TOO SOON, CAPTAIN COOL

I woke up this morning, only to realise that MS Dhoni, former skipper of the Indian cricket team, has announced his retirement. Well, the news came as a big blow to millions of his fans, including me, who did not and could not have anticipated this decision coming their way. This is a major loss not only to the Indian team, but also the fans of the sport across the country. The newspapers and the news channels are flooded with an exclusive coverage of the news of his retirement. The netizens have taken to the social media, circulating memes and messages, in order to pay tribute to the 39 year old. I, myself, was too disheartened on hearing this. He is one of the finest cricketers the game has ever produced.

MSD was one of India’s most successful captains. Under his leadership, the team got rewarded with a plethora of accolades and achievements, the most remarkable of them being the 2011 World Cup. This World Cup has sustained itself in the memories of Indians, and whenever you remember it, you just cannot forget the contribution of MSD to his team’s triumph. He was the star of the show in that game. With India left with 6 runs to win in the last ball, he turned the tables around with his helicopter shot, that hit the ball for a massive sixer. This world cup victory was a big turning point in his career, that made him earn the respect and admiration of his colleagues and countrymen. The most striking skill of MSD is to give a finishing touch to the game. Time and again, he has come out as a saviour for the team, when all hope seemed to be lost. He was the one who kept his team alive and moved it from darkness to light. He lived up to the aspirations and expectations of his team and the nation, as a whole. His achievements and contributions to the game are immense, that will stay on forever in the hearts and minds of his fans across the globe. The world of cricket seems to look incomplete without him. 

Dhoni always had an air of calmness and resilience around him, that played a pivotal role in his success. He was the one who used to keep the players motivated and charged up in the green room. He displayed a great passion and attitude towards the game.  He will be always missed and remembered.

 One thing that I found quite strange as well as disappointing is the way he parted. His announcement came at a time, when the country is already grappling with uncertain and dark times, due to the ongoing pandemic. The end of his glorious career deserves to get its proper due and recognition. Well, for now, I wish the best for him, for all his future endeavours and the road of life ahead.

WEST GOES WET This time of the year is supposedly, the summer season in our nation. While the northern and the southern states are exposed to intense heat and humidity, the Western region witnesses the onset of ‘ Monsoon’. Weather in the West has taken a completely different toll. Earlier this month, Cyclone ‘ Vayu’ hit the Gujarat coast. This was followed by heavy spells of rain in the state as well as in the neighboring states of Maharashtra and Goa. This time, in fact, monsoon got a bit delayed to strike Kerala. The South west winds arrived in the state, later than usual.  Nonetheless, it seems that they have now compensated for their long absence. The past few days have been transitional in terms of weather, for the Western part of the country. Heavy rainfall was recorded in Gujarat in areas of Valsad, Bharuch, etc. Maharashtra is the most vulnerable state with its capital city, Mumbai, fallen prey to heavy showers, as always.  Since yesterday, monsoon in the city has been reckless and unstoppable.  The situation and condition of the Mumbaikars is and continues to remain terrible and pathetic. There have been deaths of young kids due to electrocution. Roads are flooded heavily with water, restricting and sometimes, even stopping the vehicular movement. Life becomes hard for those travelling on work, to earn a living. Further, there are deep potholes on the road, which results in accidents. The most deadly part of these are that they remain covered up and are invisible to the naked eye. All this becomes quite frustrating and suffocating, in case you get stuck up in a jam for hours together. I sometimes pity the poor souls seen on streets, selling things for their livelihood. After all, they do not have a home for shelter or proper clothes for protection. Where do they go, I wonder. I believe that BMC is to be blamed for all this. Mumbai is faced with this challenge every goddamn year, but nothing is done to avoid such a large scale damage. No safety measures are adopted against the life threatening electric poles, that cause massive number of deaths every year. There is poor maintenance of the  drainage system in the city. It is so inefficient and poor, that it seems, that ‘clouds pour and the roads store’. In a state that already has so much paucity of water, the groundwater can be judiciously utilized, for making the optimum use of our natural resources in future.

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP(2K19) Ten different nations, but one common eve. The World cup season like always, has taken up its great form and shape this year too. It is summer here in India, and Indians can be seen in vast numbers, going to England. The Indian side has proved itself to be a tough competitor this time. Blessed with a strong and an efficient batting and bowling lineup, it seems to go a long way. The performance of the blues, so far, has been phenomenal. They have clinched victories in all 2 games, played uptil now. The blues face the Kiwis today, in their 3rd match. It is indeed going to be a thriller and a must watch episode. The ‘ Black Caps’ boast of some deadly pacemen such as, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, etc. They also have some big hitters to their side, such as, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, etc. Coming back to the Blues, the innings of opener Shikhar Dhawan has witnessed a sudden closure. He suffered a serious blow to his left thumb on Sunday, playing against the Aussies. Credits to Pat Cummins’ pace attack!! The void gets filled up by young talent, Rishab Pant, in the squad. Also, KL Rahul opens up at number 1 position, along with Rohit Sharma. This makes either Vijay Shankar or DK to play at number 4. India has the potential as well as the opportunity to make their mark. The success of the team is owed to none other than the skipper Kohli. Under his leadership and guidance, the boys have groomed and disciplined themselves so much, that they ought to reach great heights. Kohli is a bold, passionate, aggressive and a persuasive leader, who keeps the team motivated and geared up to overcome all odds, that come its path. Cricket, in our nation, is a sort of addiction among the masses. It is followed not just as a sport, but worshiped staunchly by the entire diaspora. It overcomes all cultural and social differences, through the realization of one common identity of a ‘ Nation’. This instills feelings of oneness, brotherhood and unity. The true spirit of ‘ Nationalism’ is hence, lived up to.