IPL 2014

KKR vs MI

KKR kick off with thumping win

KKR cruised to a big victory over Mumbai Indians in the maiden game of IPL 2014. After winning the toss, Kolkata has opted to bat first. In the first 15 minutes of match, it seemed that Gautam Gambhir has made wrong decision when he himself facing difficulties with seam attack of Mumbai Indians in the lights of Malinga and Zaheer Khan. After dismissal of Gambhir, both Jacques Kallis & Manish Pandey had manoeuvre the innings subsequently  placed KKR in a strong position. It was a slow going early on but both have shifted the gears start looking for boundaries and big hits and they did in style. Kallis has regularly faced the questions over the pacing of his innings in T20Is. Kallis answered his critics by playing composed innings and scored 72 off 46. On the other hand Manish Pandey has also played his part by scoring 64 off 53. Suryakumar Yadav played cameo and a couple of innovative strokes to lift KKR  to 163. Malinga produced 4 wickets and continue his legacy that he is one of the stringent bowler to face off.

Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma, two of the stalwarts of Mumbai over the years, tried to up the scoring but against an attack that didn't give away much on a surface where the ball wasn't coming on, the asking rate keep on increasing. To hunt for achieving the required rate, they were losing the wickets at quick succession. Power hitters like Pollard and Anderson both have succumbed in front of quality attack. Charismatic Sunil Narine who ended with figures of 4 for 20 to ensure a reverberation win for Kolkata Knight Riders.    

  

Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad wiped out Royal Challenger Bangalore in a close encounter

Sunriser Hyderabad once again proven that they are not playing the game as a underdog team. Their wins over Royal Challenge Bangalore clearly indicated their intention and enthusiasm. Despite of not having big names in the team, they settled down with two consecutive wins. Yesterday’s game had gone into Twenty20 cricket’s sudden death – the Super Over. Steyn had to defend 20 runs, thanks to Cameron White’s bolstering knock and phenomenal hits off Vinay Kumar and came out on top as Royal Challengers fell  five runs short.

It was a dog eat dog contest throughout the forty overs in the electrifying atmosphere of Hyderabad. Defending seven at last over was not a cup of tea for Royal Challenger Bangalore, Vinay bowled an impressive 20^th over for the second game in a row conceding only 6 runs, but could not continue the momentum in the tiebreaker. He was Virat Kohli’s go – to man after he had defended 10 runs off the last over against Mumbai Indians.

The seasaw battle began with Sunriser got big fish Gayle to part timer Hanuma Vihari's first ball in IPL cricket and Dilshan was bowled by Ishan Sharma, Kohli and Henriques had to resurrect the innings and added 43 runs  for the fouth wicket. Henriques’ calibrated innings 44 came off 40 balls with five boundaries finished when Ishant perplexed him by a slower delivery.

The Sunriser chase held together by newcomer Vihari’s unbeaten 44 off 46 balls but he never took the game away from Royal Challenger Bangalore albeit he ensured to keep scoreboard ticking inspite of losing wickets at a regular intervals. He would have expected someone to leading from the front like his captain Sangakkara and Perera unlike couldn’t happended in line with his expectations. The game boiled down to such a finish because of the 23 runs stand for the seventh wicket between Vihari and Reddy. Vinay who had merely invincible run out Amit Mishra, was smashed for 14 runs in 18^th over. Murali Kartik had to keep Royal Challenge Bangalore in the game and he conceded only 7 runs in the penultimate over before Vinay propeled to tie.

White and Perera were Sunriser’s preference for the Super over, and they outdid Royal Challengers’ Gayle and Kohli.   

Mumbai Indians Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challenger Bangalore clinched the battle in a nail biting thriller

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty. Nothing is certain except its uncertainty. Yesterday match had showcase and proven this proclamation once again.  A nerveless final over from Vinay Kumar instrumentalized Royal Challenge Bangalore to earn a dramatic two – run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the second match of IPL 2013.

Chris Gayle’s storm once again enable RCB to won the first match of a season. His blitzkrieg unbeaten 92 from 58 balls helped his side overcome a pedestrain start, and sailed them to 156 for 5. Gayle began his innings with uncharacteristic reticence, later on he was dealing with fours and sixes. RCB’s start couldn’t streamline with their plans. Early back to back breakthroughs pushed RCB on the backfoot. Despite of losing wickets at one end albeit Gayle planned his innings in a fabulous way launched sixes missile at the regular intervals. Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians took 3 crucial wickets in his maiden IPL match and conceded 32 runs. A dream debut of young boy.

