More »
Shoaib Akhtar's book reading
 |
| "Oh damn, he's celebrating the dismissal of Dravid and Sachin in his book." |
MAK Pataudi and me
R.I.P. Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi. India's yougest cricket
captain, architect of the Indian team's first overseas Test series
win. Remember having interviewed him at his residence in Delhi back in
2007. A true Nawab.. in style, conduct and personality..
I first met him when I was an Assistant Producer at Zee Sports in
2006. I guided him into our studio on a few occasions when he came to
participate on our talk shows. Didn't have too much interaction with
him at that stage. He used to often narrate anecdotes from his playing
days.
I had a much longer interaction with him about a year later in June
2007 when I went to interview him at his residence in Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi as a reporter for Times Now. Ironically, the subject matter
of the interview was the Indian team's upcoming tour of England.
As I had the camera set up in his drawing room, Mr. Pataudi walked in
sporting a spotless Kurta Pyjama.
Of all the questions I asked him, I remember one in particular. I
asked him who was a better wicket-keeper M S Dhoni or Dinesh Karthik.
He replied saying, Dhoni is technically superior as a wicket-keeper
but Karthik isn't far behind. In fact, he added that both were equally
competent batsmen.
The other question I can recollect was about the impact the
newly-appointed manager of the Indian team, Chandu Borde (a former
team-mate of Pataudi), would have on the tour.
His answer was, Chandu's a hard taskmaster and would get the best out
of the team.
His answers were usually short but crisp and to the point.
All in all, a memorable meeting... the kind of stuff that stays with
you for life...
captain, architect of the Indian team's first overseas Test series
win. Remember having interviewed him at his residence in Delhi back in
2007. A true Nawab.. in style, conduct and personality..
I first met him when I was an Assistant Producer at Zee Sports in
2006. I guided him into our studio on a few occasions when he came to
participate on our talk shows. Didn't have too much interaction with
him at that stage. He used to often narrate anecdotes from his playing
days.
I had a much longer interaction with him about a year later in June
2007 when I went to interview him at his residence in Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi as a reporter for Times Now. Ironically, the subject matter
of the interview was the Indian team's upcoming tour of England.
As I had the camera set up in his drawing room, Mr. Pataudi walked in
sporting a spotless Kurta Pyjama.
Of all the questions I asked him, I remember one in particular. I
asked him who was a better wicket-keeper M S Dhoni or Dinesh Karthik.
He replied saying, Dhoni is technically superior as a wicket-keeper
but Karthik isn't far behind. In fact, he added that both were equally
competent batsmen.
The other question I can recollect was about the impact the
newly-appointed manager of the Indian team, Chandu Borde (a former
team-mate of Pataudi), would have on the tour.
His answer was, Chandu's a hard taskmaster and would get the best out
of the team.
His answers were usually short but crisp and to the point.
All in all, a memorable meeting... the kind of stuff that stays with
you for life...
Tiger, Tiger burning bright. My hero passed away tonight.
Could there have been a more romantic figure in cricket? Royal Blood, Piratically one eyed, with a a flashing rapier of a bat. Fearless, brilliant, and in the still colonical hungover era could make White men realize that not all natives simply rolled over and begged for mercy.
I remember snatches; a personal memory of him patting my head, when i was a little boy: his magnifcent tactical acumen in countering the fearsome West indies side in 1974.The clairvoyant use he made of Prasanna, Bedi and Chandrashekhar. Oh, if only he had a Kapil dev too. He laid the foundation of the self belief which led to India's first overseas triumphs; never mind that the Last Pataudi trophy to be given away by Tiger while alive was in a Whitewash: nobody doubts that India will rise again.
I remember his epic battles at Headingley, Brisbane, the pirate admiral on a burning deck, repelling musket shot and cannon with his scimitar of a bat. Of his peternatural and feline fielding at covers.
Above all, his class, his persona, his wonderful understated humour and grace.
To his wonderful Begum, Saif and daughters, my deepest condolences.
This tiger is prowling his elysian fields, staring down all with one tigerish eye, down that imperious and regal nose.
Goodbye Tiger. Goodbye, legend.
