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Showing posts with label Mumbai Indians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mumbai Indians. Show all posts
The day Rohit Sharma lost his appetite.
And the day he won it back
It was unlike most mornings for Rohit Sharma. He had no appetite. He didn’t feel like starting with his usual vada pav. Sitting at the dining table, staring at his go-to vada pav, he asked for it to be taken away. This was a matter of concern for the Sharma household. Little if anything could come between Rohit and his beloved vada pav.
Yet Rohit knew. He had lost his appetite. Not just for his vada pav but for something far more critical. For big runs. He had seen how it had panned out for the greats before him, one day, boom, and the switch goes off. It’s not always a glitch in the internal engineering of a player’s cricketing circuit. Yet with age, net-after-net, match-after-match, time after time, Rohit looked but couldn’t just find his mojo.
His mojo made him joke in the slips. It made him laugh about slips. It told him, that no matter what, he was above this. Now he was faced with this dreaded new reality: he was not above this. This, whatever it was, was glugging him; he saw the metaphorical water reach above his waistline. He heard the innumerable jokes about his waistline. Even though he rarely let on, it hurt him. He thought them crude, not that he had a problem with crude, but this was strangely below the belt.
Prior to this, Rohit had had his best time as an all-format player. Those five IPL trophies were going nowhere. After years of traversing the Test wastelands in the middle order, he was opening to five days of a hearty supper.
Rohit’s appetite in every sense was thriving. Everybody loved Rohit. The networks were in talks with him to do a sitcom along the lines of Everybody Loves Raymond with him. Yet Rohit refused, saying he didn’t see himself wearing a suit episode after episode. He then quipped that he was far from ‘The complete man’. He was more, ‘The Compete Man’.
That Rohit was. He was on top of his game. Finally, commentators were not alluding to his talent. He was the finished article.
Yet this morning, Rohit felt like a finished article.
He had seen his fellow teammates threaten to burn out. He had seen the great Virat Kohli plummet. Day after day, the same questions, the century count. Rohit did believe that Virat will be back – he backed him openly. If anything, Rohit backed his mates to a fault. Probably for this, Rohit’s mates loved him. They loved to hang with him, and go out eating with him – even if it meant breaking a Covid protocol or two – his mates knew, Rohit was one of them.
Now leave alone looking away from that vada pav, Rohit didn’t feel like going out dining with his mates. He saw his good mates languish. The players he had openly backed were going through tough times; whether it was Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant or Yuzvendra Chahal. Thankfully he thought Shubman Gill was truly back in the mix.
Not unlike Kohli, his own century drought was bothering him. When that elusive century did come, he was not his usual self in the post-match – nearly snappy, using lame statistics to strengthen his case.
The 2023 IPL season was bleak. This was his fifth straight season with a strike rate in the 120s. Few knew that his IPL career strike rate was a tad under 130. For everyone, he was Captain Marvellous. The Hitman. These brandings were getting to him. Secretly he longed for the challenge when he was mocked as Nohit Sharma.
In the last two seasons, his average had been less than 20 – not just that, his strike rates had been in the 120s. When Rohit thought of this, he would mock himself, “Do the math, Hitman”. It appeared he now had the most ducks in the IPL. He secretly hated stats, now more than ever.
But then Rohit put on his thinking cap. He actually had one that he treasured. It was a gift from a loved one. Putting on that thinking cap, Rohit reassured himself, “Why am I taking it out on the vada pav and punishing myself, I’m working out more so I can eat it”. Rohit ordered a vada pav in his most demanding captain’s voice: “Ek lana woh apna item”
He then thought of Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and the injuries that had laid siege on the team. He then thought of that famous Test series Down Under; he felt good that Ajinkya Rahane was back in the mix. “If Jinks can get his appetite back then I can too!”.
Suddenly, Rohit started laughing and mocking the little girl sitting by his side. Suddenly, he was the happiest man in the world.
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published here at cricket.com
Two teams with nothing to lose, decide to lose it in style
To paraphrase Ravi Shastri, “It’s just what the defeats ordered”
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) both agreed to skip another practise session on the eve of their match. Both teams also agreed not to use the phrase, ‘playing for pride’. Instead, they are determined to ‘enjoy the ride’.
Seated in the common room to lighten the heavy atmosphere, here’s what transpired:
MI coach, Mahela Jayawardene cut to the chase, “let’s not be delusional anymore. We are against CSK who if I know something always know exactly what they are about. So my guess is they know they are bad. They also know we are worse. We have to somehow up our performance to bad and theirs to worse.”
