The Beautiful Game

Celebrating the festival that is the Football World Cup

The official World Cup books from yesteryears to today- all collector’s items!

The Football World Cup is a month the full universe comes together- to celebrate ‘The Beautiful Game’. For us football fans, it means sleepless nights, as we navigate the tricky match timings. It brings back lots of nostalgia for me. As a kid, growing up in a middle-class joint family in Kolkata, we looked forward to the month-long extravaganza. A giant screen would be put up for the main matches at our ancestral home. Reunions would be planned over this period. The family would have endless fights on who will win the Cup- Brazil or Argentina! The circumstances may have changed, but the madness remains.

This post celebrates the Football World Cup- which is the epitome of ‘The Beautiful Game’.

This World Cup confirms that age old saying that ‘Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent. Messi has been enthralling us with his magic- the joint top scorer in this edition already and the highest goal scorer across World Cups ever. The dribbles, free kicks, one touch finishes- the full Argentina team revolves around him and he is doing a great job so far at carrying them. If Messi is doing well, Ronaldo has to do better. He has had an average World Cup so far with a brace in just one match. But normally Messi’s success fires him up- so let’s see how CR7 does in the knockout rounds. Mbappe has been going great guns too. He will surely break Messi’s eventual record as he has at least a couple of more World Cups left in him. Kane has been going great guns in his attempt to ‘Bring the Come Home’. Haaland has carried his goalscoring EPL form into the World Cup and Vini has brought the old school dribble and magic back into this World Cup. The fight for the Golden Boot is surely heating up.

I was a little sceptical of the new format- 48 teams and almost 40 more matches- I thought that it will lead to lots of one-sided matches. The underdogs have surprised everyone though. Cape Verde, an island with just over half a million population, shocked Argentina and Vozinha became an overnight icon. Paraguay knocked out Germany. Japan almost upset Brazil. Morocco’s success is not a surprise anymore. Uruguay could not even get out of the group. South Africa reached the last 32 against all odds. The Egyptian kings reached the knockouts for the first time and the Australians shocked everyone. In fact at an overall level, the African and Asian teams have stepped up to really give a tough fight to the traditional super-powers from Europe and Latin America.

What has made this edition memorable so far are the nail-biting finishes. The crazy end to the Austria vs Algeria match. Morocco’s last-minute goal to tie the game vs Netherlands. The VAR check which gave joy to Ronaldo but broke Modric’s heart. England’s late goals to prevent DR Congo’s rearguard action. The injury time penalty that won Belgium the game vs Senegal– there have been so many twists in the tail. And with knockout matches, the promise of the extra time and tie breaks mean that the fun is just starting.

The hosts have added to the fun and created the right atmosphere. For the first time in the history, three countries are co-hosting the World Cup. Mexico look really strong and I am looking forward to seeing how they play vs England today- they have an exceptional record and will be helped by the home advantage. USA has been doing great too and can surprise Belgium. Canada had a great run and though they got knocked out by Morocco yesterday, they gave lot of joy to their supporters in the last few weeks with their run to the last 16.

What has added to the excitement has been the plethora of goals- this has been a free scoring cup with an average of almost 3 goals per match so far, almost 20% higher than earlier modern day World Cup editions. The VAR introduction has also meant some thrilling moments- joy for one set of supporters and disappointment for the other. And the fans have surely had some fan- whether it is the Norway fans celebrating with the ‘Viking Row’ or the ‘Tartan Army’ from Scotland who finished all the drinks in Boston- it has been a ‘fan’tastic tournament!

As we continue the last 16 matches today, it promises to be an epic finish. France has looked the favourites so far. Argentina and Spain have the quality to go far. And Brazil have the maximum stars on their jerseys for a reason. Don’t count out the upsets. The race for the Golden Boot is heating up too- will anyone be able to challenge the Messi-ah?

Only one thing is certain- more excitement, more goals. May everyone enjoy ‘The Beautiful Game’ and may the best team win!

After Twenty Two Years

Arsenal win the EPL finally…. From ‘Bottlers’ to opening the bottle- celebrating the success as a Gunners fan!

Cheering on the Gunners at Emirates last season!

I started supporting Arsenal from the mid 90’s- my grandmom gifted me a radio after my 10th exams. I used to tune into BBC Sports Roundup on Saturdays and listen to the live EPL football commentary. Arsene Wenger started creating magic around that time- leading to the title wins and the famous ‘Invincibles’ season. From Bergkamp to Henry to Van Persie to Fabregas to Sanchez to Aubameyang to Saka- it has been quite a journey. Years of ‘almost there’ but not quite! Arteta taking over a broken team and rebuilding it brick by brick- three consecutive second place finishes- being a Gunners fan is not for the faint hearted! So, finally when our team won the EPL this week- it was a dream come true. The long wait is over. This is the start of a new phase- of many wins and cups, hopefully.

This blog is a celebration of the league win and my take on the key factors that played a big role in the success.

The first factor was playing it our way- creating discipline and structure which gave us great defensive solidity. The Arsenal under Wenger were more adventurous and aggressive, the team currently under Arteta is more solid and assured. They say- a good attack wins you matches, but a good defense wins you a season! Arsenal did not concede a single penalty and there was zero red card all season.

The next factor- a very strong overall squad. Arteta invested rightly over the last two seasons to create a great bench- with at least two good players in every position. Arsenal had many injuries during the season, but there was always a good player to replace the one who got injured. There was no drop in quality which has been a case in past seasons. When Gabriel or Calafiori got injured, Hincapie or Mosquera would step in. Saka missed a couple of months- but Madueke was a great replacement. Gyokeres and Havertz fought for the same no.9 position- the fight for places kept everyone on their toes. Arsenal went deep in all four competitions but still had fresh players as they could rotate more.

Certain key players really stepped up. David Raya was phenomenal- the save vs Westham when the match was still goalless was a critical moment in the season. Gabriel was a beast- with great moments at both ends of the pitch. Declan Rice was everywhere- the bridge between defense and attack- he was the glue who held the team together. Saka was great towards the end of the season after coming back from injury- the team seemed more fluid and creative once he returned. Gyokeres gave us 20+ goals in the season- more than the quantum of goals, his hold up play created more space and opportunities for the other players in the team.

We were great with set pieces- I know there are lot of allegations of us being ‘Stoke FC’ or ‘Set Piece FC’- I couldn’t care less. We scored a lot of goals from corners and free kicks- giving us a competitive advantage that irked opponents.

