CRICKET CRAZIES TO FOOTBALL FRENZIES?

What an adrenaline rush can be on a daily basis, ask a sports frenzy! Here in India, sports mainly talks about the religion-like- game of Cricket!

Talk about Cricket and 4 out of every 5 Indians will have an opinion to express, a memory to cherish, a passion reinstated, a sense of belonging right on the field, there. Sachin Tendulkar is the God of this religion: worshipped, idolized and celebrated as “the face” of Indian Sports.

If you ask someone of their earliest cricketing memory- it usually starts from those early childhood days of gully-cricket where breaking glass windows was a routine tradition (even for girls) and then continued to World Cup 1983/ 2003/ 2011, Sunil Gavaskar’s batting, Anil Kumble’s 10 wickets in a match, Dravid’s centuries, Dhoni’s captaincy and Sachin’s records. T20’s, ODI’s, Tests, the first WT20 win are those cricketing moments which will never fail to bring a smile to your face as your heart shall get filled with joy and exhilaration.

You will find an aspiring Sachin, a mini-Sehwag, a patient Rahul all aroung the gullies of this country. The biggest shock it would be coming across someone who hasn’t himself broken glasses or knows someone who has done it too often. Its probably the most common ritual/event that forms the childhood of almost every Indian child.

Everyone in this country either plays cricket, watches it or at least has an opinion about the game and its ambassadors- good or bad! And then its finally the turn of other games (after dedicating a major chunk of attention to cricket) m-Hockey, Badminton, Tennis, Chess get some mentions. And out of them all Football/ Soccer which is the most widely played game across the globe does not get the similar attention back here in India.

For the love of sport and to get a break from the politically disastrous news and mentally torturing entertainment channels a cricket lover may even try watching football (saying out of experience) { though many of them do it out of sheer interest too} but we can never love football the way we love cricket!

Thinking over the same, here are a few reasons:

1. India does not have an amazing football team like Argentina or Germany.

2. All the good looking sportsmen are already booked to play- Cricket!

3. Indian values emphasize, “You must not kick anything/ anyone.” Well, in football all the donkeys are constantly kicking the ball. In fact it’s a foul if you touch the ball with your hands.

4. Remember laughing aloud in that initial match scene in “Lagaan” where all the Indian Fielders (almost7-8 of them) are runningbehind a single ball? Hold on, football is the game where almost 20 men are doing the same thing throughout the 90minutes or so.

5. In cricket, if Sachin is at the crease for a long time he’s at least sure to score an individual 50 (hopes of centuries always high) But even with the likes of Ronaldo and Gomez on the field you may end up with a goal less match as they miss the goal despite repeated opportunities.

6. Cricket has a 20-20 format, a 50-50 format and a 5day format (tests) too! In football its all the same each day! Thankfully, Pepsi started with T20 Football! #ChangeTheGame

7. As mentioned earlier even with the greatest of players and 90 minutes on the field you may end up watching a goal less match. Thus, heading for the extra time and penalty shoot outs! But with cricket its either runs or wickets! There are non-stop ticking numbers which are separate from the ticking of time.

8. We as Indians always love to support players (individuals). Honestly, despite of team games we’re often more biased and prejudiced about certain players who glorify the game for us.

So from Sachin-Sehwag, Bradman, Michael Clarke, Ricky POnting, Garfield Sobers, Jhonty Rhodes, Brian Lara, Stuart Broad you ask them to shout out Fabregas, Schweini, Euseboi, Iniesta, Andre Pirlo, Ballotelli would be quite a task!!! (with much needed prior practice)

9. Be it a 90 minute game or a 20 over match there is a much even and high-voltage drama in Cricket than in Football. And it is a pretty popular fact as to how much we Indians love Football!

CRICKET HAI BAHUT KHAAS!

Photo Courtesy: PEPSI INDIA #ChangeTheGame

@YUVSTRONG12- SINGH IS KING!

Yes! Yes! Man of the Moment: YUVI is back home, where to he belongs! He had been suffering from a rare germ cell cancer & was under a 3month long chemotherapy treatment in the US. He's fought back, he's braved it & he's shown us that SINGH IS KING!

In India the very mention of Cancer can get the chills in any person. And not many have the guts to fight it back.