Mentor Sachin Tendulkar nods, “can I say something, I was just speaking to my driver. No, not the same guy in the Mutual Fund ad. Anyway, he asked me, what has gone wrong with Mumbai Indians, do they not believe in themselves anymore. I said, they believe in their future selves. That’s when his eyes popped like my driver in the MF ad. I explained to him, how MI is like a sci-fi film, set in the future, and to win next year’s IPL, they had to lose this one. Like how CSK won last year’s so they could lose this one. That’s when we both tightened our seat-belts”
Zaks claps his hands and snaps, “I’d like to keep it short, but you guys will have to vary your lengths”
Dewald Brevis chips in, “I have a cousin who’s 9-10 years old, back home they call him AB Baby square - seeing as you’re planning for the future, should he turn up?”
Right then Jofra Archer appears on the screen with an obscure message - “on the rocks is not rock bottom. Musk can make his pitch. But you can still tweet. Or maybe he can’t and you can still tweet. You can be last but you can still tweet. Err win. Thanks for believing in my future self. I believe in your past, baby”
Finally, skipper, Rohit Sharma speaks, “I’m going for a net. Who wants to join can stay and talk…can come”
Rohit’s deputy, Jasprit Bumrah joins him.
The two leave the room. For some reason, both players are wearing a mosquito net. Kieron Pollard explains they’re going for a fantasy cricket shoot, where they will have to say the words, “Yeh mein kar leta hoon”. Pollard’s Hindi accent rips into the sombre atmosphere in the room.
Meanwhile, Tim David (dropped after 2 matches) is sitting in a far corner. In another far corner is Daniel Sams with an economy rate of 12.64.
Ishan Kishan reluctantly raises his hand asking if he can speak – I think we need to put a price on our wicket.
For some reason, everyone finds this funny. Which is when Tendulkar pipes up, “Guys, a lot of people on social media have been comparing a third umpire’s voice with mine. I can either accept that and laugh or be upset. I choose to accept it. Ishan, you must accept that you went for this price…”
Arjun Tendulkar interrupts, “Dad, why must you play everybody’s dad all the time”.
Sachin Tendulkar: I’m Jagat Papa
DJ Bravo knocks at the door – Guys, I’m organising a musical net where we can all dance in the nets for a while. Do join us.
***
At the nets, Jadeja is doing his vigorous sword dance. Nobody else is present except Mitchell Santner who is sitting on a bench.
The MI team is quite upset calling it an ambush. Just then Dhoni walks out with a production crew. Uthappa and Gaikwad follow.
All these ads by the bottom-ranked two teams, the irony is not lost on the players.
After the shoot is wrapped, the two teams assemble for a team-building exercise. The exercise lasts two minutes, with silence maintained throughout.
A ball crashes through to break the silence. It’s none other than Surya Kumar Yadav’s doing. After the camera crew had packed up, SKY had decided to go for a net. He had convinced Santner to get off the bench and bowl to him. Santner who had played in 7 games across 3 IPLs was initially surprised someone wanted him to bowl, albeit in a net.
When everyone stepped out, they also spotted Shivam Dube who was turning on the heat. Riley Meredith, yet to get a game for MI yet, was spotted turning his arm over.
Rohit and MS smiled at each other, posing and embracing, both now being interviewed, speaking about how the IPL brought teams together. Rohit quipped, “especially losing teams”
Dhoni waxed eloquently, “Just when you think all is lost, the turnaround starts. Of course, as you know, I have changed my game. Not just in the ad but otherwise also…from a captain, now I’m a Marg Darshak.”
Jadeja joins, “Mahi Bhai has shown me a lotta margs, and it is a learning process for me…I know many times I look clueless but that is because I am clueless. Captaining a side is tough and will tell on performance…all this while everyone was after Virat but look at Rohit and me now…hope this is off the record (looking straight into the camera)
Both MS and Rohit crack up, and Jadeja joins in somewhat involuntarily, not quite knowing what the joke is.
In the background, Dube and SKY are pounding the bowlers.
Rohit: This SKY is too serious…pata nahi kai ko net karta (don’t know why he’s getting a net)
Dhoni: Dube too, very serious. Glad that I didn’t…I mean Jadeja didn’t give him bowling…otherwise he would be netting all day
Rayudu appears, “Guys, the biryani is ready”
Shane Bond walks past with a weak smile, followed by Stephen Fleming, bobbing his eyes, as if he’s just woken up.
Fleming: Certainly, we are up to it, what will be a great contest between two great sides.
Interviewer: Do you think CSK and MI have left it too late?
