Maiden Over: December 2014

For the past 9 years or so, at some point of time, all the wicketkeepers in India must have wondered whether they have chosen a wrong profession. Such is the flair of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. One big brand ambassador of cricket, A destructive batsman, Captain cool, A man with midas touch. A revolution in Indian cricket.

Who would have ever believed that India would be No.1 in ICC test rankings. The sudden announcement by MSD to retire was disappointing at one level and surprising too. It was somewhere coming soon, but never expected it to happen in between the series. Maybe knowing that series was already lost must have triggered him to take such decision.

When Dhoni took over the Captaincy, he probably had the best team ever India had and India henceforth rosed to the pinnacle of test rankings. It seem to have lost it in the last two years where Dhoni and his team suffered white wash at Australia and England.

#SARCASM

But now when he has retired, Who can replace him? Or Do we have a replacement? Getting in Wriddhiman Saha or Dinesh Karthik is our best available option. With Dhoni gone, India needs someone like Yuvraj Singh in the middle lower order to play with the lower batsmen. With three back to back centuries in Ranji, I hope selectors are watching.

Speaking to Wisden India, Indian cricket team director Ravi Shastri described how Dhoni conveyed the decision to his teammates. He said: “Dhoni came to cricket like a tiger and left like a lion. When he walked into the dressing-room, got the team together and said what he had to, he caught us all off guard. There were no dramas, he just said, very openly, ‘I can’t play all formats anymore, so I’m announcing my retirement from Tests.’

“He has always been someone who will do what he wants to, and he stayed true to that till the last moment. To have the guts to say to his team that he could not go on playing all formats, it tells you how honest he is with himself and his mates.”

He added: “He did not think about playing 100 Tests and celebrating that, he did not worry about what people might say. He knew the time was right and the respect for him has just gone to another level within the team. For every cricketer, you know in your heart when your number is up. But it still takes a lot to walk away. To do what he did, the way he did it, all his career, it’s something people in all walks of life should reflect on. Someone once called me the champion of champions, but, to me, Dhoni is the real champion of champions.”

Somewhere Dhoni has too many haters for getting in too many Chennai Superkings player in the Indian National Team. But then he has to be respected for giving India the crown of World Champions in all the formats.

Let us all thank Mahendra Singh Dhoni as wish him luck to defend the World cup in 2015.

A Nature Enthusiast. Spending weekends with nature. For me hiking, trekking, rock climbing enjoy more priority than late night clubbing. Yet another weekend,Yet another trek! This time it was Sudhagad. Sudhagad fort is believed to have been in existence since 200 BC. The first reference of Sudhagad is in the year 1436 when the Bahamani Sultan won over the fort. In 1657 the fort came under the control of Marathas.

My Pinnacle Group had planned a trek to this nature bound place! Sudhagad! Reached Pali village, Base village of this fort! Had a quick introduction of every person and we were now ready for the trek. Along with the ropes and latches, one thing is a must to carry for the survival. The Mountain Dew. Like the tag line says, Rise Above Fear!

Sudhaghad Peak.

A tricky situation, moreover a challenging situation for us was about to come. The trek leader told us that two of the group members were suppose to reach Pali village from opposite way,ie Pune. It made no sense for the complete group to wait for the other two late latifs to arrive. So the group decided to move ahead. Being one of the experienced trekkers, Davesh Sharma, Pratik More and I decided to stay back at the base point untill they both arrive.

Group walks ahead leaving we three behind.

Not at all surprising that we had no networks in our cellphones! Good we had some great stock of Mountain dew to break down the heat. Spent almost 45 minutes more at the base camp waiting for other 3,we had no other option but to move ahead with the trek. Waiting at the base camp for 45 mins means that we were lagging behind the group by 45 minutes and also that we didnt had anyone to guide us the way as it was simply a very densed jungle! Inshort We were screwed! Surely a Challenging task for us!

Here began our trek. We had to be quick so that we cover the 45 minutes lapse and also make sure we walk the right way or else we were sure to be lost in the dense Sahyadris.

Here we began our run to catch up with the group.

We kept walking in the direction which our group headed! For our convenience the group members had made various direction marks in the jungle, guiding us the way. Every moment we felt we were lost...we kept searching for the clues. And finally at a point of time,we were lost! All we had was a motivation to Rise Above Fear.

Spent more 5-10 mins searching for a clue and then realized we were already misleaded long back when we considered a stick as a clue for us but it wasn't a clue. Didn't know what to do! No network in our cellphones to contact the group. Tensed! Finally we came up with an idea which Maulas of Shivaji maharaj used to communicate when lost in Jungle. Scientifically proven, the pitch "AeeeOOOO" travels longer than any other made sound. So we kept yelling Aeeooo in all directions and wait for the reply to come. Sign of relief! The Group heard our voice and responded the same Aeeoo! We followed the direction from where the voice came. This happened for next 15-20 minutes.

And now again came a challenge. We Shouted Aeeooo and when the response came we three pointed 3 different directions. We didn't know from where the sound was coming because of the echo. We were lost again!! By fluke we decided to move in a particular direction. Surprisingly that turned to be right one! Kept walking ahead and then later realised that we three were walking on the opposite side to the group with a dried waterfall and a river 20 feet deep in between.

Here came another challenge! We had no ropes and required instruments but were suppose to rappel down 20 feets,cross dried river and again climb 20 feets. Now thats surely a challenging Task!Building some great faith within us,having few sips of Mountain Dew, we rappelled down without ropes and then climbed the opposite side.

Was surely a tough task! But we went through it! And finally we had covered the lapsed 45 minutes and met the group. The smiles on our faces were huge. We had done it!