Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are two new teams in TATA IPL 2022

Until now, there were eight teams competing in IPL. This year onwards, there would be ten teams and the new ones are from Lucknow and Gujarat. KL Rahul is captain of Lucknow Super Giants and Hardik Pandya is the captain of Gujarat Titans squad.


Other members for the Lucknow team are Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Karan Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jason Holder, Ayush Badoni, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan. All of them have played in IPL in other teams and could prove their mettle once on the field.

As far as Gujarat Titans squad goes, here also there are tried and tested players who have played useful innings for their earlier IPL teams. The team members are Shubhman Gill, Sai Sudarshan, Abhinav Manohar, David Millier, Gurkreeat Singh Maan, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Mathew Wade (wk), Wriddhiman Saha, Rahamanullah Gurbaz, Domnic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Rashid Khan, Varun Aaron, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Alzarri Joseph, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishor. They would be rearing to go and those who love cricket and IPL would love to see then donning new colors.


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Tidbits of the 15th edition of TATA IPL 2022

Today is the 19th March and on 26th March, the Indian Premier League IPL will enter the 15th year. There will be two new teams to make up the total of 10 teams. They will compete in the Indian Premier League. This is a professional Twenty20 cricket league established in 2007 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI. TATA will be the main sponsor and the venue of the opening match will be the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The date will be 26th March 2022. Mumbai Indians have won the title five times in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Chennai Super Kings have taken the trophy four times in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. Obviously, there is a tough competition between these two teams. This time all eyes will be on the two newcomers Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. Their captains are KL Rahul (c/wk) and Hardik Pandya. Both have played in IPL earlier and their fans would love to see them do something outstanding for their teams.

Over the years, the format of IPL has remained the same with teams having their share of foreign players. They are well versed in the art of T20 cricket and many of them have become indispensable to their teams. The conceit of cheerleaders had brought an additional attraction to the game in the initial stages but at present, there are no cheerleaders.... KEEP READING FOR MORE ON IPL2022


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Lord Shiva pities the people who try to beat the heat (satire)

It was afternoon and Lord Shiva had finished his lunch. Then, with nothing much to do, he took the binoculars and sat beneath the shade of the banyan tree. He began to peer at the people on the streets.
Durga has also sidled up to him.
‘What do you see?’ she asked.
‘People who are trying to beat the heat,’ Shiva replied.
Durga laughed.
‘It is summer and bound to be hot and humid – it’s an annual phenomenon and people should get used to it. This is planet Earth and it will always be hot in summer.’
‘Still they love to listen to the weather man who is always serious,’ Shiva muttered. ‘His prophecies are meaningless because no one can predict the weather.’
‘Don’t blame him, he has a duty to perform,’ Durga said. ‘He is employed by the Met Department and has to have his say. Anyway – what do you see happening down below?’

‘Roads look deserted, umbrellas are in plenty, the women have their faces covered, there are queues in front of stalls selling cold drinks, there is a rush for lassis and even sugarcane juice and plain water with a dash of nimbu – a mockery for nimbu pani.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘From the look on the faces of those who are buying it.’
‘Focus on the banks of the Hoogly – what do you see?’
‘Right now it all looks empty.’
‘But – things would be totally different if there was some cricket match,’ Durga said. ‘People are crazy for cricket. Moody should declare it as the national game and ask his sports ministry to take it over and introduce a uniform policy for players.’
‘You mean he should ask the players to wear uniforms? Like khaki half pants?’
‘That is a possibility,’ Durga said. ‘Right now there is a gross disparity in their earnings. Those who do not perform earn much more than those who do. And – there is no age limit.’
‘That is the problem,’ Lord Shiva sighed. ‘The summer heat is on the rise – a result of deforestation and industrialization. The extent of pollution is going out of control. Why do they not stop manufacturing automobiles?’
Suddenly Vishwakarma materialized from nowhere.
‘Please do not interfere in my affairs,’ he cautioned Lord Shiva. ‘Industry is my headache, not yours.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Lord Ganesha and Kartika discuss the game of cricket (satire)

Lord Ganesha and his brother Kartika were having a heated argument over the game of cricket which is the rage on the day. There was the senior team, the under-19 team, the women’s team and, players kept getting in and out of the team while a selected few continued to remain in the side, come what may.
‘I insist that cricket is a game of fools,’ Kartika said. ‘Remember what a learned person had said about cricket?’ ‘What?’ Lord Ganesha asked.
‘He had said that cricket is a game of fools. One fool throws the ball, another fool hits the ball, eleven fools chase the ball and millions of fools watch the ball?’
Ganesha laughed.
‘That needs to be modified,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You forgot to add another three more fools who keep track of the ball.’
‘I don’t understand.’

