India knocks out Australia in Boxing Day Test

Boxing Day Melbourne Test Day 4:

India knocks out Australia in Boxing Day Test

Unbelievable comeback, by Team India

What an incredible turnaround by Ajinkya Rahane led Team India, touring Australia. In just 10 days to comeback from lowest ever total of 36 to match winning 326,in turn winning the test match on fourth day by 8 wickets.. That too without their main batsman and Captain Virat Kohli. Plus in the absence of key test match players Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami. Umesh Yadav also had to leave the field after just 3.3 overs in the last innings, still Indian bowlers managed to restrict Australia on 200. Captain led from the front with century in first innings and stayed to score winning runs.

 On fourth day morning, Australia was just 2 runs ahead, but last 4 wickets, fought lost battle for two and half hours and stretched the lead to 69. It was only in his second over of the second new ball Bumrah removed Pat Cummins with well directed bouncer, in 17^th over of the morning. After 57 runs partnership. 156/7. Then debutant Siraj got Green mistiming pull, at short mid-wicket. Budding allrounder was highest scorer with 45. 177/8.Then again Siraj and Ashwin with last wicket, bowled hosts for 200, after extended 1^st session, with lowest ever run rate, since 1990, last 30 years.

India faltered at start while chasing, 70 to win. Mayank once more removed by Starc 16/1 and Pujara chased one, bit wide outside the off stump from Cummins. 19/2. For few moments Indian supporters became bit tense, as the 36 memory is still quite fresh. But Captain Ajinkya Rahane started very confidently with pull to the boundary; debutant Shubman Gill was executing his natural stroke play with quite ease. In the sixteenth over captain Ajinkya Rahane scored the winning single leveling the series 1-1. Melbourne thus became the most successful hunting ground, overseas with 4 test wins so far. Both debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj excelled beyond expectations. Ravindra Jadeja certainly stamped his claim for the allrounder slot, of no.7. Pant in spite under pressure changed momentum of the innings, with his natural attacking flair, but needs to improve lot with his wicket keeping skills, especially against spinners. Rohit Sharma now due for comeback Vihari or Mayank likely to lose place in playing 11.With such a historic comeback series is now live at 1-1 , with 2 more to go. So with a pleasing end to the miserable 2020, all are looking forward to the fine start for 2021. So the next match is on 7^th January - somewhere in Australia. Yes it is still `somewhere`, as danger of epidemic outbreak is looming large over Sidney. Let`s hope Team India continues the winning momentum by ``Ajinkya` Rahane`` way.

India dominated and won most of the sessions.

Man of the Match

Ajinkya Rahane and boys, bring Australia down on knees

 Boxing Day Melbourne Test Day 3:

Ajinkya Rahane and boys, bring Australia down on knees

Oh what a performance by Ajinkya Rahane and boys! Another great day for Test Match cricket, especially for resurgent Team India down under at Melbourne Cricket Ground. On third day of historic Boxing Day cricket match. Australia desperately struggling to avoid defeat. They are just 2 runs ahead with 6 wickets down. India has got a great opportunity to level the four test match series 1-1.Who would have thought that on third day itself India would be in such a commanding, dominating position. Facing first innings deficit of 131 runs Australians were 99 for 6 in second innings when Captain Tim Paine got out. And were looking down the barrel for innings defeat. But the all rounder Cameron Green-17* and Pat Cummins-15* put up stiff resistance with unbeaten partnership of 34 runs off 18.2 overs in the last hour of the day. In the process wiping out India`s first innings lead.

