Return of the Prodigal...

It's been over one year, one year and four days to be exact (ref: heart of a champion), when I promised to myself, that I would never to watch Indian cricket again...but I really couldn't!! As the Men in [Black and] Blue played one series after another..I realized I had lost the interest in the game.. the passion I had for the team was no longer there.

Honest talks had given way to 'SPEAKING RIGHT'...the huddle had given itself away to petty politics..just one big muck and a lot of mud slinging..finally when the team was cremated four to nothing during the African safari..it was time for the return of the Prodigal

Out of the airplane to the ground, and then a courageous 83 to boot that, set the tone for the revival of Indian cricketing fortunes. Young hearts took cue, and there we saw the most amazing turnaround, shepherding the tail brilliantly, the Indian team responded with their first victory at Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The first test was another witness to the strength 'SOURAV GANGULY' brings to the team, especially to those with burning fire in their hearts and we all know how the next Sree [after our very dear Srinath of yore], responded beautifully after Ganguly's resplendent innings.

Just to quote Muhammed Ali .."Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."

But for dada..the match was never even.

The heart of a champion

There were countless thoughts in his mind, but he had to let them be, he could not rely on them now! There was no time for it. He needed to be strong, strong at heart. He had to muster all he had. There were too many of them, too many heartless people thirsting for his failure. Some were people in great power, and some were those who LOVE to hate.

They were just a bunch of ruthless people, all waiting to finish him.

Vulnerable, we are but mortals, all of us have our weakness.

The opposition erupted into raptures, as a lone figure walked into the field. His enemies smirked, knowing this was their day.

He had a weakness and the opposition knew it all too well.

Though his thoughts were weighing him down, his heart was true. He fought them hard, giving his enemies no respite. Light was slowly giving away to darkness, but the warrior was firm.

On the other side, his comrade were felled ruthlessly .

Finally darkness clouded over, it was time for rest.

They had failed to finish him.

The battle began early next day. The early morning was the perfect time to exploit the warrior’s weakness. They tried, tried hard, but to no avail. He had battled them all too well.

But, suddenly, the champion fell. Fall, did he, but not before wearing down his enemies, not before he had put his side to safety.

He was my hero for years, and always will be. He had the heart of a fighter and the spirit of a champion. A great leader and a just man. He had taken charge of a group of directionless souls, and moulded them into a great unit. He has too many enemies now. Sooner or later, they are bound to prevail, but for me, he lives on.

Thus goes a quote ‘Everybody loves to see a hero fall’. But not this time..not this time.