Casino Royale

The Duckworth-Lewis Method, infamously called as the method which is understood by its inventors, came to the rescue in most of the India-New Zealand matches. But in my opinion, at most times this fair calculation becomes unfair for teams. In terms of justice, it never provides an equal opportunity for both the playing teams to win. Remember the South Africa vs West Indies match in 2003. It ruined the hopes of S.A to win a World Cup title, probably their best chance then. 

Thus, may be we should have a system where equality based planning should be there. For example- A team batting first has scored 299/9. Match gets interrupted when the team batting second is on 189/5 in 30 overs and we have a curtailed game of 45 overs. Irrespective of the R.R, wickets in hand and other equations we may have an cut off in target as per the R.R. Hence, we may have that the team batting second, will have 270 runs to chase in 45 overs i.e @ the initial R.R of 6 r.p.o. Hence, this Casino system of Cricket should be modified.

Holi Hai

Festivals are a way of life in India. And when it comes to Holi or Diwali you see a greater joy among the people of India. simply ecstatic are the people. Here in Bhubaneswar, I probably had the best celebration of Holi ever since I saw this world. I started with two of my friends, Sourav Mishra and Soumyajeet Dash. We went to Lingaraj Vihar then. I had my eyes, mouth and teeth filled with colours. Then Icame back to my house and the most interesting part came alive. We had a innovation to play in water. Mugs of water were sprinkled and we were drenched in colours.

In some other part of the city, we had politicians playing the colours of politics and declaring to play the election in a different style. With the 11 year old BJD-BJP alliance split, we had a eminent leader of BJP saying that they will get rid of the BJD by sweeping the polls and starting a new beginning , giving a new dimension to politics in Orissa. They declared a Holi(y)war.

The Great Indian Election

An eleven year old marriage ended in divorce with the BJD-BJP alliance breakdown. The alliance, which was one of the longest running in the country, has broken down in the wake of misunderstanding in seat-sharing. What Mr. Pyarimohan Mohapatra puts as a winnability factor just upset BJP and that was enough for a split. 

True to the fact, BJD's popularity are at a high, probably at its pinnacle. Even in western Orissa's tribal belt, the BJD has begun to win more votes in the local body election.

However, a fear lurks that the Congress might just turn out to be the beneficiary in BJP-BJD split.

Only the polls can answer to these lurking fears and doubts. Let's wait for "The Great Indian Election"

Sachin Fantabulous

A scintillating 163 (retired hurt, it had to be the only way to get him) after that magical 61 proves all but bowlers worries. Bowlers all over the world should once again start thinking about the little master as he looks as good as ever. What we saw on 9th, only those blessed could have got the chance to see. Just like the blessed had got a chance to see Sir Donald Bradman we are consecrated enough to see a master-class innings of the great Sachin Tendulkar.

Only the one who does marvels isn't great, he makes great his followers by virtue of his sanctity. Hence, the whole of present Indian team is dignified enough to have seen this great man. In fact the whole country is. 

Don Bradman rightly said about S.T that he reminded him of his Batting style. 

This knock also reminds us of the Sachin dancing down the pitch to hit Shane Warne out of the park and  give him nightmares.

True, he is possessed by a shell called greatness. It really is impossible for bowlers all over the world to breakthrough that magical thing and come out winning. Bowlers! Wait until the master himself decides!

Scintillating Sachin

After ruling himself out of the 2 T20s citing the reason that he did not want to disturb the settled Indian team{that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007} ,batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was in great touch in the Second ODI Vs New Zealand. After getting 3 dubious decisions of lbw in Sri Lanka and failing in the first ODI vs N.Z, he finally blessed us with a masterful 61.

Now, going onto the second point, that of whether technology should or not be used in cricket, I prefer that it should be. Dubious decisions like the one given to Viru in the seconde ODI or the three given to the LIttle Master Vs Sri Lanka can be avoided by marvels like The Hotspot and the Hawk Eye. To quote the Little Master:
”I still prefer the hotspot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat. The LBW decisions are not convincing enough as the Hawk Eye gives a 22-yard view which the new referral system does not agree with as to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not.”    

Thus, technology can be used in major cups like the World Cup or the Champions Trophy etc.             

Tour to IG Park