Hijacked

There was a joke on Star Vijay's "Kalakkapovadhu Yaaru" that had a reporter questioning a politician that went thus.

Reporter: Sir, what have been the achievements during your term in power? (Unga aatchi la enna sadhanai padaicheenga?)
Politician: (proudly) It was during our rule that Australia won the World Cup. (Enga aatchi la thaan pa Australia ulaga coppaiya jeyichudhu)

Looking at the events of yesterday, this is no longer a joke. The victory was possible not because of the BCCI, but inspite of it. Where were the BCCI bosses when India got kicked out of the WC? "Sukh me sumiran sab karen" holds good for everyone, not just God as Kabir intended. Please let this team be in peace, instead of overhyping them and then bringing about the ruination that invariably follows increased pride.

Just when it seemed like the ICL had BCCI on the run, this victory comes as a big shot in the arm for the BCCI. Now obviously expecting BCCI to change is mission impossible. Somehow I get a bad feeling that this victory will do more harm than good to Indian cricket in the long run. In the short run, a thrashing at the hands of the Aussies, akin to what the Windies did to us in 1984 is also quite possible.

The other issue that rankles me is why governments have to get involved in doling out cash prizes to the players? Its not like the players or the game are starved of cash. Instead of giving 5 lakhs each to Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Uthappa, the money would have been better spent if it was used to repair my street.

Ofcourse it was an awesome tournament. Great memories that I will cherish for a long time. The bowl-out, the six sixes, the bouncer to Albie Morkel from Joginder, Yuvraj's 119 metre six, Sreesanth's ground thulping antics, the final scoop, and much much more. Thanks for the fun and entertainment boys. Just keep up the good work.

No coach, no captain also

While it is sort of obvious that its not the fast bowlers, but the slow bowlers who will be more effective in 20-20, we decide to go in with 4 fast bowlers. And not one of them dibbly-dobbly, just clean hittable.

This is because there is a new captain and no coach. All the seniors have been accomodated in the team while the new buggers are made to sit out. Yusuf Pathan, Joginder Singh, Piyush Chawla and Rohit Sharma are the guys sitting out.

Just like how if you are a kid trying to join a game of cricket played by junta older than you, you will invariably just end up fielding and without batting or bowling.

Totally shocking that Dravid resigned. Yes, his batting wasn't as good as before, but he is just back from a successful overseas trip and have Pakistan and Australia in Australia to follow. Slisha bad timing only, especially with no obvious successor around. Given the current state of our team, I think Dada for the tests and Dhoni for the ODIs (keeping 2011 in mind), would be the best possible option. The only other option is Sachin, who has proved not too good at captaining in both his stints.

VIPs and their peak hour madness

Today morning, as I was coming to office, there were barricades at the place where my lane meets the Airport Road. Reason, some useless and obviously at a very high position VIP and his cavalcade were supposed to pass that way. Being 9:45 in the morning, soon a big queue of vehicles ended up being formed.

This was some 20 minutes before the VIP finally came to pass. The procession passed only at 10:10 finally. Total waste of time. Obviously reasoning with the policemen did not work. Why the hell can't these jobless buggers travel earlier itself? I seriously think there should be a rule that, as far as possible, VIPs should not travel in a city between 9 and 6.

The policemen also tried to make an attempt to push everyone off the roads on this side, while traffic was peacefully moving in the opposite direction. Made the entire security situation seem totally stupid. If someone wanted to attack the VIP, he could easily do it from the other side.

Not too far away from the Vivek joke where the policemen stop traffic as the VIP's flight is flying overhead. There was even a guy selling tea there. Also surprising (but pretty much expected only here) to find so many traffic policemen on the road too.

Dabbawala

I had cribbed about office food almost exactly a year back. I hadn't done anything about it and continued to just get along with whatever ($hit) was being served at the office cafeteria. But no longer.

The biggest issue stopping me from taking matters into my own hands was the absence of a tiffin box. Thanks to the vacation last week, I got a couple of Tupperware dabbas (one big and the other small). Today I have brought food cooked by myself to office. Four chapathis and some mixed vegetable curry that I made yesterday. However bad they are, I am sure I will eat them as it is something that I have made.

The vacation also enabled me to make some much needed adjustments to my technique, of making chapathis. There was a fault in the way I rolled them, the result of which my chapathis weren't too even, that I corrected. (something small like how just opening up his stance helped Dinesh Kartik play Sidebottom better) I was also told to make smaller chapathis.

I put these suggestions into practice and I think I could see results immediately. Visual proof presented itself in the form of proper puri level expansion of the chapathi on exposure to the naked flame. I would still have to get someone else to verify if my chapathis are ok. But till then, ignorance is bliss wonly.

Last night

It had just stopped raining.

First a reservation was made in a restaurant by the lake that cost a minimum of 350 per head.

Then a walk under the night sky by the lake side.

Followed by a candle light dinner with live music in the background at the restaurant, overlooking the lake and costing 500 bucks per head.

The post dinner dessert was Feast at a Kwality Walls vandi near where the car was parked. And then a walk on Necklace Road in areas abounding with couples.

An almost perfect setting for a romantic date.

If only my companion was a girl and not Vamshi.