Most importantly, the team was resilient. There were moments in the season when it did seem that we will squander a big lead again. The ‘Bottlers again’ jokes started trending. It wouldn’t have been easy especially with the baggage of the second-place finish in the last three seasons. That ‘It’s not over yet’ dialogue of Declan Rice after the loss vs Man City has become iconic. No one gave Arsenal a chance as Man City had the momentum after the League Cup final win and temporarily led the league via goal difference. But Arsenal stayed mentally strong, ignored the noise and went on a run of solid displays that gave us the league, against the odds.

There were many great moments over the season- I will pick a few.

The first was the Max Dowman goal in stoppage time vs Everton– the teenager opened up the game when it was destined to be a draw. Fom the Everton corner, taking the ball all the way from the Arsenal half to scoring at the other end- with the Emirates crowd egging him on- what a moment!

The second was the overturned VAR decision vs Westham– we scored late in the game but Westham looked to have equalized in the 94th minute. After a 5 minute delay, it was adjudged to be a foul on Raya and rightly so. It was the longest five minutes in the life of all Gunners fans. I do think that VAR can be more consistent with decisions but also will argue that fortune favours the brave.

The third was our attacking display vs Aston Villa in the home match- we scored four times in a period of thirty minutes- probably one of the most eye pleasing phases for us creatively all season. We had lost to Aston Villa away and Unai Emery has a history with Arsenal! To win 4-1 was a massive statement win!

Then, the Martinelli equaliser at home vs Man City deep into injury time. An inch perfect pass from Eze and a perfect chip from Martinelli that helped us split the points.

And lastly, the Eze hattrick vs Spurs– the North London derbies are always special but thanks to Eze, it became a stroll.

The team has started winning- but I hope they keep dreaming big and create a legacy from here. The Champions League final next week can be a great start- and to take it from there into the next few seasons. There are a few things that can move us from good to great to iconic.

The first one is to have more fluidity and creativity in offence without necessarily sacrificing the defensive solidity- one or two transfers in the summer can make the difference.

The second one is more emotional stability in tight moments- there was a phase where the team was so nervous that you expected the opponent to score towards the end of the game. They need to be calmer- years of not winning can do this to you. I am hoping that with this triumph, we will turn the tide.

The last is the killer instinct- Arsenal should have run away with the league but they kept faltering to allow Man City back in. Great teams are ruthless. They don’t give chances to opponents.

The future is bright. But let’s first celebrate the present. Arteta has done a good job of shutting down the noise, taking the blame when the results were not going our way, being pragmatic about our performance. He would often say, ‘We have not won anything yet’ to keep raising the bar!

London is red and may it stay so for many more years to come!

PS: The name is inspired by one of my favourite short stories- O.Henry’s ‘After Twenty Years’. Like that one, this also had a twist in the tale- but for once it ended happily!

Indian Possibilities League (IPL)

An alternate squad from this year’s IPL that can give the main India T20 team a run for their money!

The stars shining bright!

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is at the halfway stage. It’s the two-month bonanza that brings life to a standstill at 1930 hrs IST every day. Fans cheer for their hometown teams but also celebrate the performance of their favourite players. You always have the usual suspects doing well- but here are a squad of fifteen players who I think can give a tough fight to the main India T20 World Champions, and dare I say even beat them! Such is the embarrassment of riches for India in the T20 format now.

Presenting the IPL- Indian Possibilites League- an alternate squad that is taking the tournament by storm.

Starting with the baby giant, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi– holder of two of the three fastest centuries in IPL ever, all at fifteen years of age. Vaibhav is a serious talent with everyone asking when he will make it to the India team, not whether. Someone who can tonk Bumrah for two sixes in the first three balls he faced- surely has talent! He is the one for the future.

With him, my fellow opener will be Prabhsimran Singh– one half of the fabled Prabharya that is taking the tournament by storm and Punjab Kings to the summit. He hit six fours in an over vs Delhi recently and helped Punjab get 116 runs in six overs of power play. Scarcely believable! And with him in the team, the keeper’s gloves are in safe hands.

My no.3 will be Devdutt Padikkal– he has rediscovered himself this IPL, after a stellar domestic season. Coming to bat early or a little late, DDP has found the next gear this IPL to ensure that the game keeps moving. It’s also always delightful to see a leftie tonk the bowling- they somehow look so much better than their right handed counter parts.

Next will be Rajat Patidar– inspirational RCB skipper who has helped them continue the momentum with amazing ball striking through the middle overs. He is especially good vs spin which ensures that the run rate stays high during the middle overs.

My no.5 and captain will be Shreyas Iyer– I think the most unlucky player not be in the T20 World Cup India original team. Shreyas is the only player to lead three different IPL teams to the final. He helped KKR lift the cup two seasons back- how they released him is a story for another day! One of the best players of spin, Shreyas has also mastered the chasing game this IPL to successfully close out games for Punjab- which will be an asset for this team. His relay catch vs MI was one of the best fielding moments thus far in the IPL. He also just owns the ground with his attitude.

Balancing the team at no.6 is Nitish Kumar Reddy– a good finisher who can stabilize the batting if there is a collapse. Also, has improved his bowling considerably this year- can give you two overs in the powerplay or the same in the middle overs. It is very difficult to find genuine all rounders these days- he is the best in the league currently after Hardik.

Next is Krunal Pandya– the man for all seasons. One of the most street smart cricketers playing the game. If his left arm orthodox don’t get you, his bouncers just may! And a good finisher to hit a 8 ball 20 or one to stabilize the innings if there is a collapse. The man for a big day- Man of the Match in two IPL finals already.

The bowling starts with Ravi Bishnoi– who is doing really well this time with his skiddy bowling, unorthodox action and googlies. Then it will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar– who is still ruling the roost with the swing he is getting with the new ball. The inswing which got the Delhi opener this week was one of the balls of the season- and set up the 75 innings rout! Completing the bowling line up are two Lucknow finds- Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan. Bharat Arun, the LSG Bowling Coach is one of my favourite characters. The Indian test team had the best away bowling test team under him. He has done a great job in shaping Prince and Mohsin. Prince has consistently taken wickets this year- bowling a couple of overs in the power play and then finishing up in the slog overs. Mohsin is one of the most talented bowlers going around. He is a menace, if he is fit. Ask KKR, against them he took a 5-fer this week.

Overall, a good balance in the team with three lefties in the top seven. Also a left arm pacer complementing two right armers. And two different types of spinners and two genuine all rounders balancing the team.

We also have four players who just missed the cut- but make it to the squad of fifteen.

Priyansh Arya is the back up opener. A person who can hit six sixes in an over- in a local domestic T20 event- sure has firepower. His stand and deliver game is taking IPL by storm.

The back up keeper is Dhruv Jurel– a great wicket keeper and a reliable no.3 for Rajasthan this year.

