Day 116-2011 : A Locha Called IPL..

We definitely need Lalit Modi back!  At least the IPL does.

Just a couple of weeks ago, in the euphoria of the World Cup win, I was actually looking forward to the IPL.  A lot of friends said it is overkill; an overdose of cricket.  I somehow was actually not feeling that way and was looking forward to more cricket.  The World Cup win probably making me want more.

A fortnight into the competition and I am not so sure anymore.  With ten teams and a competition that runs for more than 1.5 months, this tournament is going to take some viewing.  And the format is convoluted too.  I just cannot understand it.  With every team playing every other day, it is beginning to get a bit confusing.  Forget about the matches, following the points table is getting to be difficult.  Add to this the player changes this season.  It took some time for me to figure out who is playing for which franchisee.  And I am not sure, I still know of all the changes.  A Gambhir playing for Kolkata, Yuvraj for Pune and Dravid for Rajasthan!  Two new teams, Pune and Kochi, which by the way, has its own identity crisis to figure out, of being a team from Kerala or Gujarat!  I am now really feeling 'cricket fatigued'.

So two new teams.  What else is new?  Cheer leaders...of a different kind!  Fully clothed cheer leaders in traditional Indian costumes are doing duty for the Pune Warriors.  I am not sure if that is going down well; with the crowds as well as the ladies themselves!  Imagine dancing in the sun fully decked up!  The SET MAX hosts have a couple of new inclusions as well, one of them actually trying to do a Mandira Bedi with noodle straps and a strategically placed 'Pallu'.

Notwithstanding all of this however, there have been a couple of great performances this season.  Paul Valthaty...(who!?!?!) has emerged as the King for the Kings XI Punjab team.  The knock he played against the Chennai Super Kings was tremendous.  No wonder Greg Chappell has been talking of the Indian bench strength.  Sachin's first T20 century was a knock to savour as well, especially because it showed that he is still learning and evolving.  Yes, he played some helicopter shots aka Dhoni with equal effect!

Though I am not inclined to follow each and every match, my favourite teams this season are the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.  At the start of the tournament, I expected them to play the finals.  Currently, one of them is at the top of the points table and the other at the bottom.  Now that I have shifted base to Mumbai, my loyalties have now shifted to the Mumbai Indians! Of course, having a strong team helps too!  I am rooting for them to win this season.  But there are still a whole load of matches to be played before we reach the finals...we will just have to endure them.

By the way, tomorrow me and the family go away to Kashmir for a week's vacation.  Now, you know what to expect in the next post then!

Take care!

Day 119 - Expectations

Last week was such a disappointing and depressing week.

The week began with THE event, which a lot of people in the organisation were looking forward to for a long time.  Monday was spent doing nothing but distributing envelopes and talking to people.  The one word which was heard time and again, was, 'Expectations'.  Interestingly, in different connotations too.  Someone said their expectations were met, some said their expectations were largely met, some said not really and some took the road of 'I have no expectations'!

'Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed'!

Is that really true?  Did all the colleagues who said that they had no expectations really mean it?  Is it possible to live in this material world and have no expectations?  By the looks of last week, yes it is.  Difficult maybe, but not impossible.

Expectations, I think, are manifestations of our perception of our own self and the environment around us.  Hence logically, if we are able control our thoughts and focus them on the present rather than extrapolating the past into the future, we might be able to get rid of undue expectations. 

On the other hand, we could argue that whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy.  What is the point of living if you do not expect something from life and are keenly looking forward to it?  I know this is very abstract, but so is the eternal mystery of expectations.

The mystery of me being very disappointed and depressed might also just be a case of misplaced expectations.  Who knows...

The rest of the week was not very uplifting either.  The IPL cesspool continued to get dirtier by the day.  Look what two people with big egos can do.  And more importantly, look what a megalomaniac can do, if not governed adequately.  The good part though, was, my prediction (and wish) came true.  Mumbai Indians played Chennai Super Kings in the final and the Super Kings became the Kings of IPL!  My loyalties were divided, but I did realise that somewhere down there, I do have an extra special soft corner for Chennai!

I will be there at the end of this month.  Should remember to congratulate my friends in Chennai on the victory!

Appudi podu podu podu.....

Take care.