Fleming: No, I don’t think so
Interviewer: What will you be playing for
Fleming: Daresay, think we’ve been undercooked, hopefully we’re warmed up now.
Interviewer: Is this a dig at Virat Kohli who Shastri called overcooked
Fleming refutes with a deadpan No and moves on.
Interviewer (to Rohit): Both you and Virat have scored less than 120 runs averaging only 19, what do have to say about that
Rohit: Virat is averaging nearly 20…don’t diffuse facts…
Sanjay Bangar appears out of nowhere (diplomatic as ever): I think Rohit and Virat are just one innings away from a big score. By the time Bangar finished his sentence, everyone has walked off, including the interviewer.
In the far distance, batters were queueing up for a net. Chris Jordan had ball in hand.
The Mumbai Indians issued a statement saying that Kieron Pollard retired from international cricket to focus on the make-or-break match vs CSK.
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published here
Is CSK too old to Rock 'n' Roll?
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players' average age: 30.2 years. The Mumbai Indians (MI) players' average age: 28.3 years. The average age difference was barely two years but it seemed more like Daddy's Army vs Pappu's Paltan. And while Michael Hussey (nearly 40) was instrumental in getting CSK across the line in the eliminator against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), by the time he opened in only his fourth innings this season, doubt if there were any realistic expectations of him to go at over 10 runs per over. With Brendon McCullum back on national duty, CSK appeared to be AWOL. Unlike that impulsive Kings XI Punjab bunch that tends to dismantle rather quickly, CSK's chase was akin to a slow bleed - it was painful viewing, an innings lost in its sole mission to somehow drag the game to the 20th over.
No outrageously mistimed heaves floating between four fielders within the 30 yard circle, it was more about settling in, to suck the joy out of the contest, to rob us of the perverse pleasure of watching the mighty CSK explode. By the time Dhoni walked in at the fall of Dwayne Smith's wicket, it was clear, any chase would be led by an off-colour Suresh Raina, and to a lesser extent, by the new kid Pawan Negi. CSK didn't just seem old, it appeared bored, and far too rooted in the reality of an impossible chase.
Topping the table with this jaded bunch is even more incredible - it shows that CSK even when it's far from its best, pulls through as it has mastered the waiting game, which is pretty much Dhoni's calling in cricket. Add South Africa's T20 skipper, Faf du Plessis, old fox, Michael Hussey and jumping veteran, Dwayne Bravo, and you have hardened pros who can suck out the stress of a tricky chase. The chase on Sunday was far from tricky, it was all or nothing - yet CSK was hell-bent on playing it its way and lost without letting out a whimper.
Through the World Cup and this IPL, Dhoni has indulged Ravindra Jadeja. Even in jest the "Sir" doesn't rest easily on him anymore. He rarely bowled his full quota, batted lower than Negi and seemed inadequate when he came in. In spite of this, he made the ODI squad for Bangladesh, as the selectors did not want to tinker with the World Cup squad that made the semi finals. So what will Jadeja's role in Bangladesh be - a swift 12th man who'll fill in for a tired batsman?
Away from the immediacy of T20, in Bangladesh, Dhoni will look to slide back into his favoured format. His aura is intact, the CSK won a knockout in Ranchi, made the finals, it is still the most successful IPL team, but for how long? The power shift from Chennai has started in earnest.
For Mumbai Indians, it all started with a change at the top: Lendl Simmons for an injured Aaron Finch. Simmons' scores: 5, 59, 15, 51, 38, 71, 0, 38, 68* 14, 48, 65, 68. Add to that a starring role in the best bits this edition: the catching. Simmons was flying at point like an animated bunny on speed. Simmons was where the turnaround started in Bangalore on April 19: 59 (44), Simmons was where the job was finished in Kolkata on May 24: 68(45). It was his knocks on both occasions that allowed Rohit Sharma to go bonkers, with 42 (15) and 50 (26) and as we're often informed, "lead from the front".
In spite of all his runs and catches, Simmons tends to go unnoticed, there's none of that flash that comes with his West Indies' mates, Pollard, Bravo or Russell. He's almost quiet, nerdy in his approach, even when he hits them big. Mumbai Indians have done well to go with players like Simmons and Rayudu - one sets it up, the other closes it, almost incognito, while the opposition works away on Rohit and Pollard.
Not long ago, Dhoni farmed the strike in a stiff chase, preferring to trust himself than share the burden with Rayudu. Perhaps it's time for Dhoni to recalibrate some of his thinking on whom to trust and whom to relieve. Team India doesn't have to be a reflection of Team CSK. More than that, it can't afford to anymore.
First published here
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