Exactly a year ago, it was the same man who was still the Man of the Moment after he won us the ICC Cricket World Cup with his stupendous Man of the Tournament performance. I still remember crying along when he burst out into those tears of joy hugging his team mates after the big victory. And I'm sure most in the nation felt a similar sudden flow of tears. Today I smile along this Inspiration as he fights back another battle, the battle of his life! & along smile millions of Indians who love this Notorious Prince of Indian cricket.

Could be mere coincidence or the call of fate? YUVI had done a commercial with Birla Sunlife Insurance: ''Jab tak balla chal raha hai tab tak that hai'' Who would've ever imagined that months of being the nation's World Cup hero, YUVI would be fighting against the villainous Cancer with another its uncertainties. There was sympathy, there was uncertainity, there was pity; there was fear, there were prayers & of course there were rumours. But its time you put it all to rest!

Cuz we're not talkin about a quitter- COME MEET THE FIGHTER!

YUVI kept up to his spirits; his inspiration forever had been another of his kind itself, another warrior Lance Armstrong! He took inspiration, he kept his spirits high; he also did the job of cheering those up near & dear to him! Fans dint have to miss out any details of their fighter cuz twitter kept the updates and pictures coming as the champ went to the US to get his 3month long chemotherapy right! Those tweets, those quotes, those chin up posts talk of this man's -Never Say Die spirit! Like the loved team mate as he had always been, he kept in touch with the teams blown off performances & applauded & cheered each victory! All his close friends right from Sachin to Bhajji were awed by that positivity, a true sign of a fighter.. Cuz there is never a fighter bigger than ur positive attitude. Kept in touch, kept em high! Bounced back fit soaring high!!! The fighter was always the spoiled pampered favorite; but this particular win was even bigger than what he marked in a year that went by. He's back! He's back! And yes we have our latest mantra- YUVSTRONG! YUVSTRONG! Yes champ! You've done again all the way! All the way.. & now its not just pampering love; for YUVI its respect & respect edged in our hearts! There's an even more special place for him in our hearts!

One person to thank I won't forget; its YUVI's best women- Dear Mummy whose stood by him all the way! Mothers love & blessings have magical powers they say; today they've again proved their prowess!

Can't wait to see this Prince back bay...next battling against the spinners & batsman; getting victorius in his game!

We love you & we'll stand by ''YUVSTRONG'' will be our mantra from this day!

Just like Kapil Dev says & I totally agree, "YUVI IS THE HOTTEST CRICKETER EVER"

& HE FURTHER TURNS THE HEAT WITH THAT BALD LOOK!

YUVI! YUVI!

REPORT TIME

IPL5: OPENING NIGHT (CLOSE IT DOWN)

What do you expect of a tourney entering its 5^th season & which manages grasp the entire nation’s interest???

Well loads of money flowing; loadz of celebrities follow! Now finding the Big B of Bollywood, Bollywood Babe: Bebo, Bindass Banda: Dabbang Khan, Babelicious Junglee Billi; Not just any set of brothers but the Colonial Brothers; Rubberlike Flexible Dancing Don Prabhudeva & Internationally Pop & Hot Katy Perry heating up the Chennai stage with her rather short performance!

BEAT THAT MOMENTS:

·         Amitji did a beautiful recital of a Prasoon Joshi poetry on Cricket- but the Shiamak Davar troupe did no good to add an effect!

·         PC performed & Pc bounced back in attempt to be funny & close to the #CSK boys! But the whistlepodu people refused to let in-

While #CSK Captain Cool assured complete dedication to the game with or without dear Wifey; Raina boy eventually declared that he preferred the Chhammak Chhallo over the Junglee Billi (performance-wise)

·         Bollywood Babe Bebo was out an out entertaining with a mix of all her super hits! The Chhammak Chhallo was the sure to Bajao sabki Pungi! Criminal stuff, eh!

·         Prabhudeva! Sure made of elastic- danced his way through! The audience went electric- Zor ka Zhatka hay Zoro se laga!

·         Finally it was the turn of the Box Office Bodyguard to bowl the audience with his unrehearsed-impromptu HIT JIG!

·         Katy Perry (God Knows what she was wearing) had a short performance!  She was more found in pictures posed with the Celebs present there! And of course Doughie Bollingers joy of holding her in his arms showed how electrified he felt!

·         What was to be telecast was an open suspense with the attendees tweeting each moments update- Sply RJ MALLISHKA!

