This thread is for the fans of Indian cricket team. Also why I feel completely lost when watching cricket now.
The year was 2001. Indian cricket was in tatters- match fixing scandal had rocked the Indian cricket recently and there was major distrust within the team (1/n)
The year was 2001. Indian cricket was in tatters- match fixing scandal had rocked the Indian cricket recently and there was major distrust within the team (1/n)
Amidst this, the captaincy was with Ganguly. Tendulkar was in form (as always) and Dravid was the only other constant in the team. Then came the tour of Australia- the all conquering Aussies were visiting india with an unbeaten test streak of 15 tests. (2/n)
On one side india had lost Kumble to an injury and would go on to lose Sribath just before the 2nd test. On the other, Aussies had Waugh brother, gaunt named Hayden, McGrath, Warne, Gilly, Ponting, Langar, Kasprowiz and Gillespie. All of them were match winners even (3/n)
when they played at 50-60% of their capability. Indian bowling was as bad as it could get. Bhajji was suspended from NCA and was heading to canada to drive truck when he was called by Ganguly. V Raju was bought back from dead as there were no spinners in the country (4/n)
Zaheer was a newbie. Ganguly was also a seamer. Yes it was that bad.
And if this was not enough, sledging was at its peak. Nothing was left unsaid on the ground. The red line was crossed every over and it was termed “mental disintegration” - an accepted way of playing (5/n)
And if this was not enough, sledging was at its peak. Nothing was left unsaid on the ground. The red line was crossed every over and it was termed “mental disintegration” - an accepted way of playing (5/n)
This was a series that was clearly being played between ears and not between the 2 sets of wickets. Ganguly was overwhelmed with problems yet he appeared mentally stronger. He made Waugh wait at the toss just to give back to his rude behaviour (6/n)
Back to the series. India lost the first set in a spectacular manner. By an innings. Bishan BEDI, the ever outspoken master, called it the end of Indian cricket. The team was all over the place. Mumbai test was a disaster (7/n)
Then came the Kolkata test and my 10th board exams. First day, Aussies started with a hundred run opening partnership. It was an awful time. Exam pressure to score 90% and to see india lose so badly. Steve Waugh in middle order was timing everything to perfection (8/n)
Suddenly, Bhajji got Ponting LBW. Gilly was out next ball. Eden Garden went bonkers. I had Hindi paper in 2 days time and I was jumping up and down. Bhajji had 6 fielders around Warne. It was a shitty ball, Warne flips it. Ramesh takes a blinder. It was hat-Rick (9/n)
But the tail waged and Australia posted 445. The hat-Rick was at 252. India started poorly and had to follow on. I left home home for the Hindi paper expecting to come back to a poor performance in exam and india losing the series. (10/n)
I came back home with a better than expected paper and Laxman and Dravid still batting. They fucking batted the whole day without losing a wicket. 90 overs of McGrath, Gillespie, Warne and barge of sledding! (11/n)
The March heat of Kolkata and 95,000 bongs going bonkers had gotten into Aussies. The next day saw india reach team needing 7 wickets to win. And india won! India won after following on (12/n)
India won against Australia. India broke their winning streak. India sledged back. Players collided on the pitch, words were said, abused were thrown. But india won.
3 test. Chennai (13/n)
3 test. Chennai (13/n)
Australia came back harder, Hayden got a double hundred and they piled up 390 runs. Bhajji was all over them especially Ponting. Indian batting had turned up by then. Tendulkar smashed Warne around the park and india got a decent lead. Eventually india needed 155 (14/n)
And somehow got there and Bhajji, who had taken 32 wickets in 3 tests, scored the winning run. 4 of Bhajji’s spell in the series went into top 100 best spells ever in a lost complied by wisden. (15/n)
But the series wasn’t about Bhajji, Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar, Hayden, or Australia losing at the final frontier. It was about the pride for playing of their country. It was about mental strength. It was about fighting back (16/n)
The players from both sides played like gladiators. There was blood spilled. There were performances which were never repeated again. There was finger pointing and full body collisions. Yet everyone stayed mentally strong till the final overs of Chennai test (17/n)
Today we have an ex-captain who is sad and depressed cause no one messaged him after him stepping down from captaincy. There is a captain who is struggling for form. Openers are scared to hit back the bowlers. Bowlers can’t bowl overs under 10 runs in death (18/n)
Every criticism and every bad performance is covered by - imagine what he must be feeling. The players are bff with opposition numbers. Paki players happily tweet and taunt on face for the poor form and our players smile back (19/n)
The best batsman goes the extra mile to shut his own supporters when they boo a cheater who was banned for a year for cheating. He is bff with NZ captain who ensures india loses every ICC tournament (20/n)
Half the team is dancing on Instagram and rest half is in mental breakdown mode. They are practically eliminated from the Asia Cup. DK the finisher warmed the benches. Rahul stat padded. Nothing will change for the WC (21/n)
If the fans react, the best batsman will openly say he doesn’t care about the fans or their opinion or people will go and hide under mental health conditions. (22/n)
If players are mental not ok, they must be dropped. They do it for physical injury and same should be done for mental fitness. Yo Yo test is useless if Virat isn’t in right frame of mind. KL Rahul should listen to his future FIL and spend time preparing for wedding (23/n)
Losing to Pakistan and getting eliminated for multi country tournament is now Business as Usual. No one in the team feels bad. There is no pride. There is cricket, friendship across borders, and then there is money. That’s it! (24/n)
It is high time BCCI takes the tough call and forces retirement of few players. Rohit isn’t fit for T20. Virat is mental not fit for colour clothes matches. KL isn’t the solution. Arshdeep can’t play if he was to leak at 10rpo. Bhuvi can’t bowl 15 run overs at death (25/n)
India cricket is at a major cross road. The trophy cabinet is now empty. The last ICC trophy was years ago. Paki players taunt the players openly. Something must be done and it should be done asap (26/n)
End!
Loading suggestions...