Of triumphs & tragedies

K.R.Wadhwaney

Virat Kohli made his instant game (ODI) debut in 2008. Batting consistently, he impressed selectors and earned his 'call' for Test career in 2011. For about five years, he got taste of Test centuries but the doors of a double century remained jammed.
Suddenly, one window opened and he got a 200 against West Indies in first Test at Antigus in 2016. He became first Indian captain to achieve the feat overseas. Buoyed by this success, he hit three more-- 211 against New Zealand at Indore, 235 against England at Mumbai and 204 against Bangladesh at Hyderabad. He was now on par with Don Bradman, Michael Clark and Graeme Smith with four. Bian Lara heads the list with five.
An adaptability from ODI to Twenty to Test is Kohli's hallmark.
No wonder, he is first batsman in world to average more than 50 in all three formats. In 189 ODI matches, his average is 54.68, in 49 Twenty-20, he averages 52.96 and in 59 Tests, he stands on 50.03.He has been ahead of his respected colleague, Sachin Tendulkar. Such has been their relationship that Tendulkar does not bear any ill-feeling. He says: "Records are meant to be broken".
In all three formats, Kohli's best year, individually and team-wise, thus far has been 2016. Runs came in rains and team's record was bettered. He was pedestrian in first 35. He showed his prowess and calibre until 100 and then he was real jewel, as he was in 2016, until he declared his innings closed. Out today, in tomorrow, Shikhar Dhawan, another child of destiny, considers this lonely exercise as much part of dismissal. He thought July 26, 2017, as good as his maiden journey against Australia at Maholi some years ago. His strokes flew in all corners of the field in addition to his cuts in making a record score of 190. Three ahead of his Maholi innings, he deserved his double century but, sadly, he dropped his guard.
More friendly, more carefree and more realistic this his captain, Dhawan is as much aristocrat as Kohli. He enjoys his cricket; his spark provides him, colleagues and spectators as much happiness as to Kohli. Dhawan says: "Please treat this as my second coming".
Kohli says: "A good batsman must be a good in defence. His memory is photogenic ". He accepts that captaincy is like a 'cage' and he must bear in his mind that he no longer has the latitude of 'a wild bird. "Naokari tokari (basket) hay".
This is the factor of sports journalists, who make heroes of many and they remain merely penpushers all their lives. Their fate was miserable until 1990s when the salaries were meagre and some of them died in penury. Their fate remains the same as the modern editors, decorated with powers, and PROs of proprietors do not permit even a bit of laxity when they die after serving for decades. Even a bit of obituary denied to them. They die unsung. These reporters pay for their 'obit obituary'.
Kohli's series against Australia was forgettable. He was not among runs; he got injured in third Test and had to miss his fourth match. His journey in IPL was equally lean. His time of delivery came against Sri Lanka in the first Test, but before leaving for tour, he was involved in a razor-sharp controversy for the assignment of the chief coach. He and Ravi Shastri made a successful unit and the 2016 chief coach, Anil Kumble, was sidelined.
The atmosphere is not exactly peaceful and they both can boil over. So far quiet, Kumble may field the ball.
All has not been said about this raging controversy. A brick-bat has been thrown by Shastri. Bomb will explode soon.