India started third day morning, with overnight 277 for 5 - Ajinkya Rahane 104* and Ravindra Jadeja 40*, with the idea of extending 82 runs lead into region of 150 to 200.All seemed to be shaping well up to 294. In the 9^th over of the morning, Rahane got run out while stealing a single to help Jadeja to complete his half century. Just fell short by one frame on the line. What a bizarre way to get out after doing all the hard work for more than half an hour and playing out fiery Aussie pacers. Mind you this was the first time for Rahane to lose wicket in the form of run out, in his career of 66 tests and 111 innings. Probably with couple of dropped catches, this was the only way left to get out. Like a true leader Rahane did console Jadeja before leaving for the pavilion and told to forget and carry on. India was 99 runs ahead then. Eventually Jadeja completed the half century followed by his characteristic sword celebration. Starc and Cummins sensed the opportunity to bowl Indians out. Starc bombarded Jadeja with barrage of short pitched bouncers. Jadeja walked into the all evident trap, in trying to counter attack, holed to deep mid-wicket. Later Ravichandran Ashwin too got hit on the chest and Umesh Yadav on shoulder. This might have ignited the spark in Indian bowlers mind. As their aggressive approach and body language was refreshing to see, during Aussie second innings. After Rahane`s departure, last 4 Indian wickets added 32 runs. Indian innings folded at 326, thereby getting quite sizable lead of 131.

Umesh Yadav made early inroads in the Aussie second innings, by removing opener Joe Burns in his very second over. 4 for 1. Yadav was having excellent opening spell, but unfortunately pulled his calf muscle in his 4^th over. Yadav limping off the field, so early in the innings did cause few concerns in the Indian camp. But Rahane with innovative fielding placement ensured to keep Aussie batsman under pressure. Ashwin came into the attack as early as in 10^th over of the innings. Jasprit Bumrah was bowling with his usual penetration. Opener Wade with changed, patience approach and in form Marnus Labuschagne continued anyhow up to 42. Beauty from Ashwin made Labuschagne to edge one in the safe hands of Rahane at first slip.42-2. Steven Smith with his unconventional approach anyhow survived against Ashwin. But consistent Bumrah bowled him by removing just a leg stump bail, lightly brushing his pad on the way. Shuffling across and dancing in the crease did not worked for Smith this time. His 30 ball struggle, for 8 runs, ultimately ended at 71-3. Rahane kept handling his limited bowling resources effectively sans Yadav, in his usual cool manner. This time Jadeja responded well and removed opener Wade (40) trapping in front, for clean lbw, making 98/4. It was debutant Siraj who got the wicket of Head, after couple of overs on the very score 98/5.Indian bowlers continued to keep tight leash on under pressure Australian batsmen. Jadeja again struck back to remove Captain Tim Pain, caught behind by Pant, on just 1 run at 99. 99-6.Pain got bit agitated to leave the field ,as review showed nothing on the hotspot technology but clear spike on the Snicko. Australia still needed 32 runs to make India bat again then. But Green and Cummins survived till the day end. How much kangaroo tail can wag on forth day remains to be seen. Barring miraculous performance of lower order batsmen, weather interruption Indian victory is a certainty.

Jasprit Bumrah removes Smith 

Day 3 Stumps

Photo source - FB Pages.

36 Jinx broken? Jink`s century puts India ahead

 Boxing Day Melbourne Test Day 2:

36 Jinx broken?  Jink`s century puts India ahead

Another fantastic day for Indian Cricket Team! What a determined captain`s knock by modest, soft spoken yet steely Ajinkya Rahane. Apart from first half an hour, 10 overs or so rest full day`s batting revolved around Rahane. He missed few, understandably bit more cautious at start, got few chances by Australian fielders. Even on the last ball of the day got hit on the gloves, by Starc bouncer and got life from Travis Head. But more importantly he is still there not out on 104 off 200 balls with 12 fours - which included excellent drives, square cuts, leg glance and spectacular pulls. Ravindra Jadeja is giving him a good company with 40 off 104 balls, uncharacteristically with just 1 four. Duo has put unbeaten partnership of 104 runs, taking India`s first innings lead to 82 runs in the process. India scored 241 runs in a day with the loss of 4 wickets, at modest 3 runs per over. Remarkable recovery from a team, bowled out on 36 in the previous innings and without their premier batsman.

