"Battle"

"The best things in life are unexpected - because there were no expectations." Eli Khamarov.

Yesterday, at around 4 PM(Thursday), I was having lunch with my friend just opposite to my office and the surrounding looks quiet secluded unlike the usual scene of present days chaos. Of course, the cricket World cup semi-final match between India and Australia was going on, and most of my office colleagues were watching the live match on our office Cafeteria LCD. I didn't follow the match but it’s not that I’m not supporting team India. In fact, I do love the India Cricket team however starting from the opening match; I haven’t watched any of our team India matches played. 

In India, cricket world cup is a big event and it comes only once after every four years. And if I have to invest my entire heart and soul supporting our team India to win, losing is not the option for me. Therefore, I don’t want to get disappointed at the end especially after watching the match for 7-8 hours on T.V. Getting over from defeats is the worst hangover of all time. So this year cricket world cup has been casual for me.

We as a fan have this very high expectation for every matches played by our team India. Knowing our team India has not lost any single matches played until yesterday defeats by Australia, we may have built a strong belief as well as fancy our chance of winning the World cup again. I’m sure for the die-hard cricket fans; the joy of watching our team India playing in semi-final must be exhilarating. Yet the expectation we set for our team India is unreal; and nothing matters unless the World cup is won or else criticising the players from head to toe just to overcome the frustration and disappointment. Unfortunately, India lost the match yesterday, and the critics as well as some idiot fans comes out with guns blazing from every side of media.

I thought the criticism of Virat Kohli does not appear professional rather very personal as reported in Times of India. Is there any reason to blame his girlfriend watching the match? He played a shot knowing the risk and got out, that’s it. We don’t need to treat the failed shot like a brain surgery. And it was not only him playing for the team; the whole team just had a bad day. I’m sure Kohli might have also hope to win the match like us but the opponent team was simply the better team yesterday. Our prime minister has even stated “defeat and victory are a part of life.” We should have at least tried to accept the defeat silently if we cannot graciously applaud the opponent team to get over with the defeat. The blame game criticism reported in major news medium like Times of India is just too low.

Please know that our team India has played well as a former champion throughout the tournament until yesterday defeats. Anyway, we must try applauding their courage and the efforts they have put in as a team. Dhoni, as a captain, with his head held high bow out from the World cup along with his players. It is pleasing to know Dhoni defending Virat Kohli when he could have easily avoided the question from the journalist. The lost was the result of collective failure as a team having a bad day at field. Anyway, Dhoni deserves the respect he has earned for himself throughout his career playing for India. And this time let’s get behind our team when they will arrive from Australia. After all, the players will be more affected emotionally from the defeats than us as very cricketers dream is to win the World cup.

Yesterday's the past, and what we can learn from the defeats could be helpful in future. We must never set high expectation from someone else unless it is from you. Most of the youngster like me are working in private MNCs, and we also kind of expect an increment in double digits by the end of the financial year. But 90-95 % of the time, we are left disappointed because the increment is below our expectation. However, we must never set low expectation from ourselves. Similarly, when we set a high expectation from our team India, we are building a bridge that can lead us straight to anguish, anger, disappointment, etc. We have to be realistic and know that when two teams are playing for a final spot, only one can win the match. Unfortunately, the other team has to lose. It necessarily doesn't mean that the team does not deserve criticism but it has to be professional.

Food for Thought: "Keep looking up! I learn from the past, dream about the future and look up. There's nothing like a beautiful sunset to end a healthy day." Rachel Boston.

Thank you. Have a good night!

"Luck!!!!"

“An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.” Emil Zatopek.

Like every normal Thursday, I was on my way to office and strangely I noticed there was few traffic jams. I was surprised because usually the route my office cab followed is jam-packed most of the times. I checked my phone monthly calendar to check if there is government holiday or other Hindu Puja. But there was none. Then, the driver asked one of my colleagues in the cab, “What’s the score?” The driver tuned in to Radio and I heard the commentary of India vs Bangladesh cricket World cup match at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in Australia. Then only, I realized the reason for the open road.

It’s World cup cricket match for India and I asked myself, “How on Earth could I not know such a big match and that too, India cricket match?” Well, I used to be a cricket fans when I was growing up but with the introduction of Twenty20 cricket, I hardly watch the 50 over game except for the 2011 World cup final when India won it for the 2nd time. I can still savor those memories and the best is the moment when Dhoni hit the winning SIX. Wow! That moment was a fitting end to 2011 World cup held in our own cricketing nation! But this World cup has just passed over me like a slippery eel.

Once I reached my office and settle down at my workstation, I started browsing the internet for the updates on the ongoing World cup news and I’m really happy to know India performing very well till date. They haven't lost a single world cup matches played so far in this edition. I'd say that’s a good run as a defending champion. And still proving “we are champions” until a new champion is decided on 29 March 2015! I believe the India cricket team has not let down the fans this time around like it was in 2007 West Indies in an overseas World cup. Win or lose, it doesn't matter for me. They are still champions in my eyes. However I have an inkling feeling that India will win again, and the victory might just top among my sweetest memories.

I have always believed that Team Spirit is an ENGINE, and it can even outrun Usain Bolt… :). And with Dhoni as driver, the Indian cricket team is good condition to go all along. Some fans have commented that Dhoni is one of the luckiest captains in the history for Indian cricket. Of course, you need that luck on your side to be a champion. Not every good mountaineer conquers the Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world. But few mountaineers have conquered the Mt. Everest because they are lucky backed by their grit and perseverance. Although I am not a fan of Dhoni but to be lucky, you have to have those strong instincts you can trust to change the game. And only when players trust him, the plan work or else kaput.

Even if his luck as a captain is going to win us another World cup, I won't neither comment nor complain. After all, the name India team winning the World cup again is all that matters to me. I hope we will win the World cup again and my best regards and prayers to the team representing our nation proudly. I’m going to end my blog for today with a quote from Tennessee Williams, “Luck is believing you're lucky.”

Thank you. Have a good night!