The Sachin Tendulkar Factor

Everyone who has once held a bat in hand seems to have an opinion on the Indian cricket team. So here's my two bit:

The reason why Indian batting order collapse after a great start involving Tendulkar is because Tendulkar is so good. This may seem to be a cock-eyed logic but hear me out ... Because Tendulkar is so good, and because he bats so effortlessly when he is in full flow, the rest of the batsmen in the dressing room think that the pitch is playing true and that it is a batsman's pitch. They ust be going, "Arrreee! Sachin has hit 3 sixes. Wow! I will go and smash the ball all over the place." Unfortunately, they get it wrong and they fall flat on their respective faces. The sad part is that there is no lessons learnt.

I think it was Rahul Dravid who got it right. In one of the interviews, given quite some time ago, he said something to this effect: Watching Sachin at the other end is a great experience. Of course, you need to be careful. You cannot play like him. So, you play your game.

So, here is my advise to the Indian batsmen: Recognise your strength and play to it. Let Sachin play his game. You play yours.

By the way, this applies to daily life too.

Sachin Tendulkar Defined

The cricketing world is going gaga over Sachin's mastery of the T20 format of the game.
I think they are missing the point.
It is not his cool batting that has fetched him four 50+ scores in 6 matches or the fact that he is running hard between the wickets. That is something that is expected. He has always been a great batsman.
There is something else.
His hunger for excellent was manifest in a failed attempt in yesterday's match with Deccan Chargers.
He was off like a hare after the ball that took an outside edge from a Deccan Chargers' batsman and just near the boundary he went sliding to cut off the four. He couldn't cut it off, but his slide towards the ball was sublime.
This was also seen in the 1st ODI against South Africa when a diving stop from him shaved one run off a sure boundary.
For me, this new drive to fielding excellence defines Sachin Tendulkar.
He is the Arjuna of the modern era - someone who never stops learning and excelling.

Supporting IPL Teams

Watching IPL - whenever I get the time - is turning out to be a medical problem.

I simply do not know which team to support.

I am from Bangalore, so I should support the Royal Challengers.
I am a Bengali so people expect me to support the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Since Preity and Shilpa are involved, my heart belongs to Punjab XI and Rajasthan Royals.
I am a big fan of Tendulkar, so I would like to support Mumbai Indians.

To eliminate the risk of Multiple Personality Disorder, I have decided to go ball by ball and follow these rules:

(i) When an Indian is bowling to a non-Indian batsman, root for the bowler.
(ii) When a non-Indian is bowling to an Indian batsman, hope the ball goes for a six.
(iii) When an Indian is bowling to another Indian, support the underdog.
(iii) When a non-Indian is bowling to another non-Indian batsman, don't give a damn.