Mumbai’s reply was promising at the outset, legends Sachin and Pointing – opening together for the first time – hit 50 runs together in just over 7 overs. But despite that solid foundation, top order batsmen couldn’t capitalise the innings and was unable to lower the asking rate for much of their innings. Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu allowed the pressure to escalate through a meandering approach during the middle overs. It was Karthik who hit out three consecutive sixes and a four, to plunder 24 runs. Although that mini improvisation bestowed by Karthik couldn’t lasting long enough, a terrific penultimate overs from Jaydev Unadkat and Vinay Kumar, yield the RCB to come off with flying colors.  

IPL Mania Season 6: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils

Kolkata opened the account in an astonishing fashion

In 2008, Kolkata kick started the inaugural match of IPL in a fabulous way. It was Brendom McCullum who set the triumphant tone of IPL 2008 and eventually demolished Bangalore out of game. The history was repeated yesterday in the inaugural boxing match of IPL 2013 as well but it was Sunil Narine who spins the Kolkata to win in opener. Kolkata performance was a dominating one for the circumstances they played as a defending champion. Sunil Narine and Rajat Bhatia who restricted the Delhi Daredevils batsmen and Captain Gautam Gambhir anchored the bulk of the chase.

Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to field, the luck was in favour of Kolkata to had a field first in the slower track. Delhi start was not in line with the captain’s expectation Knight Riders snatched the initiative as early as the first ball. Unmukt Chand, an emerging star in Indian Cricket was beaten by a lovely outswinger from Brett Lee that knocked out off stump. Narine played a pivotal role in Knight Riders victorious season in 2012 and his variation was confounding the batsmen. After Chand’s dismissal things were starting to build up but one again Narine had given the breakthough in the form of David Warner who was baffled by a sharp offspinner and persistently proving an ace for his captain. After Warner’s  departs, wickets were falling at regular interval.

Mahela Jaywardene, however, looked in control, customising and adapting the condition expertly to the approach the pitch demanded, restraining himself from playing blinder and rely on touch and go process. Mahela’s significant contribution of 66 runs helped Delhi DareDevils to stretch the score to 128 runs.

A sense of urgency was more evident in Gambhir’s start to the chase, as he stepped out to smack Irfan for a four and a six in third over, the latter clearing long – on despite of fall of wicket of Bisla at second over. Jacques Kallis at the other end was finding the boundary with lesser effort, timing the ball gloriously. The partnership added 47 runs in less than six overs.

Gambhir ensured a steady run flow after losing Kallis, but again Manoj and Gambhir were re – building the innings and later on Gambhir and Manoj fell in quick succession, but Knight Riders were in control of the chase. Morgan and Yusuf ensured that the task was completed to prevent further hiccup and without any fuss.    

Best Friend

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walk out. Exactly one year back, I come to know the definition of a real Friend. It was a month of January, when Vibrant Gujarat 2011 is about to start their innings on 10th January 2011. Every staff of CII was vibrating & buzzing. It was a boxing week for me. All staff were under immense pressure. On 9th January 2011, I caught up in an irrelevant controversy. I was feeling the heat. On that night, I found someone very special(Priti) who is ready to take a stand, nurturing me at every moment & her guidance was invaluable. Even she is ready to talk with Boss with reference to resolve controversy believe me no one is ready to do that even my close colleagues don't have a dare to think about that. They also took their foot off the pedal. But in a manner of hours, the tide has turned; from "so what" to "so nice". My first Event was very successful full credit & credentials goes to Priti & my team.

Priti, a golden girl & my best friend....Priti, a girl from Bombay, India..she believe in seizing the wonderful moments and treasure them...according to her definition. Let me take an opportunity to describe her.

"Beauty with Brain" that is the best phrase that describes her. She is so innocent, so sweet, so helpful and so selfless. Sometimes I feel how will she survive in this cruel world but then good people always find a way out.

My each & every moment is fun with her.