·         Now while celebs present there were ranting their pics on twitter with Katy the next day; 3 days later she hit back with posting her picture with Sachin; the joy of meeting him claiming him to be the BEST cricketer! (he undoubtedly is)

·         But all this sure wasn’t enough to entertain the 1.2million Bharat Bandhu’s who were more than overjoyed to welcoming this Cricket mela each year with a thrilling Opener game!

·         But no thrill; no suspense! A cricket league opening like a concert??? A definite thumbs down event!

·         The joy, enthusiasm, energy & spirit was lacking!

·         Not to miss out having Ravi Shastri on stage for the spirit of the game oath & add Big B to dictate the oath!!! Circus of some sorts, eh???

·         For the first time in many years I heard someone saying, “THANKS AMITABH” huh??? I was stunned!!!

·         I cannot afford missing out on mentioning the newly appointed IPL Chief- Rajiv Shukla’s Parroted Speech!!!

·         To sum up I would support Lalit Modi’s view- THE WORST 20 CRORE SPENT ON AN EVENT”

·         Management & BCCI get a life!!! For a show sooo THANDA, that too in its 5^th edition??? HAS IPL LOST ITS SHEEN???

·         Quoting Lalit Modi again- “This will pass by”#yehiplhaiboss

Yeh IPL Hai Boss!

Yes! Its that time of the year when the Indian Soap Operas run on regular low TRP results, film makers avoid releasing films & the entire nation is glued to close to 60 high volt Cricket dose! The Indian Premiere League- IPL is on again in its 5th edition!

60days of non-stop Cricket, Bollywood, Controversies, Cheerleaders, Celebrities, Parties, & the translucent flow of money! Cricket Ke naam pe tamasha bikta hai; fir bhi saara desh dekhta hai!

Aur dekhe bhi Kyu na??? Is desh mein Sirf 3 cheezein chalti hai: Cricket, Bollywood aur Politics!

Cricketers to SA, Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka aur khud India ke bhi hote hai! Ab Sachin Ko Sehwag ke khilaf aur Kohli ko Gayle aur Dilshan ke saath khelte hua aur kaha dekhe milega?

Bollywood ki baat kare to Shah Rukh- Juhi, Priety aur Shilpa ne kharidi hai 9 mein se 3 teams! Mallya, Ambani aur Sahara Shri ne kharidi hai bache 6 mein se aur 3! Ab aise hi-fi sitaaaro Ki match pe ash hoti hai! Khud to kam nahi saath mein poori celebrity paltan le aata hai Team ki hausla- afzayi ke liye!

Kabhi Shashi Tharoor team kharidte hai; to kabhi BCCI ghafle karti hai! Kabhi Lalit Modi  ko chairman banate hai, to kabhi corrupt hai bolke hata dete hai! Aur khud hi political aur corrupt ho jaate hai!

Teame match kam, Ad shoots aur Parties zyaada karti hai!

Aur kahe to kya kahe;

#YehIPLHaiBoss

Jaise mein English se chhupke se Hindi pe aa gayi, thik waise IPL Cricket se Corruptainment pe aa gaye! Maze ki baat ye hai, ki hum sab is baat ko jaante aur maante bhi hai; par fir bhi asli Bharat Bandhu bankar is Tamashe ko aturta se dekhte hai; har match har saal!

Aur iska karte kya hai???

National team ki poor overseas performance ka kaaran batate hai!

After a mighty World Cup win for team India after 28years, marked all the cricketing high. But all that we saw in the last one year- Was an overdose of cricket right from the IPL starting days after the heavy-weight International Cup, and loads of Overseas debacles for the Indian team. The only highlights in the entire year have been Virat Kohli’s rising form & Sachin Tendulkar’s 100^th International Century finally!

So are Indian players only IPL wonders??? Domestic over Nation??? IPL the cause of decline in the national team’s performance. Players are only into the T2O format; they’ve lost the flair to play the First Class format- We’re No MORE THE BEST TEST TEAM! Reason #IPL!!!

IPL is like a storm of entertainment, controversies, glamour, gloss, link-ups, cheerleaders & some cricket & LOTS OF MONEY DRAINING! But when we already are a HAPPENING POLITICALLY SCREWED NATION; Do we have space for some more???

Dipping TRP’s and the loss of interest are the constant results over the years; IS IPL LOSING ITS SHEEN IS THE BIG QUESTION???

Do we still need an answer?