IPL-2021: Low-Scoring Matches In The UAE Low In Terms Of Cricket Too, Double-Headers To Decide The Fourth Play-Off Spot!

The low-scoring matches during the second leg of the Indian Premiere League-2021 (IPL-2021) held in the United Arab Emirates are mostly lacking in terms of cricketing charms—meaning exciting and memorable knocks by celebrated international players—barring the lone century of the tournament scored by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Rituraj Gaikwad that turned out to be for a losing cause and an exciting hat-trick by Harshal Patel of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). We are missing the usual great cricket by players like AB de-Villiers who is playing lower down the order for unknown reasons, David Warner, Chris Gayle who came and went out of fatigue without causing any harm to any opponent, Steve Smith, Andre Russell as usual, Kieron Pollard, Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and others. There are of course good knocks by Kohli, Sharma, KL Rahul, Glen Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Shikhar Dhawan, Paddikal, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and few others, but failing always to stick on for memorable innings. However, the second league has produced quite a few last-over or last-ball thrillers in a few of the low-scoring and rare high-scoring ones. Obviously, most of the bowlers, both pacers and spinners, are doing better than the batsmen, but not in the category of ‘class cricket’.

 

The second league of the tournament is also marked by unpredictable performances of the franchises. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), after a listless first leg in India, displayed menacing performances in UAE winning several matches and becoming a serious contender for the play-offs, but then losing one or two due to tactical errors. While Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) has been consistently lowly the Rajasthan Royals (RR) had been very unpredictable beating the dominant CSK by chasing a very tall target of 190 runs and getting royally thrashed for 90 all-out by a desperate Mumbai Indians (MI). Delhi Capitals (DC) has been the most consistent team with ten wins so far while CSK and RCB had been more or less consistent with losses less and wins and Punjab Kings (PBKS) also showed ups and downs depending heavily on KL Rahul.

 

At the moment DC is sitting pretty on top with 20 points already qualifying for the play-offs; CSK is second with 18 points, already in the play-offs  having the highest net run-rate; and the third position is occupied by RCB with 16 points, qualifying for the play-offs quite some time back, because considering the  remaining matches for the other teams no team can accumulate 16 points, and their narrow and unexpected loss to SRH only hampered their chances of capturing one of the two top spots, but each of these three teams has still one more match to go like all others. The fourth spot for the play-offs has been the most suspenseful feature of the tournament, with four contenders of KKR, MI, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and RR—the latter seemingly ruled out though for having an almost irreparable net run-rate.

 

Two double-headers today and tomorrow, October 7 & 8 are set to decide the team for the fourth spot while the scenario of a 12-point-each stalemate between four teams cannot be entirely ruled out if RR happens to improve their net run-rate dramatically. In the first match today PBKS (with 10 points) is facing CSK and has to win the contest and also to improve their net run-rate to remain in contention still, provided KKR and MI lose their respective matches, and CSK would like to win it very much to occupy the top spot if DC lose their last match. The second match today is going to be the most the most exciting one with KKR playing a virtual semi-final against RR—a win for them would increase their chances of an almost sure spot in the play-offs expecting MI to lose and otherwise also they seemingly have a better chance to qualify as they have a better net run-rate than MI—and if both KKR and MI win their matches they would be locked with 14 points each and the net run-rate would decide the fourth spot.

 

In the double-header tomorrow, in the first match MI is likely to prevail over the lowly SRH easily thus increasing their points to 14 and probably improving their net run-rate which is still in the negative; the second match tomorrow between RCB and DC will be a tough one with both trying to register a win—DC to ensure their top spot and RCB to capture the second spot which is actually ruled out due to a huge difference of net run-rate with CSK. In the way the IPL play-offs are played the top two teams always enjoy an advantage of having two chances to fight for a place in the Final.