The back up pacer is Mohammed Shami– who just needs to get back to the India team for the SA ODI World Cup- just check his record in the last World Cup! He has played the full domestic season with Bengal and having a good IPL especially bowling economically in the power play and also getting wickets.

 To complete the squad, I have Shivang Kumar- left arm Chinamen bowlers bring the X factor into the game.

Such is the strength of the Indian team in the T20 format that you won’t find the following players in my team or the Indian Team that won the World Cup- Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna and Yuzi Chahal– to name a few.

But coming back to my fifteen, I am pretty sure that this team will make the last four if there is a fictitious next T20 World Cup. And then when they play the main Indian team in the knockout, who do you think will win? My money will be safely in my pocket.

Bleed Blue

The key ingredients that contributed to India’s T20 World Cup win

The feeling is yet to fully sink in. There was a time when India would dominate the group stages of the World events, but fall flat when it mattered most- the knock-out matches. How time has changed! It has been a purple (or rather blue) patch recently- India has dominated the white ball format. Back-to-back T20 World Cup wins, Champions Trophy…. When you add the Women’s ODI World Cup and the U19 Men’s World Cup- it has indeed been a heady streak.

So, what has led to this transformation? Sharing my thoughts on the key ingredients that led to the World Cup win in this edition I call ‘Bleed Blue’.

Firstly, IPL has been a great enabler. Youngsters are exposed to high pressure situations earlier, They play with world class opponents for two months and are battle-hardened when it comes to moments of truth. India has just lost 2 out of 30 odd matches in the last 4 white ball World events- uncanny consistency especially in the T20 format which is considered the most unpredictable.

There has been a big shift to moving from celebrating milestones to putting your hand up and doing what the team needs most. It was refreshing to see Sanju Samson talk about how he went for the big shots even when he was nearing a century in the semifinal- as he knew it will benefit the team the most. Kudos to Gautam Gambhir for driving this big change.

The other related point is there has been a welcome change of rewarding the player for performance vs carrying big names in the team and making ‘safe’ picks. Moving on from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the younger brigade was not easy. Dropping Shubman Gill (the test and ODI captain) for Ishan Kishan was a big call to make ahead of the World Cup. Even during the tournament, getting Samson in after the loss to South Africa was a big decision- one that the think tank got absolutely bang on.

The next one I would say is elevating our T20 approach and taking it to the next level. While 200 was the goal seek till very recently, the team scaled 250 in the two knock out matches, 300 is the next target! This was possible due to the structure of the team- having 8 batsmen meant that the batsmen could go hard even if they lost a few wickets. The team was also flexible with the batting order (Eg: Shivam Dube being promoted during the semifinal to take on the spinners) to maximize the returns. Well done again to the management for inculcating a fearless spirit and positivity in the team.

Lastly, Jasprit Bumrah! The best all-format bowler from this generation. When you bat a full 20 overs but your opponent only gets 16- chances are that you will win!

But cricket is not won with few individuals but as a full team- so here’s celebrating the full lot…

Sanju Samson- what a story! He has been living behind the shadows of MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant and lately Ishan Kishan… was only drafted into the team in the Super 8 and what a difference he made. Man of the Series with three critical back-to-back knocks in pressure matches- my favourite moment was his celebration after hitting the winning runs in the virtual quarter final vs West Indies.

Abhishek Sharma- came into the tournament as the World No.1 T20 batsman… Had three ducks to start the World Cup and was under pressure to get dropped. Repaid the belief the think tank had on him by scoring a 20 ball 50 in the final and gave India the start they needed to surge ahead!

Ishan Kishan- story of another player who grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Was not in the running till just before the World Cup- kudos to the selectors, especially Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh for rewarding his performances in the SMAT and getting him into the team- and also for dropping a big name like Shubman Gill to get more dynamism at the top of the order. My favourite Ishan moment was the start he provided vs Pakistan on a tricky pitch– getting 77 in a team score of 88 at ten an over when 150 was more than a winning score. Plus his awesome fielding in the final- not easy for a wicket keeper to do out-fielding- he was everywhere!

Suryakumar Yadav- had an average World Cup and maybe nearing the end of his T20 India career. But, led well in general. Played a crucial innings in the first match vs US to get India to a respectable 160+ when they seemed down and out. The moment he lifted the World Cup will forever be etched in every Indian fan’s memory.

Tilak Verma- Was flexible and made the most up and down the order- depending on the team need. Took the winning catch in the final. That six over gully off Archer in the semifinal- some shot!

Hardik Pandya- the player who balances the team. Comes in and plays the cameo to help finish the batting innings on a high, then opens the bowling to help save Bumrah’s over for the death…. Can also bowl through the middle and is a gun fielder. He was the key ingredient who helped India play 8 batsmen and 5 bowlers to keep going hard as a batting unit.

Shivam Dube- the finisher, the spin killer and the one who ‘theoritically’ balanced the team with the bowling assurance. Played a few crucial cameos- has the uncanny ability to always do well in crunch matches.

Axar Patel- Bowled with precision- gave us an over or two during the power play. Took a couple of blinders in the semifinal vs England- the first catch was Kapil-esque to remove Brook and the other was a relay near the rope to remove Will Jacks– difficult to choose which one was better!

Varun Chakravarthy- came into the World Cup as the No.1 T20 bowler in the world and had a good round robin. Lost his sting a bit towards the end- needs to stay calm when put under the gun.

Arshdeep Singh- was steady at the start and the death- his Hinglish videos were also hilarious- showed the great team spirit.

Boom Boom Bumrah- my joint man of the series! His slower balls and yorkers in the finals…. Just his aura- with 45 needed in three overs in the semifinals, the English still decided to play him out- as he was Bumrah!

The bench- Rinku Singh coming back to join the team after his father’s death and ever present with his gun fielding… Washington Sundar giving the team balance when the opponent is leftie heavy…. Kuldeep Yadav- would have walked into any other T20 team but not easy to get a look in for Team India… Mohammed Siraj- had a super match vs USA and always cheered on the playing 11.

A word now for Gautam Gambhir and his thinktank- Ryan ten Doeschate, Morne Morkel, Sitanshu Kotak, T Dilip… They did a super job of making the team result focused vs milestone focused… Giving a role for every player and instilling the aggression… I see shades of Ponting’s Australia when I see this Indian team recently in white ball world cup formats- the consistency is uncanny… I would love this dominance to spread to the test matches also- but that’s for another day.

Kudos to Team India for another World Cup win. Bleed Blue!