‘I mean the umpires – there are three of them to keep track of the ball. Two on-field, the third one isolated and sitting in an air-conditioned box with his eyes glued to the TV screen.’
It was at this time that Lord Shiva came into view. He had been in the gym doing the treadmill because Durga had warned him to reduce his weight because a Shiva with a paunch is not a pleasant sight.
He had Bhringi with him, he was carrying towels and Shiva was using it to wipe the perspiration from his body.
‘What are you boys fighting over now?’ he asked.
‘Cricket,’ Kartika said. ‘I said that it is a game of fools but my brother does not agree.’
‘I see,’ Shiva said and occupied a seat on another hillock. ‘In my opinion, cricket is a game of the intelligent.’
‘How come?’ Kartika objected.
‘Those who play the game are experts in geometry,’ Shiva explained.
‘Geometry?’ Kartika was aghast.
’Yes,’ Shiva grinned. ‘Unless you know your geometry, you just cannot guide the ball with the bat through open spaces to avoid the fielders and score runs.’
‘I don’t agree,’ Kartika said. ‘Many of the players have not even graduated, they have no idea of tangents and angles.’
‘That is the beauty of cricket,’ Shiva grinned. ‘With so much cricket being played, let us keep the debate open on whether cricket is a game of chance or needs deep knowledge of the sciences.’
‘Of course it is a game of chance,’ Ganesha gave his opinion. ‘The outcome on any game depends on the toss – and, that is chance.’
‘Unless the coin is doctored, like in Sholay’ Kartika added. (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Moody and the mystery of Didi in Delhi (satire)

Moody was smiling which is unusual for him. Seeing him in such a mood, Jet Lee, Baba Someday and Nitty Gadcurry exchanged glances. Obviously, the Big Man was pleased with himself.
Sue Sharma was absent because Moody had sent her to attend a very important meeting in a neighboring country – one of the points on her agenda was a cricket match. Cricket brings people together, is a wonderful bonding agent and a diversionary tactic from day-to-day problems.
Suddenly his intercom rang – it was his Secretary.
‘Sir,’ Didi wants to meet you.
‘What is she doing here in Delhi?’ Moody asked. ‘Is she trying to entice others to join her brigade?’
‘Actually,’ Jet Lee spoke, ‘she is coming to attend my daughter’s marriage. Probably she wants to pay you a courtesy visit.’
‘I heard she has several items on her agenda this time,’ Baba Someday intervened. ‘She’ll probably attend our Sardarji’s son’s marriage. And – wish one of her old patrons on her birthday.’

‘Poor lady, Didi has her hands full,’ Moody commented. ‘I can guess why she wants to meet me.’
‘Could be about finances,’ Jet Lee suggested. ‘She is always complaining of no-money.’
‘Her constant pleas for money and more money reminds me of the nagging wife whose husband’s earnings are never enough,’ Moody sighed. ‘Poor Didi has not yet learnt to cut her coat according to the cloth.’
‘I heard she has plans to meet many more people,’ Nitty Gadcurry joined in. ‘She is ambitious and sees herself as a future Prime Minister.’
‘Wishful thinking,’ Moody grinned. ‘She had been to foreign countries to woo investors to her state – the response was too poor. In fact she had to make a hasty retreat from one place. She has to identify her priorities. She has to give something to get something – no one can get anything for nothing.’
‘Actually – she is too stubborn,’ Baba Someday added his opinion. ‘She has a one track mind and I feel she should learn and practice yoga. She is a great artist and yoga would help her.’
‘Yes,’ Jet Lee agreed. ‘She does have interests in non-political fields. Many of her MPs are from the film world. She loves cricket and one of the Khans is the brand ambassador for her state.’
‘Really?’ Moody was surprised, ‘I have not seen any such person promoting her state. Normally brand ambassadors are seen on TV talking about the positives of the state like tourist attractions – I don’t recollect seeing any such ad.’ ‘They are in the making,’ Nitty explained. ‘She is trying to work out what to project. With no major industries to boast of, she has to rely on cottage industries, pickles and handicrafts. But, the ad agency are not able to convince the brand ambassador to promote such products. That is the hitch.’ (to be continued …)

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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We play a game of cricket on a Sunday

It was a spontaneous decision to play cricket. One of my class mates who hailed from the city proper was a regular player in one of the cricket cubs and, hence, was knowledgeable. Another classmate was Reddy from Hyderabad – he also played cricket. These two were the ones who suggested that we play cricket on a Sunday in the grounds of the Kolkata airport. They roped in a couple of our instructors who knew the people who agave permission to use the grounds and even made available a sort of cricket kit that consisted on a worn out bat and used balls.
Anyway, on the appointed Sunday, a couple of bats and nearly new ball appeared along with a pair of wicket keepers gloves and pads.
I was not much of a player but knew a few basics of cricket – hence, I remained a spectator. As I saw the game progress, I remembered the famous saying of George Bernard Shaw – cricket is a game of fools played by 22 and watched by 22,000. Of course, the viewership today could be 22-million, thanks to the spread of the shorter version of the game via satellite channels. The ODIs have made cricketing terms a part of everyday dialogues even between housewives. It is to listen to them arguing over the dismissal of a player – they would speak as it they were experts. Obviously, they also sit glued to the TV sets when a game is on and base their remarks on the observation of commentators.
A regards the game we were playing in the airport club, the interest fizzled out by lunch time because, even though it was winter and cricket used to be a game played during winter, the energy level was missing. So we called it a day and dispersed to watch a movie. (to be continued …)