 

The Qualifier-1 and the Eliminator will be played on 10^th and 11^th October respectively and the Qualifier-2 on 13^th October. The IPL-2021 Final is to be played on 15^th October. All these matches will be held in Dubai and Sharjah. As we know, the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup-2021 is to be held in UAE and Oman from 17^thOctober with the warm-up matches already starting. Therefore, the UAE venues are set to continue as the hotbed of T20 cricket for quite some time more, and are sure to regale cricket lovers. We hope the pitches of UAE would generate exciting matches with ‘class cricket’ coming back which can be expected as this time it would be all national teams fighting for their respective national pride.

বোৱাৰীৰ দৃষ্টিত শহুৰদেউতা--অমূল্য কুমাৰ চক্ৰৱৰ্তীৰ ৯৩ সংখ্যক জন্মবাৰ্ষিকীত (Daughter-in-law On Father-in-law--On The Occasion Of The 93rd Birth Anniversary Of Amulya Kumar Chakravarty)!

( A Personal Post in Assamese language.)

'পিতৃপক্ষ' বা 'শ্ৰাদ্ধ পক্ষ'...গণেশ চতুৰ্দশীৰ পিছত কৃষ্ণপক্ষৰ ১৫ দিন 'পিতৃ পক্ষ' বা 'শ্ৰাদ্ধ পক্ষ' নামেৰে প্ৰচলিত এই সময় খিনিত আন কোনো শুভ কাম নকৰা দেখিবলৈ পাইছিলোঁ মুম্বাইত .....প্ৰতিপদৰ পৰা অমাৱস্যালৈকে প্ৰত্যেক ব্যক্তিয়ে নিজৰ প্ৰয়াত মাতা -পিতা, আৰু পূৰ্বজসকলৰ উপৰিও সমন্ধীয় লোক, গুৰু , বন্ধু-বান্ধৱৰো - তিথি বিশেষে সকলোৱে কৰা শ্ৰাদ্ধ কৃত্য দেখি অভিভূত হৈছিলোঁ । বছৰৰ যিকোনো মাহৰ যিকোনো তিথিত স্বৰ্গবাসী হোৱা সকলৰ বাবে কৃষ্ণ পক্ষৰ সেই তিথিত শ্ৰাদ্ধ কৰা নিয়ম আছে । পিতৃ পক্ষৰ দ্বিতীয়া তিথিত মোৰ পিতৃ স্বৰ্গবাসী হোৱাৰ পৰা তিথি মিলাই আমিও মুম্বাইত পিণ্ড দান কৰিবলৈ ললো। আৰু সেইখিনি কৰি পৰম শান্তি পোৱা যায় ।মন প্ৰসন্ন হয় ।...

 

পিতৃ পক্ষৰ চতুৰ্দশীত (৬ অক্টোবৰ ,১৯৯১চনত) শহুৰ দেউতা অমূল্য কুমাৰ চক্ৰৱৰ্তী স্বৰ্গবাসী হয় । পিণ্ড দান কৰি কিছু অনুভৱ মই প্ৰথমৰ পৰাই কৰিছিলোঁ । তেখেত ঢুকুৱাৰ পিছৰ পৰাই মাহে মাহে পিণ্ড দান কৰিবলৈ লৈছিল তেখেতৰ ডাঙৰ ল’ৰা শ্ৰী চিন্ময় চক্ৰৱৰ্তী য়ে । তেতিয়াৰ পৰা মোৰ বহুত কিছু অভিজ্ঞতা হবলৈ ধৰিলে ।মন কৰিছিলো তেখেতে বিচৰা মতেই সকলো হয়। অসমৰ নিয়মমতে তেখেতৰ বছেৰেকীয়া শ্ৰাদ্ধ আহিণৰ কৃষ্ণা চতুৰ্দশীত কৰাহয় । কেতিয়াবা পিতৃপক্ষত তিথি নিমিলে । তথাপিও পিণ্ড দান সুন্দৰকৈ হয় । এইবছৰ ৫ অক্টোবৰত পিতৃ পক্ষতে পিণ্ডদান কৰিবলৈ মিলিল । বৰ ভাল লাগিল ।

 

