When Nehra gave us ‘more options’

Today, still groggy at an unearthly hour, I almost choked on my mint toothpaste. Toothbrush in one hand and smartphone in another, I checked my twitter stream to see who had won the toss at Mohali, only to read that India had picked Ashish Nehra ahead of R Ashwin. And before I knew it I

Tendulkar and the ‘clutch’ question

Three years ago, I spent an evening with a couple of passionate Indian sports fans in a pub in Chicago. A couple of drinks down the line, the conversation veered towards Sachin Tendulkar and that’s pretty much where it remained for the rest of the evening. While all three of us were in complete agreement

Cricket, journalism and Big Brother

Today, I was pointed to a Graeme Smith press conference after the quarter-final in Mirpur where he was asked a long-winding question which ended with this bit (watch from 2:30): “Even some [fans] suggested that now, they must not be called chokers, they must be called jokers. So what message would you like to give

The Y and Z Axes

It’s tempting to think of Johannesburg ’03. Australia v India. The grandest stage. Australia, the favorites,  bat first. Sorry, Australia are asked to bat first. India’s bowlers arrive with a spray gun. Gilly and Haydos sock them. Then Punter arrives, feels the pulse of the arena and goes onto masterfully guide the innings before pounding

Last quarter, first final

Random thoughts over the last three days Dumbfucks. Of all the teams, it had to be Australia. #Pontingface. Three World Cups. Another final. Buggers know how to win the big ones. ‘03 final, ‘99 Super Six, ’96 Bombay, ’92 Brisbane, ’87 Madras … won all. Two of those by one run. One freakn run. Thank

‘We live the match’

Elif Batuman’s piece in the March 7 issue of the New Yorker is a must-read (it’s behind the paywall but do buy the magazine). It’s about the soccer fanatics of Istanbul and she focusses on Besiktas, a club who she calls “the underdog, the working-class team, known for the ardor of its fans”. I had