Rumour has it ...

When there is a tournament like world cup going on in India, there are bound to be few rumors floating around. Here's a look at some of the interesting rumors a little birdie has been chirping around.

• Canada, Zimbabwe and Kenya all very keen to tour England after world cup: Namibia is also considering it very seriously. All their players have been requested to take sick leaves in their real jobs. Word has spread; England really want to promote cricket in non test playing nations
• A batsman edged a ball; Kamran Akmal caught it. ICC to preserve the video for future generations to see and marvel at.
  
• Bipasha attended a match between India and England, where reporters asked her before the match who she is supporting. She said "ofcourse !! Mumbai Indians...."
  
• When asked Deepika about her reaction on Bipasha's statement, Deepika replied "Poor Bips, she doesn't know that this isn't a T20 match. We are into the 22nd over of the match. This is clearly a test match. I've learnt so much about cricket from Siddharth in the past few weeks."
  
• Shilpa Shetty has asked her assistant to see who owns the team Netherlands and what in the world that team name means.
  

Few more to come when the little birdie visits again :)

Jana Gana Mana...

I don't think there will be many that disagree with this. There are few things that happen automatically when we are about to hear those magical words. First we literally drop everything we are doing and stand up. Then we observe our heart beat go up at a racing speed. We automatically start singing along. Next 55 seconds go without any thought before we can blink an eye.

It is so refreshing to hear the national anthems before the start of the match. I don't know when it started but it is an absolutely amazing experience for everybody including those who are about to play and those who are about to watch the match.

It gives me great joy to stand up with our team during our national anthem and to share the adrenaline that must be pumping all over the place with everybody. I wonder after attending the national anthem anybody has changed their mind about match fixing or spot fixing at the last moment :) Well If that doesn't give the players a feeling of playing for country, nothing ever will.

And it doesn't make a difference whether you are an avid cricket lover or you are an internally ignorant about it. It just takes everybody along with it. And to add a cherry on top, then they show Sachin with hand over heart honoring our beloved 'Jana Gana Mana' with all sincerity. What more can we ask for before the match even starts? :)

The stuff dreams are made of...

There are no hopes; no expectations from the team. Just a bunch of losers wasting their time they say. It just gets worse after every game adding fuel to people's already furious sentiments. It all seems just so wrong and hopeless.

We all have seen sports movies which start with this premise haven't we ? Sure there are minor changes and variations but the basic plot remains the same.

And just when it seems there is no future; and everything seems to be lost, out of nowhere there comes the hero who completely changes the game with his inspirational performance and leadership. It just takes one such flash of brilliance to change the way their people perceive the game. Same bunch of people flock the pubs to watch the match and the wave of excitement just takes everybody with it, just like a breeze of fresh air in the hot afternoon.

Sounds dreamy, doesn't it? because it is. Its called a dream for a reason because not everybody can live it in real life.

And that is why the special knock by Kavin O'brien against England the other day was such a treat. It is not everyday we get to see somebody live the very dream that must have crossed everybody's mind at one point or other; of being THE hero; snatching the victory literally from the doors of defeat and saving the day for the country.

It was all over for Ireland at 111 for 5 chasing more than 320. When he came to the crease the fate was already sealed and packed. Most people had already left the stadium and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the irish storm hit the English players in the middle. It was as unexpected as Irish weather and as emphatic and head-on as their beer.

Before English players could realize what was happening with them, Kevin had written an amazing script with a very happy ending for Ireland leaving England literally high and dry.

I think the only thing that proved it real and short of a movie was the fact that there was no heroin waiting for the hero at sidelines all the while cheering for him with tears in her eyes and smile on the face.

Well Kavin, you the man !! That's the stuff dreams are made of and we, the sports fans thank you for living it for us.