Chak De! India

Story of the Indian team that completed an amazing turnaround to win the World Cup

The Chak De! India Moment

Cricket is a religion in India. The nation comes to a standstill when there is an important match. But this was true mostly for the men’s matches till recently, till Sunday. When Harman completed that catch, the nation came out to the streets and celebrated. The ‘Women in Blue’ have gone through many a near miss in the past, but this time was different. No one gave the Indian eves a chance when they lost three close group matches in a row. But dawn comes after the darkest night- the turnaround to complete the cup win was truly remarkable.

This blog is a celebration of our World Cup win- from despair to hope, from tears of sorrow and pain to tears of happiness, from Impossible to I’m Possible.

Harmanpreet Kaur led the country from the front. She played a few crucial knocks through the cup. The partnership with Jemimah in the semi-final was crucial to turn around the match vs the mighty Aussies. She has a knack of coming to the party in the big knockout matches- her 171 in the 2017 World Cup semifinal is one of the best ODI performances ever. Her catch to complete the final match would have been played a million plus times already- it will become as iconic as Kapil’s catch to dismiss Viv in the ’83 World Cup final. She was calm under pressure as a captain and listened to her instinct when handing the ball to Shafali which turned around the game in the final vs South Africa.

Smriti Mandhana is the best batswoman in the world currently and lived up to her potential with a 400+ aggregate series. Her offside batting reminds me of Ganguly- so much elegance, so much class. She ensured India made great starts in most of the matches. Her bond with Harman was also great to see- that chemistry between two senior members in the team is not something we see normally and really spurred the team on.

Shafali Varma was the proverbial wildcard- she was not in the original team. Called as an SOS for the knockout matches, she delivered the Woman of the Match performance in the final. Her 80+ with the bat was full of aggression. She plays quite a lot like Sehwag. During the chase, Shafali was the one who turned the match on its head with two golden wickets with her part time spin.

Pratika Rawal missed the knockouts but had a stellar performance through the group phase. She is one for the future- fastest woman to reach 1000 runs in ODI international cricket (23 matches). She gave great solidity to the batting with her opening partnerships with Smriti. Her century vs NewZealand in a virtual knock out match set up India’s turnaround. It was wonderful to see her join the celebrations after the final inspite of being in a wheelchair!

Jemimah Rodrigues played the most important match of her life in the semi final. The Australian Women’s team had won more than half the World Cups till now and were invincible. To guide the chase with that 127* was one for the ages. She did not celebrate her milestones as she knew that the bigger job of seeing the team home was still something she had to complete. Her post match interview where she shared her self doubts and vulnerability so openly also was touching– she was dropped in the early parts of the World Cup and got a lot of support from fellow players which really helped her make the astounding comeback.

Deepti Sharma was the Woman of the Series with 20 wickets and 200+ runs- the first time someone has done this ever in a World Cup (for both male or female). Time and again, she rescued the team with lower middle order runs when there was a batting collapse and then she kept getting wickets at crucial junctures too. Her 50 and five wickets in the final is another rare occurrence- something that has never been done before.

Richa Ghosh had a clear role laid out to her- she was the finisher in the team and ensured India always ended their batting innings on a high. Her cameo helped India continue the momentum in the semifinal when Jemi was tiring and she also ensured that India accelerated in the final- what seemed like 280 odd became almost 300 thanks to her. That leg side catch of Kapp in the final was mighty crucial too in sealing the deal.

Amanjot Kaur helped balance our playing eleven- she turned around the final with the crucial run out of Brits and that catch of Wolvaardt was the icing on the cake. She helped complete the win in the semis with Jemimah and also had a run a ball 50 earlier in the tournament batting at no.8.

Kranti Gaud had a good series too- it was wonderful to see an Indian eve bowl with good pace to rattle the opponents. Her yorker to get Wolvaardt in the group match was one of my favourite moments of the World Cup.

Shree Charani was a revelation- she bowled with great guile through the campaign and took 14 wickets. She was the one who gave India control in the middle overs.

Renuka Thakur, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol- all played their roles in shaping the wins through the campaign. Even Arundhati Reddy and Uma Chetry kept the morale high- Jemi mentioned how their the inspirational messages helped when she was tiring towards the end of that iconic semifinal innings vs Australia.

And last but not the least, Amol Muzumdar- life for him came a full cycle. When Sachin and Kambli constructed that record 600+ partnership at school level, Amol was waiting in the dugout for two full days- he was the next batsman in. He then had to wait for the next twenty years- got 10000+ domestic runs but never got a chance to play for India. It was a moment of redemption for him when he took on the reins of the Indian women cricket team in ’23. He did a splendid job of bringing the team together and instilling belief and conviction when no one gave them a chance- the team spirit was awesome as can be seen from this team song they had collectively planned from four years back. He really was the Kabir Khan who fulfilled his dream and that of a billion through the World cup victory.

This was not just a victory for the current players or the coaches alone. It was a win for all the past greats who helped shape India cricket what it is today and built the foundations. So cheers to Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra, Diana Edulji and the likes. It was wonderful to see them join the celebrations with the team with so much passion.

Spare a thought also for the South Africa team- Wolvaardt was excellent both as a captain and batswoman- with centuries in both the semifinal and the final. SA has reached three white ball finals now (last two T20 World Cup) only to fall short. But their time will surely come soon.

So, the next time there is a cricket match in some small town in India, don’t be surprised if a young girl is opening the batting against a boy bowler- ready to tonk it like Shafali. Moga, Sangli, Mumbai, Siliguri, Rohtak, Agra, Chandigarh, Mohali, Prem Nagar, Eramalle (AP), Rohru (HP)- the starting eleven in the final is a celebration of India’s unity in diversity, lived through its daughters.

Chak De India! Jai Hind!

A new dawn

A fan’s perspective as the India test cricket team goes through a transition phase

Sunrise at Hermanus- signifying the new dawn of Indian cricket

The Indian test cricket team is going through a phase of transition. We have lost three greats in a short period of time through retirements. Kohli was one of our best test captains ever and someone who made winning away tests in SENA a norm. Rohit was one of our best white ball captains with an enviable win-loss record in global events. And finally, Ashwin would probably rank as our biggest test match winner across all eras (that’s a topic for another debate) especially at home.

The case for retirements is always a tricky one. In India especially, more often than not people linger on longer than they should. That is a marked difference from how it is done in Australia where most often people ask ‘why?’ instead of ‘why not’ when people hang their boots- and that’s how it should be in my view.

This post is about celebrating the new dawn for the Indian test cricket team- and looking forward to the future.

To be honest- the start has not been bad. Drawing away to England 2-2 was beyond expectations- a young team with a young captain- taking on Bazball and not ceding till the end needed guts. The recent home series win that followed vs West Indies was expected. They are a far cry from the giants they were in the 80’s, but still there would have been some pessimism after the last home whitewash vs Newzealand- so it was good to win this one 2-0.