Overnight pair of Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara started the day cautiously from 36 for 1.Just when they seemed to settling down nicely, after 10 overs, Pat Cummins struck twice. First he made Gill to induce an edge from a mistimed drive, to wicketkeeper Pane, who had failed to convert the half chance of inner edge earlier. Gill 45, 61/2. Followed with Pujara`s wicket in his very next over. 64/3.Wicket keeper captain Pane took a brilliant one handed catch, diving in front of the first sleep. That brought two new batsmen Rahane and Vihari at the crease. Both played cautiously, to deny Aussie any further control, of the game. India 90/3 at lunch - scoring 54 runs off 26 overs. After 52 runs between them, just when Vihari started to look aggressive, hitting Nathan Lyon for four, gloved the mistimed sweep in the same over. 116/4.Rishabh Pant walked in at no. 6 and in his characteristic style shifted the momentum in India`s favour, scoring brisk 20 odd runs with 3 fours. His positive approach rubbed on Ajinkya Rahane and he also started playing bit more freely. Just when things started looking great for India, Starc removed Pant on 29 off 40 balls making 173/5. Ravindra Jadeja walked in at no.7. India had an excellent second session with 99 runs in 26.3 overs off at a brisk 3.74 runs per over loosing 2 wickets. Post tea it was India all the way. Rahane and Jadeja not only negotiated the new ball threat in process, on the contrary played some attacking cricketing shots , taking full advantage of harder ball and attacking field placing. Aussie bowlers looked quite depleted, tiring. Smith dropped Rahane at 73 at second slip made things worse for them. Aussie shoulders keep dropping more. In spite of having such a world class quality pacers` trio, Tim Paine had to bring off spinner Lyon in the attack in just 10th over of the second new ball. Ajinkya Rahane completed his 12<sup>th</sup> century in style with a superb square cut. His second one at Melbourne, after the one in 2014, Boxing Day test. Lady luck continued to smile on India. As on 104 Starc made Rahane hurried through the defenses, hitting gloves, ball ballooned up in the air, was floored at short backward point by Head, while hitting both hands on the ground - made the ball to pop out of hands. This in a way summed up the miserable Aussie fielding performance of the day. Just when Rahane was getting the treatment, bad light and light drizzle ended the day`s play. India denied Australia any success in the post tea session with 88 runs off 28 overs at a nice 3.14 runs per over. Both comeback boys Rishabh Pant and Ravi Jadeja played their roles well. Hope that Ajinkya`s hand injury is not much serious. How much India can increase lead, through Rahane, Jadeja and Ashwin to strengthen their position is going to be very interesting to see on the third morning. So over to day three at 5.00 a m IST.

                                          

India 36 again – with 9 wickets intact

Boxing Day Melbourne Test Day 1:

India 36 again – with 9 wickets intact

What a day it was, Test Match Special. Indian bowlers especially Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, well supported by debutant Mohammed Siraj with their excellent performance made sure that we all forget 36 and the heartbreaking memories of Adelaide debacle. The talk of 400 plus first innings score for last few matches at Melbourne was in the air, when hosts won the toss and happily chose to bat first. But Indian bowlers showed tremendous self-belief, under stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane. In his 3^rd over, Bumrah removed the last time half centurion opener Joe Burns for zero after torrid 10 balls. 1-10. Then even though pitch was bit helpful to the pacers, Rahane made Aussies face the music of Ravichandran Ashwin as a first change in just 11^th over of the morning. Ashwin in his second over removed attacking, impatient Matthew Wade.2-35.Then to top this in his very next over got better of the most dangerous Aussie batsman, the run machine Steven Smith for zero.3-38.Ashwin to Smith this series : 5 balls ,0 runs , 2 dismissals. Then barring 4^th wicket partnership of 86 between Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, which was broken by Bumrah in his third spell. Indian bowlers kept striking at regular interval. Debutant Mohammed Siraj got the inform Labuschagne for 48, as his first test wicket. Aussies thus bowled out for 195 in 72.3 overs. Aussie bowlers Mitchell Stark and Pat Cummins came firing all cylinders during the last hour of the day. Stark removed Mayank Agarwal within 6 balls. Cummins too bowled firing line. But debutant Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara played and missed few times and were bit lucky to miss the edges. Shubman opened his account with a boundary to mid-off. His sharp chance was floored in third slip when on 4. But once Shubhman got bit settled and grown in confidence, played some cracking shots to boundaries. Gill 28 not out with 5 fours along with Pujara on 7 with 1. With fast bowlers getting bit assistance from the pitch, Aussie pacers are expected to come down hard at Indian batsmen, on the second morning with a ball just 11 overs old. If Indian batsmen manage to survive up to lunch, especially the first hour in the morning , then they can hope to build a good first innings total. (Brief scores - Australia 159 and India 36/1)

