Random Musings

In the last couple of days, I picked up a common thought across three completely unrelated media events.

Event 1:
In the first instance, I saw on TV, an interview with Anupam Kher. He was talking about his very first movie which was a big success, and where his work was appreciated, “Saaransh”. He was referring to the scene in the film where he goes to claim the ashes of his dead son, and breaks down in front of the officer. He says that the scene had multiple takes and each time, he managed to cry out very well, and with a lot of emotion. The scene was one of the key scenes of the movie. Anupam confessed on this interview that while doing this scene, he was not thinking much about the character, or the character’s son who had died, etc. Somehow he was thinking that if this film does not work, he would have to head back to Shimla, from Mumbai. And that thought was making him cry and in turn, bringing out the best in him!!

Event 2:
Then I read an interview of Indian captain M S Dhoni, where he was also describing his entry into the Indian team. He said that after an India A tour where he was a member, he started to get a feeling that he will at least get one chance to play for the India team. At least one chance! And he did get that one chance when he was selected for three matches. And somehow he did not click in any of them. He hoped against hope that he will get one more chance. And which he got in a while. Now he was clear that if he did not make it, he will be lost in the oblivion of Indian domestic cricket. This was it – his last chance to show that he is worthy of a place in the Indian team. Then, it was that thought of being written off, and the pressure that it caused, that made him work very hard in that outing, and he managed to hit a ton. Staring at the possibility of having to go back to his old life made him raise his level and fight it out, and succeed!

Event 3:
Today morning’s paper carried an interview of Ms. Indra Nooyi, the Pepsi CEO, and she said that she owed her success in great measure to the fact that she did not have a safety net. That should she fail, she’d have to take the next boat home, and that thought made her work harder and achieve the success that she ultimately did.

There is an interesting pattern across these three otherwise unrelated messages. That the fear of failure, and the relegation back to the not-very-desirable life made the persons work harder towards their goal.

Interestingly, I carried a different thought most of my life. Somehow on account of various factors, pretty much right through my education and my working life, I always had a perception of having a ‘safety net’. When friends were working hard during exams, for it was a make or break in terms of career prospects for many, mentally I used to feel that I always had the family business to go to, and I was less stressed. That I did not do too badly over time, made me feel that perhaps the lack of pressure was allowing me to deliver my best?

But now I think again. Could more stress have driven me to even greater levels?? Do I give my kids the feeling that they have a safety net, or do I tell them that they better make it, or else…?!

I was not taken in by the 20 overs cricket concept as I felt that this “slam-bam-thank you ma’am” format would just be festival cricket and no more. A combination of curiosity, media blitz and convenient timings ( 9.30 pm starts) got me viewing these games and after seeing a couple of these games, I can say that I am a convert of sorts.

I had felt this often about basketball games. That more often than not the two teams stay close to each other in scores over 3 quarters, and perhaps even a bit into the 4th. And that the game is finally decided in those last 5 min depending on which team plays a tighter game then. And I have wondered that the first 3 quarters are only charades. Why don’t they just start the game at 75-75 and play for just 15 min calling it the 4th quarter?!

Well twenty20 is that equivalent in cricket!

In normal 50 overs cricket you see an initial fast paced batting in the first ten overs, then some consolidation, wicket conserving and
soft pace setting over the next 30 overs before a final onslaught again in the last ten overs. Twenty20 cricket is all of the above but without those middle 30 overs! Like taking out the first 3 quarters of basketball!

You would think that it would basically be a batters game then. Yes it is so. But you still see some inspired bowling performances. Like R P Singh yesterday against South Africa. What the bowlers don’t have is the luxury to settle down to a line and length. They need to get it right from the first ball that they bowl. And the yorker is the ball to bowl, again from early indications. There is a huge flurry of sixers being hit (Yuvraj hit 6 in an over!!), so anything that is remotely short has a chance of being walloped over the ropes. The bowler’s best chance is to pitch it up and aim for the yorker. This is unlike the ODIs, where to some extent, short balls also work. Mainly because the batsman is more conscious about not losing his wicket – there may be another 20-25 overs to bat through there. Here, batsmen are far less concerned about their wicket, and in the interest of scoring, they are willing to sacrifice the wicket.