I remember snatches; a personal memory of him patting my head, when i was a little boy: his magnifcent tactical acumen in countering the fearsome West indies side in 1974.The clairvoyant use he made of Prasanna, Bedi and Chandrashekhar. Oh, if only he had a Kapil dev too. He laid the foundation of the self belief which led to India's first overseas triumphs; never mind that the Last Pataudi trophy to be given away by Tiger while alive was in a Whitewash: nobody doubts that India will rise again.
I remember his epic battles at Headingley, Brisbane, the pirate admiral on a burning deck, repelling musket shot and cannon with his scimitar of a bat. Of his peternatural and feline fielding at covers.
Above all, his class, his persona, his wonderful understated humour and grace.
To his wonderful Begum, Saif and daughters, my deepest condolences.
This tiger is prowling his elysian fields, staring down all with one tigerish eye, down that imperious and regal nose.
Goodbye Tiger. Goodbye, legend.
by Rajiv
You can follow Rajiv on twitter @RR2303
Concussed Gambhir fails memory test!
Hear it here first!
The nasty concussion has left Gautam Gambhir with a memory as dodgy as Suresh Raina’s technique against rising deliveries.
The team doctor paraded the entire Indian team and to their horror, Gambhir could not recognise his teammates!
Here is what happened there:
Doctor: Hi Gautam...hello Gautam…hey Gautam!
GG: Why are you poking at my ribcage?
Doctor: Because I’m calling you and you are not replying.
GG: But who am I? All I know is that I’m concussed.
Doctor: You are Gautam..
GG: Gautama? Gautama Buddha? Well, Buddha hoga tera baap.
Doctor: You are Gautam Gambhir. Indian cricketer.
GG: Oh yes, it all coming back to me.
Doctor: I’m relieved. Hey Viru, come here. Gautam, you know Viru?
GG: Yes. I know Viru...but he was not bald. Viru... he loves Basanti but mausi doesn’t like him.
Doctor: What are you talking? Viru is Virender Sehwag. Remember you are an opener. Hey, what are you doing? Why are you biting the can?
GG: You said I’m an opener. Was trying to open the can.
Doctor: My god! You are a cricketer who got consussed. You remember how?
GG: Yes, it all coming back to me. I was trying to catch Kevin...Kevin...Kevin Spacey.
Doctor: Pietersen!
GG: Oh yes. It all coming back to me. It’s Pietersen. Don't yell at me.
Doctor: Sachin, come here. Gautam, you know Sachin?
GG: Of course I remember. Sachin.. He has got a nasal voice. I like his "Ore majhi, le chal par".
Doctor: that’s Sachin Devvarman! I’m talking about Sachin Tendulkar!
GG: Oh yes, Tendulkar, Tendulkar. It all coming back to me. Don’t scare me doctor, now I remember it all. By the way, you sure I’m Gautam Gambhir?
Doctor: Yes. Apart from Sachin, you remember any of your team mates? You remember Rahul?
GG: Yes Rahul...he is Sachin’s son.
Doctor: Again! I’m not talking about Rahul Devvarman.
GG: Ok ok, stop scolding me. Was joking. It all coming back to me. Rahul who? Yes Rahul. He’s not Sachin’s son. He is Sonia’s son and will become Prime Minister some day.
Doctor: Hopeless. It’s Rahul Dravid. Ok will help you identify the rest. Look at him. Tell us who he is? His first name is Suresh. Does that ring a bell?
GG: Of coufrse. Hi Suresh. You look younger. You have shaved I see. Doctor, I told him to play cricket but he went to Commonwealth Games instead and got into troubles. I don’t know what he did there but was jailed. Have they released you from Tihar? I’m concussed you know…
Doctor: Aargh! Completely gone case. You can’t recognise anyone. Do you know me or you forgot the team doctor as well?
GG: I know you doctor. You are Dhoni. You got a doctorate other day. I remember everything. It...
Doctor: ...all coming back to you, isn't it?
(Som blogs at Doosra)
The nasty concussion has left Gautam Gambhir with a memory as dodgy as Suresh Raina’s technique against rising deliveries.
The team doctor paraded the entire Indian team and to their horror, Gambhir could not recognise his teammates!
Here is what happened there:
Doctor: Hi Gautam...hello Gautam…hey Gautam!
GG: Why are you poking at my ribcage?
Doctor: Because I’m calling you and you are not replying.
GG: But who am I? All I know is that I’m concussed.
Doctor: You are Gautam..
GG: Gautama? Gautama Buddha? Well, Buddha hoga tera baap.