 

 

Can Jinks Break the Batting Jinx? - Boxing Day 26.12.2020 - Second Test Match

 

Can Jinks Break the Batting Jinx?

Question on every Indian cricket lover`s lips is - Can `Jinks` - Ajinkya Rahane - now Team India captain break the jinx of Indian batting after the infamous 36 debacle at Adelaide last week ? What happened in the pink ball test especially on 3^rd day afternoon was certainly not rosy at all for the Virat Kohli and boys.

Now that Virat has well and truly back home on recent trend of parental leave (yesteryear cricketers were irresponsible parents or what?), can Ajinkya and more importantly batsmen around him, lift themselves up psychologically to face the fearsome Aussie trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc?

With Virat unavailable and Rohit Sharma still in mandatory isolation, in-form KL Rahul looks to be certainty for the second test. For the historic Boxing Day Melbourne Test Match, Saturday 26^th December onwards. With team selection news, circling as now fit Ravindra Jadeja instead of test specialist Hanuma Vihari. Shubman Gill in place of Prithvi Shaw. Also Rishabh Pant is likely to replace Wriddhiman Saha, whose batting is not so effective on foreign soil - where as Pant scored century on last tour. Young Mohammed (Siraj) most likely to get chance in the place of senior Mohammed (Shami). Injured Shami in dyeing moments of the last test match is real blow to India. As Ishant Sharma has already missed the tour, courtesy IPL. But the onus is on top order batsmen opener Mayank Agarwal, ever dependable - rock solid Cheteshwar Pujara, experienced stand in Captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Hope India shows far too improved josh in batting, verses Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and not to ignore Nathan Lyon. Hopefully it would be worth getting up early for Indian fans to catch the live action.

Pink Ball test - Not a rosy encounter for India with 36 all down in second innings.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc broke the Indian batting on 3rd Day itself to offer India humiliating defeat with just 36 all down in second innings. India`s 53 runs lead in first innings did not count much as visitors lost the Adelaide test match by 8 wickets.

Story of the match through score boards : 

3rd T20 - 08.12.2020 - Aussie recover to make it 1- 2 through spinner Swepson and batting of Wade and Maxwell

Mitchell Swpeson breaks the back of Indian batting with 3 wickets at crucial time.

Left arm pacer T Natarajan is the find of the series for India. 

Hardik Pandya bags the Man of the Series award. 

2nd T20 - 06.12.2020 - Hurricane Hardik Pandya seals it with 2 sixes in the last over

                                                 Man of the match Hardik Pandya

 

1st T20 - 04.12.2020 - Concussion Substitute Yuzvendra Chahal steals the show with his 3 wickets

 