The fielding needs to be top class. On the ground and in catching as well. Dinesh Karthik took a catch yesterday that could be about as
good as any that I have seen taken on a cricket field!

On the batting front a team may always seem to ‘have a chance’. Even from 30 for 5, a team could potentially end up at a score of 150 and which could be defensible. After all the tail needs to wag only for say 5-10 overs which maybe they could manage, and in the process bang around a few runs as well.

I guess there is not so much established strategy to the game yet. The captains and the coaches are experimenting still. Like how to do the bowling changes (with just 4 overs max per bowler, how do you give the bowler multiple spells, for example!), or the batting order (every batter has to be potentially a pinch hitter…). The strategy will come as they play more and learn.

Those cliched statements of ‘the game is not over till the last ball is bowled’ or ‘the better team on the day will win’, are all the more true in this form of cricket. Australia lost to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and South Africa both looked very good teams and both have not made it to the semis also. Being a short form game, one bad move can mean defeat as there is no room to wiggle out of a spot and recover. Which is why, established good teams could also end up losing.

From a spectator’s point of view, the format is good. In about 3 hours, you see the whole game and its all over..

And meanwhile from India’s point of view, Dhoni appears to be (touch wood and all that) a lucky captain so far. We have made it to the semi finals, although till date, we are amongst the least experienced Twenty20 sides.

Of course, it could be a ploy to ensure that the game becomes a hit in the largest paying market for the sport…

On account of the murder of Bob Woolmer, a lot of media attention centers around the role of betting and match fixing in cricket. And we also know that India and Pakistan are the most active in these areas, so there is a natural suspicion if the early exits of both these teams had causes other than cricketing ones.

Nothing can be said for sure, for even if these rackets exist and there is betting and match fixing, it is so well controlled that the common fan is almost never going to know the truth. Earlier, I have conveyed that really, it does not matter if matches are fixed! Yes, I said that..

In that respect, I feel that watching cricket can then be treated to be similar to watching a good movie. The director has already planned for the end, and it will be as he pleases, but we, as the audience wait with bated breath, till the end, to figure out what the end is. Let the cricket game also be so. Who cares. As long as the game is good, and we enjoy it.

It is only when the game deteriorates in quality that we feel cheated, and then, if its on account of match fixing, it feels terrible.

So speculating wildly that India’s loss could be on account of match fixing, how can that be so?

Well, like we were all thinking that it could be the last World Cup for guys like Sachin, Saurav, Dravid, Kumble, etc. And for which reason, these guys would want to work hard to see if they can get the World Cup home. On the other hand, think differently. This being their last World Cup, and betting being as large as it can possibly get, they could also have got their opportunity to make the most money, out of match fixing – that opportunity being again, something that will never repeat in their lifetime. If that was so, could they have chosen to throw the games away and made a huge packet each??

Could the obscene amounts of money that players make, without commensurate performance, have been partially responsible for the loss? Could be, for the following possible reasons:
a. The players are so rich that their egos do not allow them to listen to coaches or trainers. They end up doing what they want, and do not prepare adequately for the big games!

b. The money allows them to pay PR teams, and ensure that they stay in the news positively, even when they are failing. Examples of Sehwag and Harbhajan come to mind, in this scenario.

c. Do the large endorsement deals that players sign, get the marketing companies to influence selectors, to pick the concerned players, ahead of other deserving candidates?

Its for anyone to guess.

The role of the board, the selectors,the administrators of the game, and corruption in those high places, cannot also be underestimated. But that is such a cesspool that I cannot imagine what conspiracies could be playing out there!

Finally coming to the role that the expectations of a billion fans brings about, the fact is that when going is good, these same players are willing to ride those good times, and bask in the sunlight. Then, by the same token they should be prepared to face the brickbats, and also learn to handle the pressures. That can never be an excuse for non-performance or under-performance!