Let us look at the key protagonists in the team now and the architects of the recent highs.

Shubman Gill had a baptism by fire as he put on the captaincy cap- India’s last test series win in England was way back in 2007. While he has captained Gujarat Titans regularly in the IPL, test cricket is a completely different kettle of fish. I think Gill as a captain did well in England but experience will make him get even better. I would like to see him being more aggressive when the chips are down for one. Gill as a batsman has been A+ though- to have a 750+ run series in your first test series as a captain was superlative. To become the new #4 is not easy- that spot was pretty locked for the last 30+ years with Sachin and Kohl- but Gill has started with a bang. When you perform as a batsman, your job as a captain becomes easier- well done!

Yashasvi Jaiswal is the aggressor for us- he sets the tempo at the top of the innings. What is refreshing though is his appetite for ‘daddy hundreds’- something which makes him similar to Sehwag. He did get a couple of tons in England but I was expecting more from him. He sometimes gets dismissed in trying to go after the bowling- but that’s part of the deal with him. The 175 vs Windies was great- if not for the run out, he would have tried Sehwag’s 300 record for sure.

KL Rahul has been an enigma- to have such a good technique but still to average only just above 35 in red ball cricket- speaks of opportunity loss. It was good to see him get a 500+ run series in England. In the days of Bazball, I like his approach of blunting the new ball the old fashioned way- to make it easy for the middle order. The recent RoKo retirements have also made him the seniormost batsman in the team now- I hope he grabs the opportunity with both hands and really fulfils all the potential he has.

Rishabh Pant has been the X factor in our team for long in tests. To bat the way only he can and still get so many hundreds is mind boggling. In fact, if not for his ultra aggressive approach and getting out several time in the 90’s- he would have had many more tons by now. I am extremely glad though that here is an Indian player who cares a darn about statistics and keeps the game moving- may he continue with this refreshing approach in the days to come. The Pant run out in the Lord’s test was the turning point in that match and his injury was a big big blow. Rishabh has given us many sweet memories- with the Gabba win being my favourite and I really look forward to his return to test cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja is probably one of the most under-rated cricketers of our era- with a bowling average under 25 and a batting average nearing almost 40 now- he has one of the best career average difference in test cricket. The electric fielding is a bonus. He has become super reliable recently with the bat and the 500+ tally in the England series has almost become expected now- as are his sword celebrations after he reaches those milestones. The recent promotion to vice-captain seems a just reward for his consistent performances.

Jasprit Bumrah is easily India’s best ever bowler across formats. A test bowling average lower than 20 with 200+ wickets makes him one of the all-time greats too. I hope the thinktank manages his workload better and he is able to serve us for a long term in red ball cricket. I really struggle to fathom why he played some of the inconsequential Asia Cup matches but missed the all important 5th Test vs England. Gambhir and the thinktank also need to manage the dynamics of him probably aspiring to be the next test captain and then losing it to Gill.

Mohammed Siraj was my favourite story from the England series. A guy with 110% effort always with a smile on his face. His relentless effort on the last day of the series and winning that match for us when the chips were down was really the highlight. Especially how he redeemed himself after dropping the catch earlier. I hope he continues with the same passion always.

Washington Sundar has been another unsung hero for Team Blue- his lower order runs have been gold dust- in fact his cameo in the 5th test with the tail set us up for the win. And he has this habit of taking important wickets when trusted with the ball. He can be a like for like replacement for Ashwin in the days to come.

I really hope Kuldeep Yadav gets more opportunities going forward- a bowler like him takes the pitch out of the equation and can be a trump card. The Indian team prefers to pack the lower middle order with all-rounders but Kuldeep can do a better job in my view, especially if he works on his batting a bit more to balance the side. The Man of the Match performance in the Delhi test was good to see.

There are still a few open pieces to complete the jigsaw puzzle. A stable no.3 is needed- Sai Sudarshan and Karun Nair have recently got their chances but not made it their own. We should try out Sarfraz Khan in the middle order- he seems to have got a hard deal when it comes to selection. Shreyas Iyer seems to be another candidate yearning for a recall. Dhruv Jurel is athe back up keeper with a good batting record- India always wins when he is in the team.

A good medium pace allrounder can complete the team in SENA countries- Shardul is past his prime and Nitish Kumar still needs to prove himself but there are early bright sparks. And a good 3rd pacer will help complement Bumrah & Siraj- it will be wonderful if Shami can get over his injuries or else Prasidh/ Akashdeep need to be more consistent. It may be worthwhile to try Arshdeep too- a good left armer will balance the bowling line up well.

Not just the players, it has been a baptism by fire for Gautam Gambhir too. He is a man with a strong opinion and that is never easy in a country where everyone has an opinion. He has backed his instincts a lot and the path will become more easy for him going forward with the team stabilizing.

India has been playing gold standard test cricket for the last decade now- as we pass the baton, I hope that we keep raising the bar.

‘For men may come, and men may go. But I go on forever’.

Mera Naam Djoker (My name is Djoker)

Diving into the phenomenon called Novak Djokovic- you can love him, or hate him. But is is impossible to ignore him!

24 and counting!

We were truly blessed to witness tennis when three all time greats took centrestage together- Federer and his class, Nadal and his tenacity & Djokovic and his mental strength- who do you like the most? I admire the first two, but if you ask me to pick one, I would side with the ‘Mr.Unpopular’- the ‘Djoker’ in the pack- this is dedicated to him.

Djokovic is often hated- it’s fashionable to criticize him- for throwing rackets, for riling up the crowd or for not getting vaccinated. But as they say, there are two sides in every story.

Djokovic grew up in war ravaged Serbia- the adversities he faced right from childhood shaped the person that he grew up to be. Couldn’t have been easy to play tennis (and become so so good at it) when survival should have been the first consideration. As he started his tennis career, there was also the aura of Federer and Nadal who were dominating the tennis world then. He had to come out of the shadows to get his place in the sun. This shaped Djokovic’s underdog persona and the challenger attitude that is so unique to him.

Federer had the best technique- whatever he did on court was so natural. Nadal was the most tenacious- his never say die attitude was legendary. What does Djokovic have? Well, I believe he has the best all court game among the three but more importantly, he has the mental strength that adds a different dimension. So, ‘Nole’ as he is called, can be two sets down in a grand slam, can be down and out with an injury- but you can never rule him out. In fact, he most often uses adversity to spur himself on- he is at his best when pushed to a corner.