हार्दिक,जाडेजा ,शार्दुल व बुमराह च्या खेळींनी अखेर थोडी स्मितरेषा उमटवली

स्टीव स्मिथ व समस्त कांगारू बंधुंनी अखेर अतिथ्थ्यशीलता दाखविली म्हणावे की काय ? सर्वार्थाने शांत , दाट झाडी व तळ्यांनी युक्त ऑस्ट्रेलिया ची राजधानी कॅनबेरा ला झालेल्या तिसर्‍या व अंतिम सामन्यात ,हा इतका छान फुल फॉर्मातला गडी स्टीव स्मिथ ३०३ धावांचापाठलाग करतांना १ बाद ५६ अशा स्थितीत  शार्दुल ठाकुरच्या लेगला जाणार्‍या निरुपद्रवी चेंडुवर यष्टीरक्षक राहुलकडे झेल देऊन फक्त ७ धावांवर बाद झाला .मुळातच जायबंदी डेविड वॉर्नर, पॅट कमिन्स व मिचेल स्टार्क ही संघात नव्हतेच. आपण दोन तीनदा झेल, सोपी धावबाद करण्याची भरपुर संधी देऊन देखील कर्णधार आरोन फिंच ने बाद व्हायचे प्रयत्न काही सोडले नव्हते व अखेर ७५ धावांवर २६ व्या षटकात १२३/४ वर तंबुत परतला. ह्यावेळेस मात्र २२ धावांवर स्लिप मध्ये केलेल्या मेहेरबानीची पुनरावृत्ती शिखर धवन ने धडपडत कशीतरी दुसऱया प्रयत्नात का होईना टाळली. त्यामुळे शिखरची ऑस्ट्रेलियन अर्धांगींनी फारशी नाराज नको व्हायला बिचार्‍यावर. मग यष्टीरक्षक डावखुर्‍या अलेक्स कॅरी चा प्रतिकार सोडल्यास, ग्लेन मॅक्सवेलचा च मोठा अडथळा होता. ३८ व्या षटकात ३०३ धावांचा पाठलाग करताना दबावाखाली येऊन कॅरी अखेर धावबाद झालाच. २१०/६. मॅड मॅक्स ग्लेन मॅक्सवेल नी नेहमीप्रमाणे स्पिनर जाडेजा व कुलदीप ला स्टेडीयम छतावरून बाहेर भिरकावत सामन्याची सुत्रे पुर्णपणे हातात घेतली, तेव्हा ३-० चा व्हाईट वॉश निश्चित वाटत होता. पण केवळ ३८ चेंडूत ४ षटकारांसह ५९ वर पोहचलेल्या ,नंतर कांगारू विजयासाठी  ३४ चेंडूत ३५ धावा इतके सोपे समीकरण असतानाही अति महत्वाकांक्षे मुळे म्हणा की ज्यादा आत्मविश्वास नडल्यामुळे असेल ,बुमराह च्या भेदक यॉर्कर ला कव्हर वरुन टोलावण्याचा प्रकार नडुन मॅक्सवेल ला त्रिफळाचीत व्हावे लागले. अलीकडे बळींचा दुष्काळ जाणवत असुनही जसप्रीत बुमराहने धिराने शांतपणे केलेल्या उत्कृष्ट गोलंदाजीलाही ह्याचे श्रेय द्यावेच लागेल.

