This is a cricket post for fans which inspires greatness while being a professional

Why Why Why…

SAP has a large footprint in India. I have myself worked in one of the most beautiful campus of SAP Labs India in Whitefield for eight fun-filled years. So it was apt, that I, avid cricket crazy Indian, living in America, working @ SAP (first SuccessFactors and now Ariba), brings the emotional commentary as we reach at the penultimate game of the greatest campaign of Indian Cricket team.

I write this on the day, where India has just qualified to the Final. Who knows what will happen come Sunday? Who will join India in the final – South Africa or Australia? It drives me crazy, nervous, devout when I watch Indian Cricket team. I have my own twitches of superstitions – not to move when India is batting well (though sometimes I have to pee), not to watch Sanjay Manjrekar commentary unless Harsha Bhogle[1] in the com-box, if opponent is scoring, stop watching as it may trick for wicket to fall. There were lot more, but this year I have tried to keep them to minimum, to maximize watching the game.

Thank you for the Memories

Though I didn’t started writing this blog because I was feeling nervous of what is about to happen, but it was feeling nostalgic about the number of players we will not watch in World Cup the next time we have ODI (One Day International). There are so many players I love to watch playing. This was a similar feeling when AB De Villiers from South Africa retired from ODI. From the 90s kid, who disliked every single Aussies (probably except Gilly as I was a keeper-batsman also), to the IPL where the world is my oysters. Every single world cricketer feels like a local – Maxwell is our Bengaluru boy, Quinton is the Mumbai opener and so on…

The disappointment

Sorry to my brit colleagues, but England played poorly, especially it felt like the captain rode on the wave of previously achieved greatness to get his team where no one was serious. Of course I have no knowledge of what they go through, but a leader who suddenly announced his departure @ SuccessFactors and was my mentor said something really interesting to me & I quote,

“No one cares about your past achievements”.

And may be that should have been the mantra for all international sports too. Whether it is the wrestling federation of India or the England Cricket Board or the senior mgmt at one of the LoBs – what you get on the table now should determine your future.

I say good bye to some of the players who I have loved watching both in Ashes (England vs Australia test series) and IPL. To name a few Ben Strokes & Captain Jos Butler. Sad part is I have seen Jonny Bairstow play some sensational cricket and also horrible India Test Summer – he played so underpar that we literally forgot him.

Good bye to some sensational English players.

The flying Kiwis

The team is just like the South Africa which had ABD and Faf, where you just can’t have any bad-feeling against them. They are the most gentle souls of cricketers. They inspire everyone to be humble yet competitive when acting as a professional. We all recall the side-line chat of Virat and Kane when the teams were competing but they were rested for that match (or were injured).

Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson sideline of T20 match talking shop

To thank some of the awesome Kiwi players we have Kane Williamson, Trent Bolt (Mumbai Indian forever), Tim Southee which have been the ALL FORMATS (ODI, T20 and Test) flag-bearers for so long.

Hoping to see you in IPL, good bye Kiwis

Other Semi-Final

It is yet to be seen (in another 8hrs from now) who will join India in the final, but there are some players from Australia which are at the end of their World Cup and ODI careers. I will be missing Starc the most once he retires as he was one of the most deadly bowler in recent times and had been the reason why Aussies won so much. And his devotion towards the Aussies Women Cricket team has been exceptional.

“It is not what to take, but give back to your profession that really counts.”

Along with Starc, there will be end of the trio of bowlers in Pat Cummins, Josh Haselwood and the batsman in David Warner, Steve Smith All these players have participated in IPL so much so that David Warner is internet celebrity dancing to lot of Indian Music Tunes along with his three daughters and wife.

South Africa on the other hand wouldn’t give me much of a heart break. I was more sad when Faf and ABD left the game. The current bread of SA crickets, may be Quintin will be the only cricket which feels one of our own, helping Mumbai Indians win the IPL Title.

Let us not Jinx

This section will forever been empty without any names, a space which could have talked about of the Great Indians who wear the blue jersey right now. because I am superstitious….

I will though give homage to the past players. Players I have admired over the years. It is me, bowing down to them and thanking them for unbelievable memories the sport has given me (on the same day Virat, bow down to his Idol Sachin in the stadium breaking his record of 50 ODI Centuries).

I played cricket all through school till freak injury ended my school dream. I played for SAP Labs India, when in match cricket injury ended my cricketing playing days. Yet this game still fascinates me so much, that even my One & Half year girl realize what it means to me.

The oldest memory of a full game which I understood was 1993 Hero Cup, I had seen before India play in 1992 world cup (especially India Pakistan match), but then it was only because my elder brother and father were watching it. Additionally, it was a time when 10yr olds spend more time outdoor than in front of an Idiot Box (which has evolved into Idiot Tablet, Idiot Phone…to Idiot Streaming Services)

The 90s were either Indian Great of Sachin or it was the mighty Australia. As the start of the 21st Century there were the great battles of India vs Australia whether it was dessert storm or the famous kolkata test. So from the batting quartets of Sachin, Sourav, Dravid and Laxman to the induction of some awesome young blood of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Kaif.

Dada (or Sourav Ganguly) need special mention because he changed the timid looking Indian team to the stalwart of the game they are now.

Mindset is everything. If you are invested with heart, mind and soul, results aside the experiences will be your journey to Sanatan Dharam (eternal duty) – be it sports or professional work

And then there was this Magician who arrived at our hearts with his long flocks of hair – MSD. I had to change my allegiance from Mumbai Indians to Chennai Super Kings (whistle podu) so many times. He brought the titles along with him.

India won last world cup in 2013

Bleed Blue…

Cut me and I will bleed blue… It is not just INDIAN CRICKET TEAM, but also SAP for I have been a loyal servant for the past 16yrs (today is actually 8th year anniversary of being in US and all time with SAP).

Being Loyal is everything

I leave this post, as I sing, Laharaa do Laharaa do, Sarkashi ka paracham laharaa do… aptly from the movie 83 based on the life of the India’s winning world cup team of 1983 under the great Kapil Paaji, here are few visuals of a proud Indian…

Summer of India 2023 – Laharaa Do Laharaa Do…

Bharat reaching the south pole of Moon

Yours Truly in the older jersey of ICT; Feel free to gift me the new one

Copyright Notice: All memes and pictures are from online available content (not subjected to copyright). The pictures containing Indian Flag on wall is captured by the author while the image with moon-rover was published freely by ISRO on Twitter handle. No cricketers were harmed in authoring of this blog post.