Recently I met up with a very respected ex-Principal of my Alma Mater, VJTI. He was a teacher to me, during my engineering college days. It was a pleasure to meet with him.

The discussion veered to the topic of concern for most parents, viz. the future of our kids. Whether with so many options in life today, with the influence of the media and the peers, the Internet and all, are kids taking the right decisions in life. Can we as parents guide them correctly, etc.

And our professor, who has seen thousands of students go past him, and who has seen the amazing changes happen year after year, had this to say.

That as parents today, we cannot really control our kids’ lives, nor decide on their behalf. What lines will be good tomorrow, what they should do, is not easy to choose. At such times, all we can hope for, is for our kids to have good company of peers. Where they can be exposed to intelligent talk and discussion. Thereafter, what they end up doing is their choice, but based on the company, they should be lead to a good decision about their life.

I was amazed at this thought. Coming from a teacher, who I would have expected to emphasise on education and the like, this was a very plain statement, and I see a lot of wisdom in these.

So you want to see some Bollywood stars at close quarters? Perhaps use your cell phone camera to click their pictures too?

Hey while you are doing this, how about also praying to Lord Ganesha? That way you manage to see God and the demi-Gods (or Goddesses)also.

So what is the full proof way that I have to suggest? Its simple really.

Just keep track of new movies that are due to release on the Thursday or Friday. And then, for 1-2 days before the release date, camp outside the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, early in the morning. Of course, duly equipped with your camera phone etc. And while you are waiting for the star/s to turn up, you can also pray to the Lord. Yes, after all, before all auspicious activity, you need to invoke Lord Ganesha. And so you do here too..

Once that is done, take a good position and wait. You could see an Abhishek Bacchan walking in or maybe an Aishwarya Rai. They’d be without make up. Usually all serious looking, as they come to pay their respects to the Lord, before the release of their film.

Yes, indeed, its become a fairly routine practise now. Like on Friday morning, if we are to see reviews in the papers, then before that, on Thursday morning, you would see the photo of the star/s at the temple. That predictable, its become now..

Hey, while you are waiting for the big star/s to arrive, you will usually also spot some of the lesser ones, like a Bakhtayar, who is preparing to take the big prize in Nach Baliye – he is doing the rounds of Siddhivinayak temple, each week. There are others as well.

Happy celebrity spotting!

I have been a very vocal fan of Team India as led by Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell. The initial efforts, the thought process that was going in, was admirable I thought. Something simple like how a player had to be good in at least 2 things out of batting, bowling and fielding, was a very good idea, I thought. Also the youngsters seemed to be responding so well – Dhoni, Pathan, Patel, Sreesanth, Raina, etc. All of them seemed to be thriving in this new environ, it appeared.

So whats gone wrong suddenly? If it was just a 1-2 games loss, I would have not worried. I would trust the long term goals and efforts, and not worry about an occasional loss.

However its gone beyond that now, I think. Today’s game against Australia saw a lack of application in batting, very ordinary fielding for a supposedly young side, and extremely lacklustre bowling, with lots of wides and all.

This does not give me any kind of confidence in the team and its tactics.

Something seems to have gone wrong in the whole planning process. Somewhere there seems to be a lack of confidence in the methods or the players are just not able to cope up with the extent of effort that team Greg Chappel demands. If the sneaked out press report of Chappell’s firing to the team is any indication, there seems to be a disconnect between the players and the coach.

It would be easy to suggest that we change coaches then. But the fact is that the ones who are not delivering are the players on the field. The problem is there and not in the coach or the captain. So close to the world cup, we are in a sad state of affairs, it appears. To make things worse especially for our morale, we are going to visit South Africa and play 5 ODIs at the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose 0-5! How will we then prepare mentally from that point on, to the World Cup, is beyond me!

A billion people can only pray.. the playing has to be done by the eleven on the ground, after all… !