तर हे सगळे असे असुनदेखील मालिका पराभवानंतर ,उशिरा का होईना झगडुन मिळवलेल्या १३ धावांच्या विजयाचे महत्व अजिबात कमी होत नाहीये . ह्या विजयाचे प्रमुख शिल्पकार अर्थातच हार्दिक पंड्या व रविंद्र जाडेजा .तसेच दौर्‍यावर प्रथमच संधी मिळालेले आक्रमक द्रुतगती गोलंदाज शार्दुल ठाकुर,नवोदित पदार्पणवीर नटराजन (सहा सामन्यांनातर भारताला पहिल्या दहा षटकांत बळी मिळवता आला ) , जसप्रीत बुमराह व अर्थातच गोलंदाजांना - मागच्या सामन्यातील अगदीच २-२ षटकांचे हफ्ते देणे अशासारख्या चुका टाळून - व्यवस्थित हाताळणारा कर्णधार विराट कोहली. बाकी विराट कडून कमीतकमी अर्धशतक तर आपण गृहितच  धरलेले असते ना. ह्यावेळेस ६३.  प्रथम फलंदाजी करतांना ५ बाद १५२ वर लागोपाठ चौथ्यांदा हेजलवूड ने विराट ला परत पाठविले तेव्हा सर्वांच्याच मनात ह्यावेळेस पण सगळ संपल्याची अशुभाची पाल चुकचुकली होतीच.पण निव्वळ फलंदाज म्हणुन खेळुन त्या कसोटीवार पुरेपुर उतरलेला हार्दिक पंड्या व गेले दोन एक वर्षांपासून आंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तरावर देखील आपले फलंदाजी चे नाणे खणखणीत वाजवणारा रविंद्र जाडेजा ( आठवा साक्षात धोनी लाही फिकी पाडणारी त्याची मागील विश्वचषकाच्या उपांत्य फेरीतील नेत्रदीपक खेळी ) ह्या जोडीचे इरादे बुलंद होते. ३२ व्या षटकापासून शांतपणे डावाची उभारणी करत ४० व्या षटकनंतर फलंदाजीतील आक्रमणाची धार वाढवत शेवटच्या ५ षटकांत तर ह्या जोडीने अक्षरश: धुमाकुळ घातला व मुक्तपणे चौफेर चौकार,षटकारांची बरसात करत ७६  धावा लुटल्या. केवळ १०८ चेंडूत एकुण १५० धावांची अभेदय भागीदारी करून ३०२ पर्यन्त मजल मारली व त्यायोगे  संपुर्ण भारतीय संघात विजयासाठी लढण्याची ईर्ष्या निर्माण केली. अशा प्रकारे अखेर मालिका निकाल ०-३ न होऊ देता १-२ असा केला. अर्थातच त्यामुळे  एकदिवशीय सामन्यांच्या लागोपाठ पाच पराभवांमुळे अगदीच गमवलेली भारतीय संघाची  थोडीफार प्रतिष्ठा परत मिळवत उर्वरित दौर्‍यासाठी  मनोबळ उंचवलेलेच राहील हे बघितले. उर्वरित तीन टीट्वेंटी व चार कसोटी सामन्यांसाठी भारतीय क्रिकेट रसिकांच्या अपेक्षा वाढविल्या हे मात्र नक्की.

 

 

प्रिय स्टीव स्मिथ व समस्त कांगारू बंधुंनो,

 ह्या स्टीव स्मिथ ला तेच तेच काम पुन्हा पुन्हा करायचा कंटाळा कसा तो येत नाही ? किती एकसूरीपणा असावा ना एखाद्याच्या व्यक्तिमत्वात. तेच मैदान, तेच प्रतिस्पर्धी, फिंच व वॉर्नर च्या सौजन्याने मिळालेली डावाची शतकी पायाभरणी ही साधारण तशीच. अगदी तसेच ते पुर्ण क्रीज मध्ये नाचत बागडत, कधीही विशेष प्रेक्षणीय नसलेले ,पण नेहमीप्रमाणे संघासाठी अतिशय उपयुक्त असे ते बरोब्बर ६२ चेंडूतच फटकावलेले तसेच आक्रमक शतक. डियर स्मिथ असा तोच तोच पण फक्त कसोटी सामन्यांमध्येच शोभतो ना .आणि भारतीयांना इतके दुखावून ,सारखे सारखे असे घायाळ करून कसे चालेल रे, परवडेल का तुला ते.भाऊ परत आय पी एल खेळायचे की नाही?तुला माहीत होते ना की सध्या आमच्या मुंबईकर अंबानींचा जायबंदी रोहित शर्मा व भुवनेश्वर कुमार आधीच संघात नाहीयेत.व आम्हाला २० एक षटकांचे जास्तीतजास्त दीड एक तासच क्षेत्ररक्षण, सगळीकडून छान छान खुप लाड होणार्‍या वातावरणात खेळायचीच सवय व आवड आहे.तरी सुद्धा इतका निष्ठुरपणा? मान्य आहे की मागच्या डिसेंबर २०१८ च्या दौर्‍याच्या वेळेस वॉर्नर ची चेंडू कुरतडण्याची कल्पना व त्यायोगे भोगत असलेल्या आय सी सी च्या शिक्षेमुळे तुम्हा दोघांनाही संघाबाहेर राहावे लागले होते.पण प्रिय स्टीव स्मिथ ,आम्ही तुला इतक्या मानानी  व भरपूर ``धना``नी अगदी कर्णधार पद वगैरे देऊन कुठेही आयपीएल जत्रा भरली तरी बोलवतो ना रे. ह्या सगळ्याची थोडीफार तरी जाणीव ठेवायची नारे. कित्ती कित्ती कृतघ्नपणा हा. काय तर म्हणे आम्ही पुर्णपणे व्यायसायिक खेळाडू, मग आम्ही नाही का? आम्ही किती छान लॉकडाऊन वगैरे वेगवेगळ्या तर्‍हेने फूल टु एंजॉय करून मस्तपैकी फक्त दुबई ,शारजा वारी करून तुमच्या पाहुणचाराला आलो तर हे काय चालवले आहेस तु भलतेच. ( बघ आमचा विराट जानेवारीत परत शेवटच्या तीन  एक कसोटी सामन्यांवर पाणी सोडुन – पालकत्वाची रजा – असे भारदस्त नाव देऊन आमच्या नाजुक अनुष्का बरोबर असणार आहे ; जसे काही गावस्कर वगैर पुर्वीचे बाप व पालक म्हणुन अगदीच बेफिकीर होते ना. तरी बरं जगभर धुमाकूळ घालण्यार्‍या तेज तर्रार गोलंदाजाचा सामना त्यांनी कायम विनाहेलमेट च केल्यामुळे अजुनही जगभर त्यांना सगळेच  ``बाप माणुस`` म्हणतात. असो काळाचा महिमा, दुसरे काय , तर तो मुद्दा वेगळा, ते राहुदे ).