What I truly admire about Djoker is his fitness- he seems to be getting better with age. He is almost 38 now but can easily give the youngsters a run for their money- he is the Virat Kohli of tennis when it comes to fitness.

There is also a vulnerability in him that I admire. He is often seen as brash and controversial but there is an air of authenticity that I admire. What you see is what you get from him- there is no pretension- whether views about the Covid vaccine, missing grand slams due to his doggedness when he could have easily added to his all time record tally- he always walks the talk. There is also a certain niceness in him- the way he looked up to Federer and Nadal, while trying to beat them… to now passing the baton to Sinner and Alcaraz- from being a challenger to handing over the crown to the Next gen- the transition would not have been easy. He has a great sense of humour- when he mimics Sharapova or when he eats the hallowed grass after every Wimbledon win… or when he reminds his kids to sleep early vs watch his late night matches live- there is a likeable earthiness in him.

I wanted to pick three matches that I think truly defines his career and his achievements.

The first one was the Australian Open final vs Rafa in 2012. Djoker went into the match after a tough five sets semis win against Murray while Nadal got the better of Federer. The final was supposed to be a close one- and boy, was it a classic! This was easily one of the the most physical tennis matches of all time- a battle of attrition- the quality was impeccable throughout. Every point was a marathon- no one gave an inch. ‘Nole’ finally triumphed in a five setter in close to six hours- both the players were so tired that they could hardly stand during the cup handover ceremony. What stood out for me here was Djokovic’s supreme fitness.

The second one was the semifinal vs Federer in the 2011 US Open. Federer was already the universal GOAT then while Djokovic was just about getting started. Fed led by two sets to love and even though Nole levelled the match, Fed served 5-3, 40-15 with two match points to set up a final vs Rafa.  A forehand cross court winner followed- and Djoker was not ready to accept defeat yet. What followed was magic- Djokovic turned the match on its head to actually win the 5th set 7-5. One of the best comebacks of all times. He would go on to beat Rafa to win the final. And this wasn’t the only time that Djokovic beat Federer from match point down- talk about mental strength.

The last one is from the recent Olympics in Paris. While Djokovic had all the slams not once or twice but at least thrice- a medal for his country always eluded him. So, success in the Olympics was top priority for him. He had a big surgery to repair torn meniscus in his right knee in June 2024. No one gave him a chance in the tournaments to follow- he actually challenged his body to play Wimbledon just over a month after the surgery and against all odds- made it to the finals vs Alcaraz- he got pulverized in the final- a straight set loss in possibly the biggest defeat Djokovic had faced in a slam final- it was the most one sided match. The Olympics started less than three weeks after Wimbledon and they faced again in the final. Recovery from injury, turning the tide against someone who beat him so comprehensively recently, winning a first ever gold for Serbia in tennis Olympics- there were so many challenges- but Djokovic turned adversity into an opportunity- what he has been doing since childhood to take out Alcaraz in two close tie breaks to get the gold- what a player!

99 singles title wins, 72 big titles, 24 Majors, 40 Masters, 7 year end championships, highest number of weeks as World No.1 and also that elusive Olympics gold medal now- a fighter, a challenger, a fitness freak, a vulnerable, honest authentic champion- ‘Djoker’ is also the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of tennis for me!

Guns N’ Roses

Navigating the hopes and frustrations as an Arsenal fan

One from the archives- outside the Emirates

I have been a Gunner for almost thirty years now. My maternal grandmother gifted me a radio in the mid 90’s after I did well in an examination. Those were the days of no computer or mobiles- it became a ritual to tune into BBC Sports Roundup on Saturday evenings and listen to the live EPL commentary. Wenger was just starting to create his charm then and the ‘Invincibles’ season soon followed- it was easy to fall in love with the Arsenal team.

I have been a Gunner right through and experienced the downs after those heady days- with Henry making way for Van Persie, Fabregas, Sanchez, Ozil, Aubameyang over the years to now Saka and Odegaard. Arteta came and gave us hope but there’s still more frustration than hope as a club fan.

I do think that it’s not all gloom and doom- coming second in the current EPL table and third in the Champions League revamped first round format is not a bad starting point.

Arsenal has a young squad- they surely have the DNA around which they can rule England and Europe for the next ten years. The team age average is amongst the lowest in EPL. Also, the way that the team was fully resurrected by Arteta when he came in was praiseworthy- all the deadwoods were driven out with agility- Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil and the shambolic defence. We brought in youth to revitalize the team. We also possibly have the best defence in Europe- the Gabriel and Saliba partnership is easily the most solid going around. You win a match with a good attack, but good defence wins you titles! The defence very often does not just get us clean sheets but they have also made Arsenal ‘set piece monsters’- with Arsenal scoring the most goals from set pieces so far this season. Watching Gabriel score from corners has become a common sight in Arsenal matches– so much so that the set piece coach Nicolas Jover has a mural in Emirates already to recognize this new found prowess. The ‘Next Gen’ are also coming through so well- not just the Sakas but this season has seen the emergence of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly- truly showing the possibilities for the future. Our performance with the other biggies in the EPL- the so called Top 6- has also been super! We have won or drawn against the Top 6 for 15+ matches now- gone are the days when we folded under pressure in big matches!

But it has also been 5+ seasons of lot of hope under Arteta but a lack of final results- Arsenal fans are becoming impatient and not ready to wait anymore. Arteta became the Gunners head coach in December 2019 and we won the FA Cup that year but it has been all expectations and no end result after that. The second place in 2022-23 was surprising but after leading the league for 90% of the time, we should have sealed it. The 2023-24 performance was gritty- we kept chasing Manchester City till the end but dropping points against lower teams hurt us. With City dropping their level this year, this could and should have been the year of the Gunners- but it has been a repeat of all too familiar story again. So, what ails us?

The biggest one to me is the ‘cost avoidance’ mindset vs. an ‘investment’ mindset- we have strengthened the team but still don’t have a squad that can win big titles. The EPL is unforgiving- even the 20th team can surprise the table toppers- you need a deep squad to seal the deal. The biggest gap in the team is obvious- we do not have a no.9. Arsenal has been rumoured to be in talks for a transfer with many a name- Gyokeres, Sesko, Isak, even a Cunha! Till the time we have a good no.9 who can score 20+ goals in a season, we can forget becoming champions. Last week was so illustrative- when Liverpool was chasing the game vs Brentford, they brought in Nunez from the bench. When Arsenal were chasing the game vs Villa- they brought in Sterling as a sub! I rest my case. Man City have already got Haaland to sign a new ten year deal and have brought in Omar Marmoush to replace Alvarez- but Arsenal are still contemplating. Arteta needs support from the board to spend on a good finisher. Having said that, our transfer strategy in general, has not been up to the mark. We kept buying defenders and midfielders without strengthening our forward line. Arsenal also does not have decent back-ups in key positions- with a good team of around fourteen players but with gaping holes in the second team- Saka played week in and week out and it was almost a case of ‘when the next injury will happen, not whether’- and now we are without our most influential player for three months. This also explains how we do so well against the big teams (when the adrenaline gets you over the line) but consistently drop points against weaker oppositions (when the tired legs give way)- we have become the ‘Robinhood’ of EPL.

