Saffer ke baad Geet : A Musical Tribute to Team India !

After the Saffer debacle on Saturday, a lot of Indians are furious. Unjustified and justified depending upon why one is angry. The Team has suffered a defeat to Saffers in the Safar of this World Cup. But are we justified in castigating them ? No and Yes !

NO: If one is angry simply because India lost, that is not justified. It was just a game and a close one at that.

YES: If you are angry at the semantics after the match, that is reason to be angry with Dhoni and Co; Dhoni especially.

Hum Honge Kaamyaab Ek Din !

Here is an interesting post on BCC!. From here, one thing lead to another and I have dedicated songs to all our Players. 

This was inspired by my friend Balram Cheruparambil. He started with dedication on Facebook. I have made some changes from his original status according to my choice. But I am indebted to Balu for the inspiration.

So here we go as we sing along for the sake of Team India !

Sehwag: Aaj mai Upar, Aasmaan neeche, Aaj mai aage zamaana hai peeche !

[He is right now at the top of the heap and is busy with Upar Cut]

Sachin: Duniya me hum aaye hain toh jeena hi padega !

[How long and how much can he endure ?]

Gambhir: Mai Zindagi ka saath nibhaata chala gaya !

[One who goes along the tide]

Virat Kohli: Ek, Do, Teen, Chaar, Paanch, Che, Saat, Aat, Nau, Dus, Gyaaraa, Baaraa, Tera !

[He doesn't know which is his number in the batting order]

Yuveraj: Saree Duniya Ka Bojh Hum Uthate Hain !

[Bat, bowl, field and then carry his weight. He is doing everything]

Dhoni: Hum Bolega toh Bologe ki Bolta hai !

[He talks, people say he is talking. He doesn't talk, people say, look he has nothing to say]

Pathan: Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna ab hamaare dil me hai !

[He walks to the Crease with a desire to be martyred]

Raina: Gardish me ho Taare, na ghabraana pyaare !

[His stock might be low, but not his spirit]

Bhajji: Mujhko dekhoge jahaan tak, mujhko paaoge wahaan tak, Raaston se Carvan tak, iss zameen se aasmaan tak, mai hi mai hoon, mai hi mai hoon "Doosra" koi nahin !

[He is stressing to Dhoni about his stature in the team as Un-expendable]

Zaheer: Akele hain chale aao kahaan ho !

[To any bowler who can bowl / restrict runs / pick a few wickets !] Is Kumble listening ? 

Munaf: Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa Laya Laya Laya Laya !

[He is out there with a 'Gift' for the batsmen; as a bowler and as a fielder]

.

Nehra: Hum Bewafa hargiz na the, par hum wafa kar na sake !

[Has bowled some deadly death overs in the past. One bad day and he is Public Enemy No. 1. Not fair]

Sreesanth: Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe !

[Public admonitions, fines and bench; nothing can change him]

Chawla: Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi, hairaan hoon me !

[We can't even be angry with the lad. He just doesn't know he is making all Pareshaan]

Ashwin: Koi humdum na raha, koi Sahaara na raha, Hum kisike na rahe, Koi Humaara na raha !

[The most successful Indian spinner of recent times has no takers in the team]

The Theme [Team] Song for Team India and Supporters:

Yeh Safar bahut hai katin magar na udaas ho mere humsafar !

And finally...

Gary Kirsten: Hum to jate apne gaon, sabko Ram Ram Ram !

[He will sing this song to India after the World Cup]

SPun Doctor

Length does matter !

A Question for Cricket Enthusiasts, especially Indians...

Who was the person most responsible for India's big total [370 / 4] at Dhaka ?

A] Virendar Sehwag ?
B] Virat Kohli ?
C] Team effort ?
D] Shakib Al Hassan ?

All have roles.

A] You don't score 175 every day, especially in ODI World Cup.
B] His 100 was faster that that of Viru.
C] But for Sreesanth, everyone did their share. The team did do well.
D] Winning toss and inviting the strongest batting unit to bat first.
    [Well Ganguly has company from across the Eastern border]

But the real answer is...

E] Rubel Hossein !

Okay, don't scoff at me. Agreed the 21 year old was the most economical Bangladesh bowler and seemed to have kept Sehwag quiet early on. So why ?

Look at this: Sehwag was peppered with short pitched bowling by Rubel and Co. He almost bowled only that stuff to Viru. This actually infuriated Viru and made him more determined. He cut his 'Upar Cut' off and decided to bat almost 50 overs. It definitely made the difference.

You can't keep Sehwag from Sehwagging. You just have to get him out. If he bats more than 40 overs, he will score big. You are not likely to get someone out to a short ball when he just keeps ducking and knows the bowler can't go on and on with that stuff.

Bowlers will have to device new strategies with Viru and also with Team India. Pathan has already showed this and against better bowling attacks. What worked in 2007 and in T-20 World Cups till last year seems to have run its run. Time to change the length, because length does matter !







S-Pun Doctor

Team India: Dhaka Dhamaka !

Revenge of the Blue Brigade; Well done with some minor hiccups !

Sehwag: Has never minced words. From Ordinary Test side to Revenge match, he talks like he bats and bats like he talks. Absolute Sehwagging ! Looks and sounds great when it works. Now he wants to bat longer and perhaps through the innings. Some serious stuff but augurs well for Team India.

Sachin: What was he thinking when he started that run ? He was shaping up better than Viru at that stage. Well, little big man, save your best for the big matches.

Gambhir: Looked good till he was undone by one that kept a shade lower. He will have to bat longer when the big two have an off day.

Virat: Century on World Cup Debut was waiting to happen for the most competent batsman to arrive since Dravid. Amidst all the Sehwagging, Virat completed a century in lesser balls than Sehwag.

Pathan: Had very little scope to go ballistic. Fielded as if this was the final. Got rid of Bangladesh Captain when he was going great guns.

Yuveraj: Pulled off a brilliant catch to dismiss Tamim and kept the bowling tight. Is he going the 'Up the Anti [e] - Ravi Shastri' way ? Shastri arrived as a bowler but retired as a tired and rusted Opener. Yuveraj arrived as a batsmen second only to Sachin in talent and will probably retire as a tired and frustrated left arm pie chucker.

Dhoni: The way he slaughtered New Zealand bowling must have given Sehwag the kick. Viru must have thought, "WTF, even Dhoni is hitting like this, so why not me ?". Kept his tryst with toss. We wouldn't mind a bit if he loses 9 out of 9 as long as India win matches.

Bhajji: He was by far the best bowler tonight. Don't look at the score card. He kept things water tight after the Sreesanth nightmare.

Zaheer: Yellow hair and some flair. Even when his partner was getting caned, the Khan kept things under check. Experience helps. Remember it was his first over that sunk India in 2003.

Munaf: Munaf is Enough. I eat my words. He was really good, damn good. If he keeps things like this most of the times, I am ready to suffer his fielding and all else.

Sreesanth: The eternal bad boy was chosen ahead of Ashish because of his speed. Faster he bowled, faster he was thumped to boundaries. Let us not be too critical. He was swinging the ball well. It just wasn't his day perhaps. But it is almost certain that Dhoni will go back to his trusted Nehra and I wouldn't fault him if he does so.




S-Pun Doctor