Cricket All the Way

Since the day the 2023 World Cup started, it has been cricket, Cricket and CRICKET. Luckily, or deservedly, it has been a pleasurable period for us with India’s  unstoppable wins thus far. Hopefully we might win all the nine matches – an achievement in itself. And we shall keep our fingers crossed for the semi-final and final matches.

Aside India’s performance, the day to day matches not involving India have equally been interesting. To be frank, I was planning to watch them only in passing. But facts turned otherwise. On the very first day New Zealand avenged their last World Cup final defeat by winning the very first match against England - by 9 wickets.

The much-awaited match between India and Pakistan ended in India claiming supremacy. Afghanistan, who I would call the heroes of the 2023 series, stole the show by defeating Pakistan, England Sri Lanka and Netherlands.

Netherlands, who are on an Associate status, showed their mettle by defeating the formidable South Africa, and Bangladesh. 

Sri Lankan Government dissolved its Cricket Board for poor performance. For government interference in cricket, ICC removed Sri Lanka from membership. 

Sri Lanka’s Mathew was declared out for not entering the crease within the stipulated two minutes for World Cup (and three minutes for international matches), as the rival team Bangladesh raised the point of order. This is the first time in the 146 years of cricket. Ganguly had a narrow escape when he was similarly to be declared out, but the opposing team, West Indies, did not make a call. 

New Zealand posted an unachievable score of 400-odd against Pakistan, and everyone was skeptical, including the Pakistani commentator, if Pakistan could measure up to it. Possible rain was the forecast and Pakistan focused on run rate and got the benefit of it under the DLF formula. Unlucky New Zealand and lucky Pakistan.

Hardik Pandya, our Vice Captain, sustained a leg injury during one of the matches, and was ruled out for the rest of the World Cup. Mohammad Shami stepped in, and he proved how devastating he could be to the opponent batters. Not just once, but in consecutive matches.

Mohammad Siraj, an opening bowler from one end along side Jusprit Bumrah from the other, got his ranking upgraded to 1 from South Africa’s Maharaj. And, on the batting front, Shubman Gill usurped the first place from Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam. 

At home, the Indian capitan, Rohit Sharma, or better still, the Hitman, set the tempo of the Indian innings by hitting the ball for fours and sixes in Power Play 1 when most fielders are in the inside circle. 

The single most admirable event of the series? Yes, the limping Maxwell, having fallen flat on the ground once or twice because of acute leg pain, still persisted at the crease with both his legs covering the stumps, and deciding to go for nothing short of fours and sixes to sail Australia from 91 for 7 to a victorious 293 for 7 against Afghanistan. A single-handed achievement that is sure to go in the annals of cricketing history as an example of challenging to win under all odds. At the same time, no less credit is due to the Afghan team who dared the Aussies and gave them a run for their money. Rashid Khan of Afghanistan takes the cake for that.

Based on the performance at this World Cup, Netherlands and Sri Lanka do not qualify for the Champion’s Trophy to be held in Pakistan in 2025.

As an aside, we were happy to see film celebrities being given a break for ads and, instead, our Mr Dependable Rahul Dravid featuring for an engine oil ad – Engine oil ho ya shaadi, soch samjkhar select karna. Looked very natural. Also enjoyable was the comedy of errors by Sprite cool drink, relating an unconnected event outside to the cricket enthusiasts watching a match inside shouting drop it, or andhar—bahar… The ad on monthly health insurance premium versus annual premium was very imaginatively done in a ad when a patient walks out of the hospital half way through treatment for lack of coverage. And, to end it again with cricket, Dhoni did a convincing job by laying a condition to the youngsters that he would watch the match with them only if they served Lays.  

A good time pass these past 20-30 days – alas, coming to an end soon. 

Meanwhile, happy Diwali.

A Delightful 60th Birthday Celebration

It would seem SFV is fast becoming a 24x7 entertainment, cultural and religious centre what with the recent Onam, Ganesh Puja, Rajyotsava celebrations interspersed with such semi-private and private celebrations as the Soundarya Lahari Saptaha chanting sessions  that will go on till Thursday organized by SFV Satsang, and the breathtaking Devi Puja celebration organized by Sudharshan Acharya, Panindra, Naveen Kashyap, et al. 

As though these are not enough, Abhishek and Aarthi, the son and daughter of Ravi and Mythili Ravichandran of Ebony 7242, wanted to watch a re-enactment of their parents’ marriage. And the best prescribed means in the Hindu rituals is to celebrate their parents 60th birthday and see, and let others also see, how their parents got married. 

Result? Abhishek flew from USA (alas, his wife Shruthi could not join because of visa constraints) and Aarthi from UK to conduct a wonderful ceremony full of mirth and enjoyment, and at the same time not missing out on religious aspects – a full-fledged Rudra Ekadasi with the mass chant in unison reverberating the Ebony tower and reaching out the adjoining towers, and an enchanting Carnatic musical extravaganza in the evening by none other than Ravi and Mythili’s daughter Aarthi, an undoubtedly accomplished singer who enthralled the audience for nearly two hours - all this yesterday evening in their home and in the Club House.

Today’s itinerary, the real Sashtiabhtapoorthi celebration, was organized in the Finer Side hall, a stone’s throw from SFV.  Among other families in SFV, Ravi had invited all members of the SFV Vedic Chant group. He has been a member ever since he moved to SFV.

We split our group into three or four teams so that we ply minimum number of cars to the venue. When we reached an hour before for the10.30 Muhurtam, we prided that our group would be among the firsts to reach there. But alas, cars were already lined up till the end of the main road, and my friend Kaleeswaran had to drop us at the gate and go on a hunt for a parking space.

No sooner had we entered the building than one of Ravi’s relatives, a la traffic policeman, with one hand stretched and another waving to the right, directed us to the breakfast hall. Since it was a 10.30 muhurtam we had our breakdfast at our respective homes and agreed we would just have a cup of coffee. But seeing the others at the table relishing the menu, we didn’t particulaly object to the caterer spreading the banana leaves for us. But we swore to ourselves, ‘not more than sample bits’. But when we headed to wash our hands, we felt, ‘yet another violation of our resolution’.

Ganesha Vadhyar & Co. – the priest for this function.  Yes, he made his debut in Sobha Forestview when our Vedic Group invited him years ago to perform Yajur Karma for SFV residents in the adjoining Madheswara temple foregoing his own established clientele in his home base Banasvadi. Since then, to the benefit of both SFV residents and himself, he is the de facto priest for many residents. Added to that, both his elder brothers operate separate catering services – one styled Gauri Shankar caterers, and the other Shabari Catering services. We had the experience of Gaur Shankar Caterers on an early occasion when he did a creditable job, and today we experiences the taste of Shabari catering services. The fare was sumptuous, done to perfection, and accompanied by generous services with no hurry to seat the next batch.

Photo session is inescapable on such occasions. A couple of snaps were taken with the Vedic group members lined up, which served two purposes: one, Ravi’s 60th birthday, and the second, Venkatachalam mama’s 50th marriage anniversary. Friends clamoured for separate celebration of 50th anniversary, and Venkatachalam mama turned to me to name the restaurant. ‘No more after such a heavy dose,” I said and brought a possible yet another celebration to a grinding halt, more so with Diwali celebrations on the card.