I was kid at school. Fi you thought that was the end of it you’re wrong. Got to A levels and where my sisters had pulled off AAA and AAB respectively I racked up BCCD. Not the best thing when you’re trying to get into a Med School. So as usual, if at first you don't succeed, try again and I did. Was sent to Birmingham to do the exams and managed ABBB and got into Med School at Manchester.

Once there, I really tried my heart out. I wanted to be like my dad, my mom and my two sisters. Then I lost my father. What a test for boy at 20 eh? I did al the needful that had to be and then returned to University only to let things slip and I just couldn't get back. I quit Med School and took time to think. 4 months later, I got a second chance and got into the School of Accounting & Finance. Since then life’s been good, I got made redundant but am happily married and now I’m at B school with the Mrs.

Have the tests stopped? No way. They’re still on going and just make one think, where am I going wrong and what do I have to do to make things right. I love my family and would do anything for them. Am I a good person? I always think to myself and probably wake up crying mornings wondering what would I do if my mother weren’t in my life. Have I been a good son? Have I been a good brother, brother in law and mamu? All I know for sure is that my heart is pure and that one day I will have to answer to myself and a higher power up there. All I can do from here is be the way I am and even though expectations can be over-whelming, I’ll just have to my best and that’s what I have been doing. Change is not what is needed as people should accept me for who I am and not for what they want me to be….