Dhoni, what have you got against Kohli?

India could have won this match with 20 runs less. But not in the mood today, after the wins, a tie, how about a defeat, and for the Windies’ game, a washout for variety?

India is in a weirdly superior zone, and it has nothing to do with the batting or bowling choices they make. It is how they think, there’s a bit of cool to them. I think they know it, at least most of the players do, they exude that cool. It makes you win close matches, and not feel too shitty about losing tight ones.

That’s not such a bad thing really. What I don’t get, and haven’t for a while, why this crusade against Kohli – why are we working so hard at belittling the best thing that’s happened to us, all of last year, in runs, form, class, attitude, delivery? Why do we continue to tamper with Kohli – why the fuck are we constantly reminded that he cannot score or accelerate as Raina? That he does not bowl, Raina brings the bowling option.

Rewind damn it, why was Raina dropped from the one-day team? Runs, right? How much did he bowl? I like Raina as a player, his attitude, all that, but Kohli elbowed him out fair and square. And let’s not even talk Nohit Sharma, he doesn’t figure in this world cup, ok?

So, you got Kohli at 4, scores a 100 (83), 1st match, vs Bangladesh. In that same game, Yusuf batted at 5, came in the 48th, 8(10).

What do you do after that, hurl him around like some deadweight that can’t bat, not at Yusuf’s pace, or like Yuvi or even MSD.

Next game vs. England, you bat Kohli at 7, after the Maters of the Universe. He comes in the 46th, 8(5) exits in the 48th. Yusuf 14(6).

Next game vs. Ireland, tricky chase, it’s 24/2, Kohli in at 4 again, 34(53). Same game, MSD at 6, 34(50). And then Yusuf banged them, 30(23), while waiting on Yuvi’s 50.

And today, Kohli at 6, 1(3) in the 43rd over, after Pathan 0(2), Yuvraj 12(9) and Dhoni 12(21).

Where will Kohli bat against the Windies, will he even play?

It may not matter, by now, whoever makes these calls may have screwed enough with Kohli’s batting. Then again, this is Virat Kohli, and he’s a lot tougher than you think.

What has Sehwag’s 175 done?

It made me play. I lifted a bat after weeks though it seemed longer, inhabited two pitches – one my gate pitch that has the road in between, then the neighbour’s driveway, where we also had a change in ends.

Even though I joked on BCC! on how the media misquoted Sehwag about batting 50 overs when he really meant 15, for long, I’ve wanted and secretly hoped that Sehwag will bat the distance.

Whenever we spoke about the first ODI double, I was certain it will be Sehwag.

Somewhere ODIs ceased to matter, and what Sehwag did in them even less. That his average was a misleading 31 something didn’t bother me anymore. I stopped trying to balance the 100+ strike rate with that unacceptable average.

Now I notice Sehwag’s average is 35+. But it’s taken him over 12 years and 220 ODIs to play what I’ve waited and waited for. And I don’t know what it’s done, except I played today.

And if it makes the rest of the team play, that will be something. It should certainly make them think – if someone with the one-day attention span of Viru can bat 47.3, what can I do?

Someone like Sachin, he’ll look to bat 50 overs for India, and another 50 for the other team.

It really is funny. Because Viru batting so many one-day overs was not supposed to happen, that it did, is kudos to the guy who planted the seeds for 50 over cruise control.

Before this, the seeds were planted in Yusuf’s mind – for a player who I’ve never rated on staying power in ODIs to hurl those knocks at the Kiwis and Safas was even more unthinkable.

But it was thought, and executed. Add Kohli’s hundreds, pre-World Cup and now in the Cup. Where and how did the makeover begin – when did the press’ brat become India’s mainstay No. 4 in ODIs, where did so much purpose creep in from?

Looks like the question isn’t what will Sehwag’s 175 done, but who enabled Sehwag’s 175 – and in that is the answer to Yusuf’s and Kohli’s runs. And of course, what lies ahead for India in this World Cup.

On Bored: Who made 175

The Return of Shukla

Once we lapsed with our vegetable purchases, the cricket chats dried up too. Then on Saturday, Shukla waved wildly at me, as if to move the sight screen away from his tomatoes. I returned the wave, though still very much on my way. He then hollered something about the new lot doing well. I had to about turn, and walk his way.

I informed Shulka that Gambhir was hardly a new lot. He snapped back with Kohli.

That got me going. Even Black Basant, the headman left his high seat, and stood by us, listening with his eyes. In all these years, Black Basant has never spoken on cricket, he listens. Could be he isn’t Indian.

And here we were on Kohli, like he was family. Shukla let it rip, then I took off on Kohli’s winning 6. Shukla added somewhat solemnly, they don’t watch, only listen on radio.

I made a faux stance, recreated the Kohli 6, emphasized the kid’s rock wrists, the difficulty in taking from outside off, hitting over long on.

Kohli added a good few MCs, BCs. Later, when I was on my way, it struck me, neither of us mentioned his old flame, Jadeja.

Btw I did mention Shukla and his Jadeja-Azhar fixation in my Test Match Sofa interview. And I will mention it to him today. Guess he'll tell me he doesn't have a computer. With a BC for good measure.

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

Arun Lal’s lullaby

Arun Lal is on air. The volume’s half way down. The brightest part of the match is ONGC red ‘n yellow fast-food chain gear. Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir at the crease. Arun Lal continues to talk to himself. His co-commentator is asleep. Soon, so will I. For an uninterrupted nap intend to leave Lal’s lullaby on. If you thought one-day cricket was boring, try adding Lal to it. It becomes no-day cricket. The sun sets. The stars come out. And you go to sleep.

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