Her ability to do parallel processing of information and convert it into golden nuggets, garnished by eloquent language, is truly astonishing. She is the genuine modern all rounder. I raised a toast to his incredible talent. I like Priti because of her meticulous nature. In fact Priti's success recipe is a large tablespoon of talent but several large tablespoonfuls of attitude and of work ethic. A combination  of these two make her a real winner. Best thing about her is she define herself in their own way. That's why I call her Princess!

For me, Best thing is that When she is out there....................., there are no ripples in my mind, its calming influence. I know she would hold the fort, always pushing me up.....She is very methodical. She stand like a rock of Gibraltar.


I promised myself I never let her down. Always bestow her a lot of happiness. The biggest asset I carry over a period of time her valuable friendship. Whenever I think about her past I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. That's why she fly away from abroad. She locked up her past does rejoice. 


May all dreams in her eyes, all desires in her heart and all hopes in her life blend together to give her the most spectacular year ahead. She is carrying a  glimmer of hope. I wish her dreams & hopes comes true shortly. Dear Priti, I found a good person to get me on wheels. I'll keep an eye out for you.

Remember Pri3,

...Hope is a good thing...

...Maybe the best of things...


And no good thing ever dies


I'll be hoping that this blog finds you..


and finds you well

Yours best friend,
Mohit

PS: I hope to see my best friend and shake her hand. I'm hoping that someday we are going to see each other because though life's a long while we have very little time.

Princess (Too resemblance with Pri3)

Priti's Crown

Last but not least

 Very important lesson for me

Have Fun!

Trip to Aamchi Mumbai on my Birthday!

10 November 2011 was a marquee day for me. Birthday Boy was travelling to Mumbai for the celebration. The day I was waiting for a last couple of months to celebrate with my best best friend. I was very stoked. I arrived at Mumbai in early morning. The atmosphere was really different. One of my best friend always reminding me that Mumbai has a very tough life. My perception is that Daily life in Mumbai is fast paced and cosmopolitan. The city rises at the crack of dawn and doesn't sleep until well into the night.

In Mumbai, I had a feeling of strong eagerness. I don't know why?? Might be later on I will find the  solution. But  solution exist in the evening. It is just like a kind of feeling or eagerness when I visited New Delhi at regular intervals during my College days. I was getting a lot of birthday wishes from my friends. One of my friend come to know that I'm in Mumbai. He called me & asked me to come down to his flat at Chembur. I went to Chembur & spend quality time with him. Now, I'm strolling to Worli for the celebration & divine evening. I reached at Worli. But later I found that My best friend stuck with loads of work. Even she was trying to escape out from the office but she couldn't make it. I was waiting for her expecting that something miracle will happen...................................After waiting for long lasting 3.5 hours, than I was crawling to Mumbai Central to catch up my train.

Few days back I promised my best friend I always display effervescent & positive outlook. I know myself on that evening situation is almost a mirror reflection of what I have planned. The best way to react is to think tank know that situation is worst, but how I can win from here? The biggest "Trophy or Medal" for me to bestow her a lot of happiness. On that night, she called up & was feeling guilty but I respond her in very brave movement "Its not your fault. Just relax & take it easy". That was a winning moment for me. Because If she is happy , I'm happy go lucky.

Lesson for me: Relation grows as much as the expectation stretches. I tell myself that "I cannot have a carpet under which I can keep all these things & at the same time expect these things will remain stable". Few things are not in our hands. It could be better to leave it & look forward.

Very next day, I celebrated my birthday with office colleagues.  

Pic: Birthday Cake

The Golden Girl

Pri3 is the most mysterious girl. The best thing about her is she love to enjoy every moment of her life. She want to make each moment memorable. She is truly by heart. The best human being I ever meet in my life...

P-Pretty

R-Refulgent

I-Infallible

T-Tranquility

I-Incredible

Pri3, Think of how much I like you, when you cry, I cry with you.

Pri3, Sometimes the world is a darkplace. But the blackest night cracks with the dawn's rays.

Your Happiness spreads joy all around. The sun emerges & warms the ground.

Honestly I tell you I learned a lot from you. You are a source of inspiration for me.

Pri3 I can never replaced the friends which you have lost in the past.

But I should be honour if you learn to call me your "Best friend"

Your well wisher always,

The Showstopper :)