This is December again and that
too second half. This is time to reflect and sit back, relax and enjoy. Linked
to US in terms of profession makes this fortnight most relaxed in terms of work
load and deadlines. Waiting to see if I wake up next Saturday morning on 22nd
and see if world still exist as they predicted 21st Dec 2012 to be
last day of world. 12.12.12 passed by eventfully ending series of repetitive dd,
mm, yy dates starting with 12 am on 00.00.00 (though that was a second and not
date) or Y2k. Many had predicted then that world will end as well. But that
scare propelled Indian IT into next league. I remember 01.01.01 when some believed
to start new millennium. God damn these
numbers. Why numbers make us feel different is something i cannot explain as
why we feel special on birthday. Another 6th December has gone past.
FB posts make you feel good with sheer number of wishes. Of course phone call
and sms make you feel more special. Heading towards 40s is scary though in spite
of euphemisms like Life begins at 40 and so called pep talks. Thus your kids
birthdate make you feel more enthused than your own these days. Cannot wait for
20th Dec. Another number game is completing 13 years of marriage on
21st which i will celebrate for sure before the doomsday. 13 again
seems strange number considered unlucky. Thats too much for dates and numbers.
Thats what December does it to me. Many important dates pass by, year going
past while looking forward to future.
Future though seems tough for
Indian Cricket Team. Phase of transition is taking toll and lack of bowling
options have exposed even at home front. Decade of 00 was great starting with
that test at eden gardens in 01 under Ganguly-wright reign. We won tests in
England (Headingley) and Aus(Adelaide). We won series in Pak. Almost won a series in Australia (though in
absence of warne and mcgrath) but for some stubborn Steve Waugh batting and
silly Parthiv Patel keeping). We were invincible at home. We shared champions
trophy once .Only blot was home loss to aussies in 04. In mid naughties when chapell/dravid
took over things were unsettled but
still we won test in SAF, series in England, WI and won many ODIs chasing.
Lowest point of chapel dravid era was first round exit in WC07. The recovery
started under Kumble which then culminated into of heights under dhoni-kirtsen
era, which saw us fighting back from tricky situations. Starting with Perth
victory after epoch Sydney test, winning at fast Durban pitch, coming back
twice from behind in home SAF series.
Youth blended with experience in
this era. New format of T20 clicked with India winning inaugural T20 resulting
in rise of IPL which is now held responsible for downfall.
Meanwhile we played some good cricket
home and away to rise to NO 1 Test position for 18 month. And finally icing on
the cake was made with world cup win in 11.
Then it started falling apart. Even
in west Indies we aborted chase of 200 with 6 wickets in hand and 55 overs to
play. In England where experienced players like vvs and sachin struggled while
dravid was lone hand. Bowling unit fell apart. Openers got curiously
injured. In Australia where barring virat no one batted
and bowling again struggled. Finally at
Eden vs England where it all started it has come to an end. Irrespective of
whatever happens at Nagpur, an era has ended. Last 16 months have proven that
again. Now it can’t go below this nadir. Give youth a chance and i am sure we
will see another era. But Indian borad seems to be interested in making money than
investing in cricketing future. It was out of sheer luck that we had so many
great and good players playing together last decade. Sehwag, Tendulkars,
Dravids, VVS, Kumble, Ganguly are not born every decade. To support them were good
players like Bhajji, Zaheer, Gambhir,Dhoni (some promising seam bowlers who
drifted like pathan, shreeshant, ishant, RP, Munaf ) Now we have to rebuild the
team with Rahanes, Pujaras, Tiwari, Kohli, saha, yadav, varun, unmukt, harmeet,
. Let the loss of eden make this happen. And let an era end with the greatest
fellow to bat on the earth have a great farewell as he enters dusk. Thanks for
all those great memories master blaster.
Dusk to Dusk, Ashes to Ashes, Eden to eden (01-12) , dusk to dusk...
This proves cyclic nature of
things. Everything has to come to an end. As the year comes to an end, one gets
philosophical. There are certain things
and legends you wish never to end like sachin career, Modis governance in Gujarat,
people like Ravishankar, Rajesh Khanna, Yash chopra whom we have lost this
year. But there are certain things you wish to end like UPA rule at center, DF
rule in Maharashtra, Afzal guru’s life, corruption, biased media, terrorism. Wish
in 2013 we have these things dusked. But nothing as they remains unchanged. This
is time to change. This is that time of year...
Dusk to Dusk, Ashes to Asshes,
Eden to Eden
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