Doctor: You are Gautam Gambhir. Indian cricketer.
GG: Oh yes, it all coming back to me.
Doctor: I’m relieved. Hey Viru, come here. Gautam, you know Viru?
GG: Yes. I know Viru...but he was not bald. Viru... he loves Basanti but mausi doesn’t like him.
Doctor: What are you talking? Viru is Virender Sehwag. Remember you are an opener. Hey, what are you doing? Why are you biting the can?
GG: You said I’m an opener. Was trying to open the can.
Doctor: My god! You are a cricketer who got consussed. You remember how?
GG: Yes, it all coming back to me. I was trying to catch Kevin...Kevin...Kevin Spacey.
Doctor: Pietersen!
GG: Oh yes. It all coming back to me. It’s Pietersen. Don't yell at me.
Doctor: Sachin, come here. Gautam, you know Sachin?
GG: Of course I remember. Sachin.. He has got a nasal voice. I like his "Ore majhi, le chal par".
Doctor: that’s Sachin Devvarman! I’m talking about Sachin Tendulkar!
GG: Oh yes, Tendulkar, Tendulkar. It all coming back to me. Don’t scare me doctor, now I remember it all. By the way, you sure I’m Gautam Gambhir?
Doctor: Yes. Apart from Sachin, you remember any of your team mates? You remember Rahul?
GG: Yes Rahul...he is Sachin’s son.
Doctor: Again! I’m not talking about Rahul Devvarman.
GG: Ok ok, stop scolding me. Was joking. It all coming back to me. Rahul who? Yes Rahul. He’s not Sachin’s son. He is Sonia’s son and will become Prime Minister some day.
Doctor: Hopeless. It’s Rahul Dravid. Ok will help you identify the rest. Look at him. Tell us who he is? His first name is Suresh. Does that ring a bell?
GG: Of coufrse. Hi Suresh. You look younger. You have shaved I see. Doctor, I told him to play cricket but he went to Commonwealth Games instead and got into troubles. I don’t know what he did there but was jailed. Have they released you from Tihar? I’m concussed you know…
Doctor: Aargh! Completely gone case. You can’t recognise anyone. Do you know me or you forgot the team doctor as well?
GG: I know you doctor. You are Dhoni. You got a doctorate other day. I remember everything. It...
Doctor: ...all coming back to you, isn't it?
(Som blogs at Doosra)
Ravindra Jadeja is not a cartoon.
Paging Yusuf Pathan because nobody’s calling him.
 |
| Did the missing tooth do him in? |
I could always tell when you were about to hold out first ball, second ball to long off or long on. You know why? Because it usually was first ball or second ball, long on or long off. It was as if the pressure of hitting the first ball for six was making your head and the bubble gum explode simultaneously – must have been a freak of a pressure equation, you poor Pathan.
I was convinced you were not only a selector but also the guy who owns a cement company. The way it worked was, you were being rewarded for trying to hit a hole in one - which as per my calculations is making all the runs in one ball.
Then one day, you wrote a letter to yourself – finally had enough of your shenanigans.
Dear Yusuf,
It’s not working, gotta drop you.
Yours truly,
Yusuf
You returned to the domestics, and how you domesticated, nay, enslaved the bowlers, you brute of a boy. I have not forgotten the 2010 Duleep trophy finals.
You returned, I was still sceptical. These were not domestics anymore. They do bowl fast and short here, you know. But you played two knocks, and took many on your body, you pulled, you plotted, you played, how you played.
I remember, and so should every Indian. They were not too different from the Duleep trophy back-from-the-dead turnarounds. I do not recall watching knocks of such intensity, by an Indian batsman in the last few years (in ODIs ok?). If I recall, you were good enough for a few overs too.
Then the World Cup happened, you were hurled around the order, and it was obvious – your failures would accommodate Raina. That when Raina’s form had been on the wane for a while.
You didn’t make the Caribbean or England. Now when Gambhir, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Rohit, Bhajji, possibly Sachin, are all out of the one-dayers, you still don’t make it.
Ravindra Jadeja, and now Manoj Tiwary got a call.
You can tell us, what did you say to the doctor?
(Thanks to @forwardshortleg's tweet - So Yusuf Pathan's stock has Nosedived so much since the World Cup that Ravindra Jadeja and Manoj Tiwary are picked ahead of him!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
