ICC World T20 ... Very good for Cricket!!

After India-Australia T20 Semi-Final at Kingsmead, Durban.

What more can one ask for..
What a tournament this has been so far!! Not just battle of nerves.. it has been a battle of will's(no, not the cigarette).. the need to prove a point is written all over the teams. Be it young, fearless and confident Bangladesh or be it a very well balanced Sri Lanka or the very talented Pakistan or the usually unassailable Australia.. every team seems to have played with their heart and soul.. Mistakes do happen on field and that sometimes might be the difference between victory and defeat but seeing the way the T20 World Cup has been so far, a crazy fan of cricket like me cannot ask for more! No, I am not taking it away from ODI's or Test matches; I watch them with equal interest as well:) But in this form of the game all teams seem to have forgotten one thing - fear for the opposition. This I feel is really really good for cricket. In most cases this is a mental game as much as a physical game and fear doesn't help building mental strength. Once the likes of Zimbabwe have defeated Australia, they gain a certain confidence which will definitely make their approach better in other forms of the game.

The "Chak De" factor..
And I thought I was the only one who saw "Chak De, India" 'n' number of times in theaters in San Jose and around. With so many Indian fans waving 'Chak De, India', it was such a pleasant sight. Never did a film influence me so much as this one. This film takes an insight into a team of underdogs, who after being guided by an excellent coach, go on to win Women's Hockey World Cup. The film speaks of nationalism, sportsmanship, team-spirit and the will to prove themselves. After seeing India's performance so far in the series I cannot help but compare the movie to reality although it's a completely different sport here. Whether India goes on to win the World Cup is a different story, but when I saw my team playing their hearts out in three consecutive games, I just felt like yelling out of joy.. This is how the game should be played. Indeed, Chak De, India!

Aye Aye Captain!!
What I have seen so far in this young team led by Dhoni has been simply awe-inspiring. Giving chance to the likes of R.Sharma and J.Sharma paves a whole new pathway for Indian cricket. The way Dhoni leads by example and inspires his team is amazing. He handles situations in a more mature fashion than any previous captain did(with the exception of Ganguly may be). Be it changing the bowling order or be it the fielding positions, he does not fear taking risks. Regardless of these risks pay off or don't, they need to be taken as there is no success without risk. He keeps his mind cool even if the opposing team takes the lead. Great Job so far Dhoni.. Keep it Up!!!

A day to remember..
Inspired India.. Formidable Australia.. the stage was set for clash of titans at Kingsmead. And the Indian inning saw middle-order strengthening India's total. Then at a stage when Australia were cruising on their way to victory, along came Indian Bowlers. Sreesanth was easily the pick of the bowlers today but seeing the overall performance of R.P. SIngh, Sreesanth, Joginder Sharma, I. Pathan and Harbhajan Singh over last few matches, they have done a great job. Only if they can control their extra's:-)

What Next???
I really loved the way Dhoni said that the final is just another India - Pakistan game. And that these two teams have played frequently in recent years and this would not add to pressure. I love the fact that it brings out the best in both teams, but why do we have to hype it so much? Here in the US, we eat at Indian and Pakistani restaurants alike and we are mutual friends. With the already existing political tensions between the two countries, why cannot we use cricket to bridge our non-existant differences?

One last request to BCCI.. please do not make cricket a business for sport's people. I saw a post-match interview with a BCCI official and he announced that BCCI would be giving a million dollars to the Indian team and a Porshe to Yuvraj. First of all the tournament is not complete. Second of all, our cricketers are not for sale. If BCCI has so much money, why can't they help build stadiums for million's of aspiring cricketers who cannot afford to play? Or build schools and old age homes? Why corrupt the sacred nature of a sport with politics and money? Is it all there is left living for? I believe not.. It's our passion.. our integrity.. our country and most important of all, a peaceful world.. that is not just worth living for, these are worth dying for...

Long Live Cricket! Long Live Peace!!