আজি ৭ অক্টোবৰত তেখেতৰ ৯৩ (93)স‌ংখ্যক জন্মদিন।👏🌺 দেবী পক্ষৰ লগতে শহুৰ দেউতা অমূল্য কুমাৰ চক্ৰৱৰ্তী দেৱৰ জন্মদিনত শ্ৰদ্ধা ,সেৱাৰে মোৰ কিছু স্মৃতিৰ কথা...... মোক সংগীত যাত্ৰা অব্যাহত ৰাখিবলৈ কোৱা কথা বিশেষ ভাবে মনত থাকি গল... সেয়া আশীৰ্বাদ । ৰাগ স‌ংগীত ভাল পাইছিল ,কিন্তু ৰাগ নাজানে বুলি কৈছিল । দৰবাৰী ৰাগ তেখেতৰ প্ৰিয় আছিল বাবে মোক কৈছিল আৰু চিঠিতো লেখিছিল ''তোমাৰ গুৰুক কৈ সোনকালে শিকি লবা মই শুনিব লাগে'' ..এইবোৰ কথা আৰু সমুখত বহি ৰাগ সংগীত উপভোগ কৰা কথা , এইবোৰ চিৰকাল মনত থাকি যোৱা কথা । এইবোৰ ঈশ্বৰৰ ইচ্ছা ।

আৰু কিছুমান কথা.... মুম্বাইত মই নতুন অৱস্হাত অকলে কৰবালৈ যাবলৈ অসুবিধা পাওতে মোৰ লগত গৈছিল । স্পষ্ট কথা কবলৈ শিকালে। মোক নিজৰ ছোৱালী বুলি কৈছিল । আৰু কিছুমান কথা কৈছিল ...-সেই বোৰ তেতিয়া বুজাই নাছিলোঁ ,এতিয়া বয়সৰ লগে লগে কথা বোৰ বুজি গৈ আছোঁ ।। চিৰসত্য কথা কৈ গৈছে । শিক্ষণীয় কথা । এতিয়া পদেপদে মনত পৰি গৈছে । মানুহৰ ঠগ -প্ৰৱণ্চনাৰ পৰা বাছি চলিবলৈ ...,সাৱধানে থাকিবলৈ কৈছিল । নিজেও সৎ পথত থাকি জীৱন অতিবাহিত কৰিছিল আৰু আনেও সেইটো কৰাটোত ভাল পাইছিল । বহুত কথা মোৰ পিতৃৰ আগত কৈছিল , চিঠিতো লেখিছিল ,তাৰে এষাৰ কথা পিতৃয়ে প্ৰায়ে সুৱৰিছিল আৰু আমাৰ আগতো কৈছিল--''বহুত অভাবৰ মাজতো সততাৰে টিকি থাকিবলৈ অনবৰত এখন অঘোষিত ৰণা‌ংগনত যুদ্ধ কৰি আছো আৰু থাকিম ''।

 

বহু বছৰ আগতে,- ৬০ ৰ দশকত বোধহয় ,তেখেতে নগাৱত চাকৰি কৰি আছিল। তেতিয়া তেখেত দেউতাৰ ওচৰলৈ এবাৰ হেনো স‌ংগীতৰ কিবা এটা আনিবলৈ আমাৰ ঘৰলৈ গৈছিল । তাৰ বহু বছৰৰ পিছতহে মোৰ বিবাহৰ প্ৰস্তাৱেৰে দেউতা তেখেতৰ ওচৰলৈ যাওতে পুনৰ কথোপকথন হৈছিল । নিজে সোৱৰণী চাই একে আষাৰেই কৈছিল---'এইখন বিয়া হব '। বাকী কথা পুত্ৰৰ ওপৰত এৰিছিল। ....

