Politics: Indian History Up For Grabs!

If the unprecedented nastiness pervading the Indian political scenario even six months before the all important General Elections-2014 is any indication we could very well prepare ourselves for things to follow. Desperate to win and grab power to rule the country political parties are throwing away all decency and restraint and are indulging in a war of calling dirty and dirtiest names to counter each others' chances. From ‘shehzade’ (Prince—BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi launching an attack on the Congress’s so-called dynastic rule to ‘fascist’, ‘Hitler’, ‘psychopath’ or ‘megalomaniac’. Leader M calls leader NM as the most communal person of the country while utterly bitterly failing to contain communal clashes breaking out again and again in his state. The same leader M has his sights focused on becoming the next Prime Minister and for that ‘noble’ purpose he marshals all minor or break-away parties into a conventions against communalism while communal clashes resurface in his state the same day.

Not only this, even Indian history is no longer safe from political exploitation. Pioneering leaders of an independent India are being claimed as the idols of respective political parties. Charges and counter-charges are being traded furiously in this regard totally disregarding what the ‘subjects’ have to say about this. This trend may get more sinister as the Elections near. The BJP may trace its glorious origins to the ancient Indian age and may blame the Congress for all the troubles suffered in the medieval age.  The Congress may very well refer to the unified India or Bharata concept demonstrated in various stages of Indian history and claim as its heritage while blaming the BJP for trying to build up regional forces by allying with smaller kingdoms.

In various stages of Indian history it has been observed that some monarchs invited foreign invaders to settle scores with their internal rivals. This danger is not farfetched in the present scenario when you identify foreign invaders as the terrorists. We have said on many occasions that a politically divided and polarized India is in fact helping the terrorists to strike at will. What is more threatening is that terrorists are being looked not as terrorists but as people belonging to various religious or politically affiliated groups. Depending on the credentials a terrorist is not a terrorist for a particular leader or party. On October 27, 2013 serial bomb blasts rocked Patna, the capital city of Bihar when Narendra Modi was addressing a political rally in there. Now the ruling party in Bihar, JDU, broke away from coalition partner BJP recently, and therefore charges logically followed as the blasts being a security compromise to deliberately harass a political rival. Well, by the time General Elections-2014 actually gives a winner Indian history could be entirely manipulated or changed or distorted beyond recovery. Beware!

Cricket: India Win A Thriller In Nagpur, Draw Level With Australia!

George Bailey Ecstatic

India beat Australia by 6 wickets in a high scoring thriller in Nagpur today and drew level in the ODI Series. India’s much talked about batting strength clicked in the right time and with tremendous contributions from Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni prevented Australia from running away with a straight Series win. This was despite a record-breaking 156 by Australian captain George Bailey earlier. 

Team India’s persistently indifferent bowling and fielding notwithstanding, in the first 22 overs of the sixth one day international in Nagpur today India did manage to put Australia in some spot of trouble. Australia could score just 89 runs in those overs losing two wickets. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar coming in again replacing Vinay Kumar struck for the first time capturing Hughes for 13 in the 7^thover. Spinner Amit Mishra coming in replacing Unadkat combined well with Ashwin and kept Australia on a tight leash. Finch fell in the 12^th over to Ashwin making it 45/2. Jadeja had dangerous Watson caught, but a no-ball spoiled it all and Watson went on to complete a magnificent century (102 off 94). Australia captain Bailey then took charge and hit Ashwin for a four and a six. After that momentous over there was no looking back for Australia and they scored a mammoth 261 runs in the next 28 overs setting a target of 351 for India in fifty overs. All the bowlers, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin prominently, got hit at will and why they did not bother bowling to their field is something maybe the Indian captain himself did not have a clue about.

Aussie skipper George Bailey broke records during his brilliant 156 runs off just 114 balls. He became the only Australian batsman or captain to score the highest total runs in a bilateral series. Imagine, Bailey was selected to lead Australia just because Michael Clarke was preserved for the Ashes Series. With Watson he gave the momentum to the innings and Australia were just unstoppable. Desperate for a win to stay alive in the series India were facing an uphill task with Australian fast bowlers ready to take the opportunity to do India in and win the series straight.