Risking career

S. Sreesanth S.Sreesanth had all the gifts and qualities to make a successful cricketer, but he ruined it by his stupid and defiant attitude. He is perhaps one of few who destroyed his rising carrier. His physique was natural—a proportionate boy, lithe of muscle and supple limbs.
A natural dancer (tiptoes), his leg movements were brisk; his eye hawk-like. His reflexes were quick. That he was a keralalite was written on his face, sleeves and seen in body-language. The world was oyster; he had in him to swallow a chunk of cricket world. Whit Christ had given him all the qualities and needs, he could have become world's one of the most successful fast bowlers. His run-in was orthodox and speed gradually increased as he neared the stumps. He could swing the ball this way and that way; he was very fast. Above all, he was passionate about cricket, he relished the challenges.
Sreesanth's bowling was not all mechanical. He exercised his mind to the extent his intelligence could go. H reduced his hobbies, including music bouts, lest it prejudiced his selection for lack of motivation. He removed minor evil but got caught in betting and matc-fixing. Presently, he is about 34, about a decade outside the fast bowlers' peak of 23- 25. Before his latest suspension in 2013, he tuned up physically and looked for new ideas and methods. Variation was his strength. His bumpers nerve-wrecking. But his effort meant 'mischief'. So he could not survive without doing something alarming.
The Kerala High Court on August 7, 2017, lifted the life ban, Sreesanth was once again a free man, as in his earlier punishments. Justice A.Muhamed Mustaque said there was incriminating to pinpoint his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal. He said the board had come to conclusion on circumstantial evidence. There was nothing that was suggested that he had agreed to spotfixing.
The evidence pointed out that betting syndicates and other mafia had encircled the 'gentleman's game. Sreesanth, 34, said: "I would soon become active on the ground".
Sreesanth is a crafty bowler. He has to return to the game with changed mind and attitude. He cannot afford to defy authorities. Under normal circumstances, he is a gay and stimulating company. He knows that one cannot cheap wickets in international cricket. The walk to return to competitive cricket is very rocky because he is already 34.
He has to learn he has to treat admiration as the buzzing of a mosquitoes.

A great job !

Mathli Rajh Mathli Raj has won many milestones and she has done a great deal to help promote women's cricket. In recent ICC World Cup, India defeated Australia and made it to final before going down to England. If the ministry can give Khel Ratna to two, it could have given to three.
As much house-hold cricket personality as men, Mithali deserved the award as she has won the adulation of millions. She was felicitated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Presently, Indian sports is thriving throbbing because of performances of women. The much-maligned BCCI should not look women's cricket with jaundice eye. It like men's cricket is much improved. After all, they have entered World Cup final twice.

Dilly-dally

Anil Kumble The more handful and nonentity Board of Control Cricket in India (BCCI) officials dilly-dally, the more harm they are piling on themselves. There is yet no t r a n s p a r e n c y , administration and efficiency, the small panel is going ahead with mandate, provided to it by the Lodha Committee at the behest of the Supreme Court Bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India. The tiny panel is taking its own time to remove the rot. The study shows that, after tiny panel's seven months of existence, the dirt and filth have increased in the coffers of the board. The situation is more messy, alarming and uncertain than before. Anil Kumble might have lacked in administration and the area of public relations. But one of the most respected bowlers, with second best record of 619, behind Murali of Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli's achievements in 2016 were when Kumble was the coach. He deserved better handling. He should not have been replaced. It was a sinister plot and Shastri should not have been re-inducted. To have been ignored a sub-committee of Tendulkar, Gangully and Laxman was another sin in Indian cricketing world.

The Supreme Court and Lodha Panel had recommended drastically altering the power structure in the board. The court is firm on age of 70. The court is convinced that the affairs in the board should be managed by professionals . The men average knowledge of cricket and ability of skill cannot rule over men of merits. The one state and one vote stay. The voting right of the Services and the Railways should be done away with but they should continue to play Ranji. Similaly voting right of the Indian universities, Cricket Club of India (CCI) and Calkutta Cricket Club (CCC) or they should be made to Ranji.
The recent events reveal that the advisory committee and Committee of Administration (CoA) are working on cross purposes. It is about time, the opaque working is thrown out of the windows of the BCCI), occupied by pigmies. The board is shaking and CoA) has strengthened its administration.
According to COA, the old guard has yielded in most of the state bodies and 'new office-bearers have taken over. The state bodies have sent an updated list which is said to have been on the websites on August 8".

The recent events reveal that the advisory committee and Committee of Administration (CoA) are working on cross purposes. It is about time, the opaque working is thrown out of the windows of the BCCI), occupied by pigmies.

Barring Punjab, an important state body, and some small units are resisting and, according to information, they will also come round. Old guard of important units like Srinivasan, Shah, Shukla, Thakur, Shirke, Chaudhary, Scindia , Biswal and others accepted recommendations of Lodha Panel. The Delhi Districts and Cricket Association (DDCA) is being run by Delhi High Court –appointed Administrator Justice Vikarjit Sen.
According to reports, new set office-bearers of state bodies are enthusiastic ton run their units with transparency their watchword. The most high profile name in the list of Sourav Ganguly, the CAB president. The change of baton seems to have been accepted.
The Supreme is scheduled to meet on August 18. It is expected to provide dates by which time the change over would be finalised .