 

সৰল -সহজ জীৱন যাপন কৰা এজন সাধাৰণ মানুহ আছিল তেখেত । কোনো বিলাসিতা নাছিল ।-কৰ্ম জীৱনত তেখেতৰ পৰিচয় আছিল এজন সৎ,নিৰ্ভীক আৰু দক্ষ বিষয়া হিচাপে ।

কৰ্ম জীৱনৰ ব্যস্ততাৰ মাজতে তেখেতে বিভিন্ন সাহিত্য ৰচনা অব্যাহত ৰাখিছিল । অসমৰ অনুবাদ সাহিত্যত তেখেতৰ কালজয়ী বৰঙণি সকলোৱে জানে -- হোমাৰৰ 'ওডিছী' ,'ইলিয়াদ' , আৰু 'ভাৰ্জিলৰ 'ইনীদ ' অনুবাদ গ্ৰন্থ ৰূপে প্ৰকাশ পাইছিল । তাৰোপৰি 'খান আব্দুল গফৰ খানৰ আত্মজীৱনী ' আৰু ডেকামেৰণৰ দহোটা সাধুৰ অনুবাদ , ক'ৰিম মুন্সীৰ চৰ', উপন্যাস 'বিষবৃক্ষ'ৰ প্ৰথম খণ্ড, শিশু উপযোগী ৰচনা 'জাজী নৈ ভটিয়াই ', ভূতৰ বিহু' ইত্যাদি । অৱসৰ গ্ৰহণৰ পিছত স্বাস্থ্যৰ ক্ষিপ্ৰ অৱনতি হোৱাৰ বাবে তেখেতৰ সাহিত্য সাধনাৰ সপোন অপূৰ্ণ হৈ ৰল ।.............

আমাৰ শ্ৰদ্ধাঞ্জলিৰে....🙏🙏🙏

UK Vs India: India Reciprocate With Tit For Tat COVID-19 Travel Measures!

It is indeed hard to believe that matters would come to a head between two friendly countries even after nearly two weeks of the United Kingdom’s unwarranted imposition of travel restrictionsfor Indian travelers. The Ministry of External Affairs of India then lodged a strong protest against such discriminatory and ‘colonial’ action and warned UK of reciprocal measures; and the UK government reportedly held extensive discussions with the Indian counterpart and decided to include Covishield, the Indian version of their own AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, in the approved list from the 4^th of October 2021, but did nothing about lifting the 10-quarantine restriction even for fully vaccinated travelers refusing to accept the Indian vaccination certification procedure and thus still keeping India in the ‘amber’ list of travel regulations. This has greatly irked the Government of India and they announced the ‘reciprocal’ measures yesterday which are plainly a ‘tit for tat’.

 

From the 4^th of October 2021, like the United Kingdom did after the backlash, the Government of India announced that the British travelers will have to undergo RT-PCR tests 72 hours before departure, another test on arrival in India and again on the 8^thday of their mandatory 10-day quarantine at their Indian home or at their destination irrespective of their vaccination status of whatever vaccine. Again, the British High Commission in India got reportedly hyper-activated holding ‘extensive’ discussions with India once more, both authorities discussing the ‘technicalities’ of the COVID-19 vaccination certification that seemed to be dwelt upon much earlier too. The delay by the World Health Organization in giving the final go to the India-made Covaxin for emergency use is putting India at further disadvantage. It is to be seen now if the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries would be able to prevail upon both   to sort out the matter by the 4^th of October, a date that would start adversely affecting travelers from both the countries.

 

Meanwhile, daily COVID-19 infections in India have been fluctuating again, after achieving the six-month low daily figure of around 18000 and daily deaths below the 200 mark. In the last 24 hours there were more than 24000 cases and 234 fatalities. Kerala, as usual, is leading; and the increase in the national numbers always reflects the rise in cases in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and to some extent West Bengal too where daily cases have again been crossing the 700 mark consistently. The step by the West Bengal government to stick to the same restrictions for Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the state, as adopted during 2020 except for lifting the night curfew during the Puja days only is most welcome and timely. Therefore, people of the state will have to take ‘darshan’ 10 meters away from the Puja pandals apart from the mandatory wearing of masks whereas only 25 members of the organizing committee would be allowed within the pandals for the big public pujas and only 12 members for the small pujas.