Under Arteta, Arsenal seems to have also developed a ‘complaining’ mindset vs a ‘winning’ mindset- always bickering about the VAR decisions and the ‘could be’s’ as opposed to focusing on their circle of influence and closing down games. The style of play has also evolved- from the free-flowing style we so loved (check out this special goal by Wilshere– one of my most favourite ones in the Wenger era) to a boring style overly dependent on set plays. Getting a good no.9 now will help us move back to the attacking style we Gunners fans so adore!

So, quite a few good things are happening for the Arsenal team, but equally a lot of quick and big fixes needed to move from a good team to a great team that wins big titles again.

Arsenal is the rose that we Gunners fans love- but it comes with the thorns which prick us. But all said and done- Love it, or hate it- we are Gunners for life!

Dus Ka Dum (Ten of the Best)

The ten most memorable sporting moments from 2024

Pages from my 2024 Scrap Book

How fast has this year passed by? We were just in January the other day and in a flick, the year’s gone! I am quite an old school guy. I still make my own sports scrapbook- cutting pictures and putting them on a diary. As I was putting it up for 2024, quite a few of the best sporting moments of the year flashed by me.

So, these are my top ten sporting moments from 2024.

The year started with the West Indies cricket team visiting Australia. The Caribbeans have lost their mojo over the years. Gone is the aura of the 80’s- now they are better known as ‘Callypso Collapso’. So they were meant to be pushovers. But in GABBA- they created history by knocking over the Aussies. Defending a little over 200 in the fourth innings- Shamar Joseph would bowl unchanged for 10+ overs with a broken toe to take a 7-fer and script the biggest upset win of the year. Loved it!

Staying on cricket- the Indian cricket team has long been the most consistent team without winning the finals. In fact, lately,  they have become quite the chokers when it comes to the big moments- back-to-back WTC finals, ODI World Cup Final loss at home in front of 130,000 crowd- the list of heartaches is indeed long. So, when India finally managed to put it across the Proteas to win the T20 World Cup, it was the stuff of dreams. India played well throughout the event, but the final was the real deal. Kohli came good at last to give India a respectable total but with Klaasen going mad- all South Africa needed was a run a ball in the last five overs of the chase. Enter Boom Boom Bumrah- with impeccable line and length, he created the pressure. Hardik held his nerves to apply the choke further and when Surya took that crazy boundary line catch in the last over- India had finally won a World Cup after 13 long years!

While I love wearing the Blue, I have quite a soft corner for Purple too- not just because of Cadbury but because that’s the colour of my favourite IPL team- the ‘Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo’ became a big hit this year with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being so dominant. Rollicking starts from Narine and Salt, playing fearless cricket, cameo endings from ‘Russell Muscle’, excellent all round bowling performance capped by dream starts by Starc in the two most important knock out games- KKR were relentless this year. The back-end staff- Gambhir, Pandit and company did a stellar job in motivating the team and building the aggressive mindset- so when Shreyas Iyer lifted the IPL trophy, it almost seemed like it was a foregone conclusion.

India has long been a story of lots of optimism before the Olympics begins but lots of disappointment after the event is over. This year was a mixed bag- we did not win any golds but got six medals in all. Manu Bhaker’s achievement of winning two bronze medals really stand out- shooting has been one of those fields where we over promise and under deliver every time, but for the ‘young gun’ to stand up when it really mattered was really something! She actually missed another medal as she was a close 4th in her third category. Well done Manu! India is proud of you.

The other Olympics achievement that was memorable was Djokovic finally completing the set. This year has been passing of the baton in tennis with the ‘Next Gen’ Alcaraz and Sinner winning all the slams- but what stood out for me was Djoker’s resolve and tenacity as he mastered Alcaraz on the Roland Garros clay- he sacrificed a lot of smaller events and even had a surgery just before the event- but then to make a comeback and win the Gold was epic! ‘Nole’, easily the GOAT (Greatest of all Time) of tennis!

Talking of tennis- it was a sad moment for all the fans as Nadal ended his illustrious career in ’24. Rafa’s tenacity and his prowess on clay makes him another serious contender for the GOAT- but that’s for another day! Blighted by injuries- it wasn’t the best way to call it a day with the Davis Cup swansong where he ended with a loss and Spain exited early. But what we will remember is the friendship and the rivalry with Federer, that amazing Australian open final with Djokovic which lasted 6 hours, fourteen French Open wins (yes, that’s not a typo), the quirks and the bandana. Thanks Rafa- for the memories!

Rafa is a big football fan and he would have been proud of what the Spanish national team achieved this year. Before the Euros started, there were other more favoured teams- England were singing loud ‘It’s Coming Home’, Germans as hosts were quietly confident, while France with Mbappe are always there or thereabouts. No one quite gave the young Spanish team much of a chance. But the power of youth has the power to transform. Nico Williams and the prodigee Lamine Yamal were outstanding with the stable Rodri holding fort at the centre- Spain kept going from one peak to another and finally putting to rest England’s ambitions through a late goal in the final.

Staying on football- the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) was held in ’24 and Ivory Coast’s win was quite a roller coaster. They were the hosts and the expectations were hence quite high. The land of Didier Drogba always does well in football. But the start was so bad that they actually fired their coach after the group phase. They struggled and stuttered in the knockouts also but somehow survived. So, when Sebastian Haller scored a late winning goal in the final against arch-rivals Nigeria- it was an unbelievable achievement. Made sweeter as Haller was actually making a swift comeback after recovering from cancer. What a story!

In the African context, one more 2024 highlight was the continued dominance of the Springboks (South Africa Rugby Team)- they are the reigning World Champions having defended the title in Paris last year, but they upped their level this year. The Springboks won the Rugby Championship this time after five years- this is an event where the best southern hemisphere teams participate- South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. Their biggest rivalry now is when the Springboks play the All Blacks. In fact, just to see the Haka before the match adds to the experience before any All-Blacks match. While SA won five of the six games, the match at Ellis Park vs NZ was easily the best. The All Blacks led for almost the for the entire duration of the match, and by 10 points going into the last quarter. But the Springboks always manage to make a late surge, and that they did again. Coming back from the dead against the biggest rivals to cap a memorable win!