आता बुधवारच्या सामन्यात वॉर्नर नसणार – क्षेत्ररक्षण करताना जायबंदी वगैरे झाल्यामुळे. इथेही मला हे अजून समजत नाहीये की इतकी छान ८३ धावांची धुवांधार खेळी करून परत एकदा जवळपास दीडशे धावांची मजबुत पायभरणी करुन ३८९ धावांचा डोंगर उभा केल्यावर देखील, कोणी इतक मनापासून, जीव काढून , दुखापतीची पर्वा न करता क्षेत्ररक्षण करत असतं का . दोन चार धावा  इकडे तिकडे झाल्या तर असा काय विशेष फरक पडणार होता निकालात ? निदान प्रत्येक आयपीएल मध्ये तुला डोक्यावर घेणार्‍या कट्टर चाहत्यांचा तरी थोडाफार विचार करायचास ना रे. आमचे बघ ना इतके जगातले सर्वोत्कृष्ट ,सर्वात फीट तंदुरुस्त क्षेत्ररक्षक सुद्धा दोन पायांच्या बोगद्यातुन इतक्या धावा  सोडतात, तरीही रविदादा , ते स्वत: ,आम्ही कोणीच विशेष मनावर घेत नाही.असो तर आरोन फिंच व समस्त कांगारू बंधुनो, कृपया आम्हा सगळ्या कोट्यवधी भारतीयांना, जाहिरातदारांना, जागतिक दर्जाच्या ब्रांडेड खेळाडूंना ह्या अभुतपूर्व करोना महामारी त्रस्त वातावरणात तरी थोडाफार दिलासा मिळेल असे पहाना प्लीज . तेव्हढ ह्या तिसर्‍या व अखेरच्या सामन्यात तरी. आम्हाला परत नव्या जोमानी पिटायला अजुन टी ट्वेन्टी व झालेच तर नंतरही चार कसोटी सामने आहेतच ना. आमच्यातला वाघ जागवलात तर बघा हं, केव्हाना केव्हा यालाच ना परत आमच्या परसात , गल्लीत खेळायला.

असो तर मग समस्त आत्मनिर्भर ,आतिथ्यशील, भावनाप्रधान , टी व्ही वेड्या घरबैठया चाहत्यांच्या भावना तुमच्यापर्यंत पोहचल्या असतीलच. अपेक्षा पुर्तीच्या प्रतीक्षेत आहोत. भेटु या परत बुधवार , २ डिसेंबर ला तुमच्या राजधानीत कॅनबेरा ला, तिकडे सगळं शांत आहे ना...

                                                

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