By Aditya, on May 12th, 2010%
For the Indian fan smarting from India’s dismal show at the ICC World T20, MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan offer a great outlet for frustration.
Seems to say: “Yes, we’re asses”. Oh, well.
Image: Cricinfo
. . . → Read More: Kick here
By Aditya, on April 26th, 2010%
It’s a good name. I quite like it. But for the “Sahara” at the start, it’s a name that will catch on. It is also a good thing that they did not listen to our suggestions!
The logo of the team too is pretty nice and does reflect all it needs to. What remains to be seen yet are the colors of the team. There’s enough red and blue in the IPL already. Only Chennai (yellow) and KKR (black and now purple) are different. So how about orange?
Speaking of the SPW (now that’ll take time getting used to), the new stadium in Pune seems rather impressive. Take a look at the proposed stadium… and the walkthrough.
Finally, Pune seems to be looking and behaving international. Or are we being too optimistic too soon?
Stadium link and video courtesy Amit Paranjape’s Blog.
. . . → Read More: Sahara Pune Warriors
By Aditya, on April 23rd, 2010%
Praful Patel, who now finds himself part of the ever-growing IPL controversy, had this to say about an alleged email sent from his office:
"Shashi Tharoor called me because he was putting together a team," Patel explained. "He wanted me to speak to Lalit Modi and help him out. This has got nothing to do with IPL. This is a needless controversy."
Er, ok. So what team was Tharoor putting together that needed Lalit Modi’s help? Women’s volleyball?
Man, this is hilarious!
. . . → Read More: IPL WTF-ness!
By Aditya, on March 8th, 2010%
Warning: Long post. Potentially enjoyable.
The BCCI probably doesn’t want Pune to have an IPL team. That’s why they postponed the bidding process due on Sunday (March 7). That’s what I would infer if the insightful thoughts part for the postponement of the bidding was up to me!
But it does help that for whatever reason, the BCCI has taken a reality check and is scaling back on its monetary demands. In other words, someone has told them to open their mouths a bit less!
Coming back to my original argument, it wouldn’t make sense for the BCCI to have two teams from cities just three hours apart. Having said that, Delhi and Punjab (KXIP, based in Mohali) are no different. So a franchise from Pune with the Mumbai Indians already present would perhaps dilute the Mumbai Indians’ fan base. Didn’t happen with Delhi/KXIP and don’t think would’ve happened with Pune/Mumbai.
What does amaze . . . → Read More: Why Pune deserves an IPL team
By Aditya, on February 25th, 2010%
Everyone’s seen Sachin’s knock of 200 not out. The man is in the form of his life. All those numbers everyone is writing about are simply marvellous and astounding. And all those numbers came because he played.
So when the team decided to rest him for the final ODI… one has to wonder why. For the IPL?
So this is the final squad:
Squad: M Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Sudeep Tyagi, S Sreesanth, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ashish Nehra
Let’s hope a clean sweep happens.
. . . → Read More: Excuse me… ?
By Aditya, on November 9th, 2009%
What a sorry, sorry state of affairs. The World Cup cricket returns to India after 1996 and there is no game for Pune.
Nagpur, on the other hand, gets four games. Including some big tickets ones including AUS v NZ and IND v SA in addition to two smaller games. So where does that leave Pune?
The MCA has done nothing of note to build a stadium worthy of international games in the city. Even recent Ranji Trophy matches have taken place at the Poona Club ground or at the Deccan Gymkhana ground neither of which have seating.
It’s pitiable, but a reflection of what the city is doing to itself. While definitely lacking in basic infrastructure, it is certainly better in support infrastructure (hotels, restaurants etc) than Nagpur. But the basic missing link – a ground – has yet again cost the city.
As Mr Kalmadi, our esteemed MP continues to bungle the . . . → Read More: No World Cup matches for Pune
By Aditya, on February 5th, 2009%
Michael Clarke is all set to become Australia’s next ODI captain. At present, he is the only batsman apart from Ricky Ponting and occasionally Mike Hussey who looks like they belong to the international stage. Over the next 2-3 years, he will be the only one left. Ponting and Hussey will eventually — sooner than later — retire.
Around Clarke is currently a mediocre collection of domestic players. Fitness apart, they don’t offer much on the field. They are seen to be woefully lacking in some basic skills and unfortunately for them, won’t have a wealth of experience or the ‘winning mindset’ around them like Clarke did when he started out.
As a result, this team can only go from its current worrying state to a confirmed state of worry. A la the West Indies. In such a scenario, Michael Clarke is the man on whose shoulders will rest the burden of the . . . → Read More: Michael Clarke will be the next Tendulkar
|
|
|
Specialist Commentators, maybe?
T20 has us captivated, agitated, enthralled, angry but hooked. And much has been said about what players are right for the format and what aren’t. Rightly so, too. Horses for courses is very much prevalent in ODI and Test cricket and it’s only natural if this is extended to T20 — the future of cricket.
TV coverage of cricket is pretty standardized. Apart from the cheerleaders, there isn’t much innovation. If you think showing more stats or graphics is innovation, then no. We have had the same stumpcam, same overhead cameras and angles for years now. The picture quality has improved, but that’s about all. The IPL had one innovation with a moving camera over the pitch, but that wasn’t too popular with the players (and also raised some valid questions). So what we are basically left with for additional entertainment are the commentators. And they — at their best — are . . . → Read More: Specialist Commentators, maybe?