"If Dhoni’s injured, pick me”

Dinesh Karthik isn’t called BossDK for nothing. But what triggered his 154 of 83 balls (17 4s, 7 6s) – the strangely named adversary perhaps – they're called Hyderabad (India), as if BossDK’s team, Tamil Nadu plays only NRIs. Or was it the sight of another World Cup discard, Ojha – who went for 82 from his 10. It’s the Vijay Hazare Trophy, DK is both keeper and captain, and plays for the mother state of CSK. In Srinivasan we trust.

For Murali Vijay.

This will be the first test that Murali Vijay will play with Gautam Gambhir. The two tests before this, Vijay played thanks to Gambhir’s elbow and sister. Also, those two tests Vijay opened the batting with Sehwag. This time, Vijay will bat in the middle order, unless of course Gambhir does him another favour.

Usually there’s this slotting of players – opener will only open, and if a middle order slot is vacant (as with VVS’ finger going AWOL) then a middle order player takes over – here it could’ve meant either Rohit Sharma or Dinesh Karthik being given a shot. Thankfully not so.

Vijay, now here’s what you do: If you make it to 87, as you did last month in Mumbai, try not to play across, go straight for that 100.


On Bored: Look (M Vijay again)

Music Video for Dinesh Karthik.

Don't go by the lyrics, this song's for DK, 19 not out @Eden.

Mind your Tendulkar 100 making business.

Today’s Tendulkar 100 business was funny, like the Tendulkar 20 business a few weeks ago. He’s within striking distance of a 100, in the 80s, and who do we have - Sunny and Shastri marching into the box. This is when they can’t help themselves, especially Sunny – he’s such a record player.

So what does Dinesh Karthik do, block? Earn some brownie points with Sachin and Sunny and Shastri? Never mind, nobody will remember his cameo, but what a noble gesture, putting individual above team, or is it Him above self?

By now you would have seen more than a few guys block away for the greater good of a century – and Sachin will have that cherubic grin after each block – it almost makes it worthwhile.

After all, the match was nearly won. But what is nearly – Malinga was bowling yorkers on call. And far flung as it may sound, seven wickets can fall off seven yorkers.

So what does DKNY do – he struts his stuff, six over mid on, four down fine leg, game over; Sachin 96 not out.

I’m quite happy, but what about Sunny and Shastri; and the folks, they’re upset too, why couldn’t Karthik just let Sachin score a hundred? At least you can’t blame Dravid for declaring on him.



On Bored: MSD vs. Sehwag

Saurav to open with Sachin again.

As Sachin prepared to stage a one-day comeback, Sehwag’s shoulder got stage fright.

Next Saurav spoke of a Ranji return, elsewhere Gambhir felt his groin go.

Of course this is factually incorrect, but we must continue to believe in these untruths – they’re about the alignment of Sachin and Saurav’s one-day worlds.

These worlds cast a shadow on any other opening partnerships. Is it any wonder, Sehwag-Gambhir do not open when Sachin is available.

I believe if you went up to Sachin, and wangled an interview with his gracious heart, it would articulate in the same vein – ‘I’d love to open with Saurav’. And then you can’t argue with those one-day runs they scored.

You can if you want to, make Dinesh Karthik open with Virat Kohli. It’s only a one-day game, let the kids have some fun.


On Bored: Gambhir refuses to play without Sehwag

The World will forget your name, Dinesh Karthik.

Face it Karthik there’s not much to remember about you. You are not up against your keeping or your batting, you are up against MS Dhoni’s aura. If it was just his keeping or his batting that you had to beat, you stood a chance – but now, it’s goddamn tough. Not impossible, but like scaling a cricketing Everest.

It’s not as if you’ve got nothing going your way. You had a cracking IPL, scored runs in T20 primetime – limited over cricket is the key here. Even though you were a low profile player in a low profile team, you scored – playing some incredible pulls and cuts too. And yeah, you can use your feet and your mind too. Nobody can take that away from you. If I recall, your keeping wasn’t any worse than MSD’s. You were ok. More a team player with the Delhi Daredevils than you ever looked with the Indian Angels.

Don’t know if it’s a curse or what, that Chappell placed his hand on your head, but you gotta live in the today. You’ve just landed two breaks out of nowhere. Sure the T20 World Cup didn’t land you a game, but this one-day series did. You are opening in a one-day game. You may never do so again. Ask Saurav and Sachin what it is to open in an ODI – it can make your career, it comes with half a dozen licenses – watchful, streaky, bullish, easy does it, let loose, go bonkers, chill, tank up on the runs. With each ODI innings comes one helluva chance to score a hundred – nowhere bowlers, everywhere runs, lick the gaps, kid.

And then you got that incredible thing going your way – form. Why is it so hard to fathom – are you in the form of somebody else’s life? Take a deep breath, do some yoga kid. Don’t do a Dilshan. Even Dilshan looks like a dodo when he tries the Dilscoop one too many times. Good for you, it came off once, went for six. It didn’t second time, you look like an adolescent. You should know how matured MSD is, he would never play a shot like that. Maturity is the new mantra in Indian cricket. Who do you want to be Karthik?

The kid who scored a 60 odd when he could get even with a 100? Nobody forgets 100s, ask your Dilli skipper, he told that to Akash Chopra once. Chopra hasn’t forgotten, don’t think he ever will. Ok, so a failure in between, and then you’re back in biz 3rd ODI. Be wary of Gambhir, he still thinks he’s running with Sehwag. That’s how it works for him.

Figure what works for you – it’s incredible you scored 47(43) with some of the hara-kiri between the wickets. Again, nobody will remember this 47, because Boss scored 46(35) and won the game.

Worse for you, Boss gotta face-saving 95 when you made only 4. Looks like he got the man-of-the-series award too. What you got, kid?

Fortunate Son.

DK boy, most people who follow cricket on planet earth have little or no memory of your worth. They think of you as a juggler more than a wicketkeeper. Few if any even know that you can bat. I myself had forgotten you could bat. I vaguely recall you once opened the batting, where was it, I cannot tell now; and you acquitted yourself rather well. Then you had to quit. Sometime else you even won a T20 game, yeah, it was India's first T20 in South Africa. Moral of the story DK boy, people attach a huge amount of significance to little games. If you have it made in limited overs cricket, you’re made.

Here you were, with your darling captain standing behind you, having to inhale your fumes throughout that darn good innings. But darn you boy, you threw it away.

DK boy, you’ve had two nifty back-to-back innings, but still both were almost there knocks, neither sealed the deal. This one could have been special. Instead it was the best knock either side, but in a losing cause, who remembers those?

Try and remember this: You don’t always have to keep, if it isn’t your natural calling to hell with it. Let MSD, let Parthiv or whoever likes wearing big gloves do it. If you were good enough to open overseas, and to instil belief in a coach who had little if any, there’s a chance you got something going for you.

Don’t self destruct just when you’re ready to shift in for a win DK boy. Your success could mean very interesting times for Indian cricket. Only with you, you’ll have to try much harder. You are no fortunate son.

Fortunate Son (lyrics by John Fogerty)

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.And when the band plays hail to the chief,Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,Yeah!Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,Lord, dont they help themselves, oh.But when the taxman comes to the door,Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,And when you ask them, how much should we give? Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one.It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate one, no no no,It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate son, no no no,