Shikhar Dhawan Firing All Cylinders

Thanks to the Indian batting marvel, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started steadily and then crafted a brilliant partnership of 178 runs in the 30^th over giving a fitting reply to the mammoth challenge. Johnson and McKay went for lot of runs with Finch taking the surprise wicket in the form of Rohit Sharma (79 off 89). Going great guns Dhawan notched up a breathtaking century, but fell exactly at 100 off 101 balls to Faulkner making it 234/2 in the 36^thover. The game was still wide open as Virat Kohli who raced to his half century and Suresh Raina went about their job. They carried on in full glory adding 50 runs in less than six overs and kept the asking rate under control. At 289/2 in 42 overs India needed 61 runs in 48 balls which was quite manageable with eight wickets remaining. But in the 43^rd over Suresh Raina (16 off 15) fell to Mitchell Johnson bringing the question as to why he should come before captain Dhoni in the batting order to the fore again. More trouble for India in that same over as Yuvraj Singh was bowled by a fired-up Johnson for a duck making it 290/4 still needing 61 runs in 7 overs. The game was heading for an exciting finish.
 

Man of the Match Virat Kohli

The Indian captain and vice-captain took full charge confronting an asking rate almost going beyond control. Virat Kohli, arguably a Tendulkar in the making, brought up his 17^th ODI hundred off just 61 balls and finally made it 20 runs in 12 balls for a victory for India. From that position India could not possibly lose. They made it run-a-ball in the last over and achieved a magnificent and thrilling victory over Australia by 6 wickets with 3 balls to spare. Virat Kohli, match winner along with Shikhar Dhawan, remained unbeaten with 115 runs in 66 balls and MS Dhoni at 25 not out off 23 balls. Now with both teams at 2-2 the last match on November 2 in Bangalore is going to be a not-to-miss blockbuster. The Scorecard: 

Sachin Tendulkar Bows Out Of Domestic Cricket!

Sachin Tendulkar today played his last innings in Indian domestic cricket in Lahli, Haryana where the Ranji Trophy Group A match between Haryana and Mumbai had been on for the last four days. The best cricketer of the world led his team Mumbai to victory by 4 wickets himself remaining unbeaten with a gritty and trademark-Tendulkar innings of 79 superlative runs. Thanks to the living legend of Indian cricket this first class domestic match has been getting all the media attention and craze of the cricket-loving nation which is so unusual otherwise. To make the occasion most memorable the pitch in Lahli had a lot of green and a lot of seam in it making it very difficult for the batsmen to get runs. And, the match has been very exciting all through with both teams having chances to win.

Set 240 runs to win in the fourth innings to the match Mumbai had a torrid time chasing the target yesterday with wickets falling at regular intervals. But the master-blaster stood through as if determined not to disappoint his countless fans in his last domestic outing. However, with Mumbai at 201 for 6 at the end of day’s play yesterday it was still anybody’s game. Sachin Tendulkar was the last recognized batsman left and it was fully up to him to craft an exciting victory. He did exactly that this morning and helped his team attain the target with no further fall of wicket. Tendulkar told reporters after the match that it was a very tricky pitch and he was happy to lead his team to victory. Most the media channels have gone live capturing the moment. The Scorecard:

Now the countdown has begun for the 200^th Test of Sachin Tendulkar after which he will bow of cricket forever. West Indies, specially invited to a 2-Test tour of India for the momentous event, has already arrived and been practicing. The 199^thTest match will be played in Kolkata from 6^th to 10^th November and his farewell 200^th Test will be played in his home ground Mumbai from 14^th to 18^th November. There will be three ODIs after the Test Series and Tendulkar had already bowed out of one day internationals. Millions of cricket fans, cricket commentators and experts, all ex-cricketers and legends and the media are going to be focused, with various emotions from sadness to gloom, on the spectacle when Sachin Tendulkar would walk out of the cricket field into the dressing room for the very last time.