The last one in the list is actually just from yesterday. A twelve-year old had a dream- to become the youngest world champion in chess. They say you should have a big ambition- if you do, then actions follow, and results after that! Fast forward six years, Gukesh actually made it happen- becoming the World Champion in chess beating Ding Liren in Singapore to become the latest and youngest ever to do so, and the first Indian after Vishwanathan Anand. To see him cry with joy after the win warmed the hearts of all Indians.

Cricket, Olympics, tennis, football, rugby, chess- quite a diverse list for me as I think of the top ten sporting moments of the year. What about you? What would you add to this list?

The ‘Wizard of Aus’

The charm of watching test cricket in Australia- a trip down memory lane.

With the Don, MCG Museum- from the archives.

There is a certain charm of watching test cricket in Australia. Mostly the end of the year when things slow down a bit, the lush green outfields, the best ever commentary over the years- you get to choose from Bill Lawry to Richie Benaud- there is a tinge of nostalgia that fills the heart. Waking up really early on Boxing Day to catch the first ball of the test at MCG with a hot cup of coffee has always been a ritual.

Australia is a tough place to go and win- it’s been a ‘final frontier’ for most test teams. The Aussies play incredibly hard and can be abrasive at times but love to give you company with a chilled beer after the game. The bounce at WACA, the intensity of MCG or the spinning conditions in SCG- it’s difficult to adapt and win.

All the more exciting then that India has quite become the ‘Wizard of Aus’ of late- winning the last two test tours Down Under. But it’s not always been like that… Here’s a trip down memory lane.

The year was 1981- India started the last match 0-1 down at MCG. The going got tough with Australia taking a 182 run first innings lead. That’s when India started a great comeback- Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan combined for a 165 run opening partnership in the second innings to bring India right back into the game. Sunny’s dismissal led to the now ‘infamous’ walkout when he was so frustrated with the umpire’s LBW decision that he instructed Chetan to come out with him as a sign of protest- luckily good sense prevailed and the match continued. India set Australia a target of 143 which should have been a walk in the park but a half-fit Kapil had other ideas- bowling on a tricky 5th day pitch, Kaps did the unthinkable- a 5fer to land India a 59 run win and tie the series.

Fast forward to 1991/92- Australia really steamrolled India that time- a 4-0 series win. But what I remember from that tour is the SCG test- the amazing partnership between Shastri and Sachin- a double ton for Shaz and 148 for ‘God’. They took the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners include a certain leg spinner who had figures of 45-7-150-1. Any guesses who that was? Well, the greatest ever spinner- Shane Warne. India almost won that test, Aussies only managing to draw with a stubborn Allan Border batting out the last session with the tail.

The series in 20023/04 started with a ‘captain’s innings’ from Ganguly in Gabba for a draw. Then Dravid and Agarkar helped us do the impossible- a test win at Adelaide after conceding 500+. Those were heady days, getting up really early to book the spot in the common room, bunking classes to watch the match in the hostel. ‘The Wall’ was stupendous- double century followed by an unbeaten 72 in the tense chase to give India a memorable win. The teams went in to the last test tied 1-1 and Sachin decided to shut down his offside play to get back his form- well, a double ton followed that set us up for the win. The ‘Very Very Special’- VVS Laxman was always there- to support Dravid in Adelaide or Sachin in Sydney. If not for Steve Bucknor’s dodgy umpiring calls (there were no DRS those days), we would have won that test and series. Steve Waugh made a decent contribution in his last test- the series win stayed elusive, but we were getting close.

The 2007-08 series was controversial- India lost the 2nd test in Sydney- dodgy umpiring decisions, Harbhajan banned for the so called racist remarks to Symonds- the India team were in a corner. So, when we went to the third test at WACA- no one gave us a chance. But under Kumble’s inspiring captaincy, we fought. We set Australia a 400+ target, but Ponting was still there- and till he was there, there was always a chance. That was when a tall lanky Ishant bowled possibly the best over of his life– troubling Ponting every ball and snaring his wicket at the end- caught at slips. It was unbelievable- India bossing Aussies through pacers. A 73 run win was the end result. Australia won the series 2-1, but India won hearts.

Next to 2014-15- India were tigers at home, but till then they hardly won away- especially when it came to SENA opposition (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). This is the time Kohli took over the captaincy. In the first test at Adelaide, India were set 364 on the last day- most teams would shut shop and play for the draw- not Kohli’s India. The ‘King’ went for it- India were 240/2 and with a couple of hours left, the win was suddenly possible. Lyon had other ideas and turned it around with a 7-fer, but Kohli’s 141 on a 5th day pitch was a master-class- signalling the start of the aggression and positive attitude that would get India many memorable test away wins in the future. Australia won the series 2-0.

The 2018-19 series was different- Australia were a tad weakened with the bans for Smith and Warner for Sandpaper Gate. Pujara camped whenever he went to bat and Pant brought fresh aggression in the lower order. India and Australia split tests in Adelaide and Perth but then India inched ahead in MCG with the win thanks to a certain Bumrah. So when the last test at SCG ended in a tame draw- India had conquered Down Under for the first time ever.

To the 2020/21 series- well it started with a 36 all out in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. No one gave India a chance when they went to MCG under Rahane as captain and levelled the series. A tight match at SCG followed where Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted out of their skins to get a draw. To the last match at ‘GABBA’toir- Australia’s stronghold. India were ravaged by injuries went with a bowling attack of Siraj, Natarajan, Shardul, Saini, Sundar- a combined experienced of just over 10 test wickets. But the young India team had something else- belief! Set 328 to win on Day 5, most teams would have played for the draw- but with a super Gill and the even more super Pant, the Indians went for it. Almost a run a ball needed in the last 10 overs, and the Indians were playing scoops and reverse sweeps- such audacity! When Pant hit the winning runs, no one could believe it- a win against all odds.

The start of the 2024-25 series has not been bad either- no one gave India a chance after the debacle at home vs NewZealand. Also, when they folded for 150 in the first innings, the worst was expected. But with Bumrah the bowler (and captain also this time), the impossible is I’m possible! Indians folded Australia for a little over 100, and then thanks to Jaiswal and Kohli tons- turned it around for an easy win. Four more tests will follow and it’s exciting to see what the result will be- hoping that the ‘Team in Blue’ completes the Hat-trick.

The page has been dormant for a while- glad Bumrah’s spell at Perth stirred back the writer in me.

Kapil, Sachin, Dravid, Ishant, Kohli, Pant, Bumrah- so which one is your favourite moment from Down Under?