Another comeback!

Duniya hila denge ham, ham duniya hila dein ham!
Duniya hila denge ham, ham duniya hila dein ham!

This theme song of Mumbai Indians resounded in the background a day before yesterday as Jayasurya and Uthappa headed back to their dugout after the win over Chennai Superkings. The crowd at Wankhede had witnessed a gem of an innings from Sanath Jayasurya that would have reminded many of his 151 against India a few years back on the same ground. Eleven sixes on a pitch that troubled the rest of the batsmen and where even the bowlers found it hard to control the swing, speaks volume of the Srilankan's calibre. And then everyone thought, where was he till now? This was the 8th game for the Mumbai team in the IPL and prior to this innings he hadn't looked even a shadow of what he did last night. So what did click? When Ian Bishop asked this very question to him in the presentation, his answer had me in awe.

"It`s the best day of my life to open with Sachin. The advantage he lends is that he lets me play my own game." These were the words from one of the most lethal opening batsmen in One day game. What great respect among these two cricketers of the gentlemen era! And that is when I thought that though Sachin had scored only 12 and that too less than run a ball in the last match, his presence had greater significance.

Even tonight against Kolkata Knight Riders, Sachin's captaincy was exemplary as Mumbai Indians went on to achieve their straight fifth victory. Bringing on Pollock to finish his spell in one go who then got his third wicket and keeping a slip through out the match where the Mumbai team had four catches taken showed that he had a plan in his mind. The three seniors, Sachin,Sanath and Shaun have clearly put their vast experience to use and discussed roles for the players. After defeats in its first four games, this display from the Mumbai team has been phenomenol and Sachin has surely been instrumental in it deriving the best even out of the veterans. If him being in the playing eleven can enthuse the others to such a level then yes, it has been a great comeback by him as well. He's a team man and what better result for him than a great run of victories for his team. Kudos to them and their captain!


Mumbai's victories have been emphatic and after a bad start they have grown from strength to strength. And now they surely look like to be one of the semi-finalists.Chennai SuperKings and Kolkata Knight Riders seem to be slipping down the table but, all it takes is one good innings, one good spell or may be one spectacular effort in the field to lift the spirit of the team. And that's what the point here is - don't ever write off the greats coz a comeback might just be around the corner!

What a Comeback!

The stage was set. The crowd was shouting at the top of its voice. The captain had handed him the weapon. The target was staring him right in the eye. He ran the longest run-up any bowler ever had. Good length delivery outside the off-stump. Edge and taken!

The speed - 149 kmph. The opposition had lost its mainstay. He had taken off with both hands outstretched and the world now knew - Shoaib Akhtar was back!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! - four wickets in three overs.

It was the 35th match of the IPL - "Cricket ka Karma Yudh! "- and so far no one, despite the presence of such great names, had set any stadium abuzz like he did. Big names need a big stage and what better than a fully packed Eden Gardens with such a fervid and zealous audience. The build up to the game was intense as the two sides - Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders - had not faced each other even once though the tournament was more than half way through. It was touted as the match that would decide the fourth semi-finalist as Rajasthan, Chennai and Mohali looked certain to grab the first three spots and it was also said that Shoaib could be the difference. And that he was!

After limiting Knight Riders to 133, the Daredevils would have thought that the game is theirs for the taking and you couldn't blame them as before yesterday's match Viru had done well while chasing. Their top order had looked very impressive while scoring heavily against every opposition unlike other teams that were coming up with a new opening pair almost every game. But, this game was about to turn on its head.

Some players have special association with comebacks. I remember two or three occasions when Sachin came back from an injury and marked his return with a hundred! And how can I forget to mention our very own - Dada, Sourav Ganguly - while writing on comebacks. I am simply in the awe of this man. I had appeared for six interviews for each of the Indian Institutes of Management (ABCLIK) from Feb 1 to March 20 this year and in three of them (BCK) I mentioned Sourav Ganguly. Why?

Because whenever I watched him on TV last year, I saw determination and passion standing right in front of me. The 'Pepsi' ad where he said "apne Dada ko bhule to nai" , had become one of my favourites. We knew that he was a talented left handed batsman. We knew that he was more than handy with his medium pace. But, he gave captaincy a new definition. Indian captains weren't known to be aggressive and you can take a moment to gather the ones before him and their approach to the game. Kapil, Azhar, Sachin - they represented the gentlemen phase of the game. But, with the turn of the century, Youth had become the buzz word of our nation. Now, it was 'in' to express your emotions whatever they were. And so, the balcony at the Lord's had made its place into the history for a new reason altogether. :P


But that is not what it's about. Much has been said about the calibre and the class of Sourav, Shoaib and Sachin. Rather, this is about being out of action after all that fame and then fighting all odds to make a come back and an impressive one at that. Sourav did well against South Africa on his return to Int'l cricket but, to see again those 100 plus opening partnerships between him and Sachin against Engalnd was special. Then, his form peaked in the series against Pakistan where he scored his maiden double century and ended the year with 1000+ runs in both formats of the game. Sourav had become an inspiration for the youth of India. And it wasn't over then. His innings of 87 in the third test match at Kanpur can be easily rated his best as he displayed immense skills to handle the deteriorating pitch against more than capable attack of South Africa and now he is leading the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, bagging two back to back man of the match awards for his elegant strokemaking and tight bowling. He was jumping like a school boy in the game and made a comment during the presentation as well for the national selectors who have thrown him out of the national ODI side for being lethargic on the field - "I hope they are watching this". I am sure they were while the crowd sang - 'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo re!' symbolising the spirit of the man.

Shoaib was in news last month again for the wrong reasons as PCB had banned him for five years and his participation in IPL was out of question. But, he did make his debut yesterday after the relaxation given to him for a month. Another legend of the game, fighting it out to come back and then giving one of his best performances. Stuff of an Epic. Ain't it?

And today yet another protagonist will make his debut.

Ladies & Gentlemen, presenting to you all, the captain of Mumbai Indians - the legend himself - Sachin Tendulkar!


Another day. Another comeback?
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The circle of dreams!

Sometimes, you wished…on those long walks in solitary, you dreamed what it’d be like when you’ll get it…day in, day out you kept losing the meaning in rest of the things… they were not as simple as they used to be…you thought you’d lost it…but amidst all that gloom you pinned your hopes on it to be your savior…then you realized that it wasn’t enough to dream of it…something had to be done…a change was imminent…your desire became profound and you ran for it…you joined the race and you became one of them…you went through the lows and you savored your highs…you fought the times when they said you ain’t getting anywhere…you wanted it…now, you were getting closer…you felt it coming…you didn’t hear them playing you down…you kept going while all was going awry…and then you got it!

Now, you stand on the pinnacle and you take a look at what is lying underneath…you have left everything behind…you have crossed the finishing line and now you think whether it was worth it…it didn’t feel like what you thought it would…you can’t see any meaning surrounding you…and you ask yourself ~ why did you run in the first place…what were you chasing…was it this?

No, may be.

With conviction amiss, the clarity obscured and the confidence shattered you can’t figure out anything…you think was it the same you running behind that dream sometime ago and you know the answer.

May be you need to wish again. May be you want to dream again.

May be.