All hail, Sebastian Vettel

          It's official. We have a new legend. Maybe I'm jumping to a conclusion, but it will be difficult to forget a man once he has won three successive world championships. He has joined the league of Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher, whom we are not very likely to forget. Ever.
          Meet Vettel. He has survived it all at 25 - being hit by a youngster on the first corner, braved an FIA determined to stifle the making of legends and to keep the tournament competitive, worked his way up the grid, kept pressure at bay to win his maiden championship as a rank outsider... he is no kid. That was proven when, after he won his first race with Toro Rosso, he replied to a question as to whether this was the best moment of his life. I leave it to you to find out what he said.

          I consider myself lucky to have watched the final race of 2012. Newspapers call it an incident-packed race - I call it a thriller with all elements. Two contenders, home support for one's teammate, rain, accidents, a first-lap setback, safety cars, an unexpected lead for one making up the numbers, bittersweet endings. It had them all.

          The all-powerful FIA considers it its job to ensure the competetiveness of F1 and thereby ensuring that legends are not created. The Schumacher-Ferrari combination was getting too lethal for them to bear, so they changed the tyre rules to counter his mastery over them. Vettel dominated the 2011 season with the blown diffuser, which was subsequently banned. This year, the pioneer Adrian Newey, the man behind Red Bull's and Vettel's speed, introduced the double DRS. I am sure that it will be banned before long.

          But for now, Vettel is the man. Watch him as he adds to his 'youngest to...' records and sets more 'only one to...' ones.

Domestic cricket needs help

          I had gone over to the MAC stadium here on Sunday, to pop in at the Tamil Nadu - Karnataka Ranji Trophy game for a couple of hours. There were about 50-60 people there, who seemed to be spending a lazy Sunday morning rather than watching with interest. There was polite applause for every boundary (there was a six and a few fours) and some good pieces of fielding. The TN twelfth man came over and signed a few autographs for some excitable schoolkids. It seemed like the idyllic setting Ted Corbett keeps describing in his columns - chilled-out cricketers in whites, green grass, sun, quiet, animals (yes, the mandatory dog visited the stadium), it hardly seemed like the cricket-crazy nation we proudly describe ourselves as.
           The Ranji Trophy is no longer the basis of selection, or the dream of youngsters. It is a tournament played for the sake of playing. Players like Robin Bist have been excelling in it for seasons and they are not in the India squad, while it just took an IPL century for Manish Pandey to make the cut. Most don't know last season's winner and can't name six players from their state's squad, but can recite World Cup winners, runners-up and hosts from 1975 and know the India team backwards. Englishmen rooting for Somerset and Yorkshire and Australians proudly supporting Queensland and New South Wales are poles apart from us.
           The villain is the usual, the IPL. Youngsters now dream of winning the IPL with CSK or RCB or KKR after bowling four decent overs, not lifting the Ranji Trophy after sending down twenty hard-fought overs. The thought of Indians bowling to each other does not incite passions like it used to. In T20, a battle between bat and ball, a batsman and a bowler, won't last more than a few balls. (Ever heard anyone say, 'I'm going to watch MI vs KKR because I want to see Narine bowl to Sachin') I find the idea of Zaheer battling it out with Sehwag, for 10 overs more inviting.
           A group of young individuals to popularize the Ranji Trophy and draw fans to the stadium will be a great help to players, fans, India and the game.
           Happy Deepavali.

Poof!

          Poof! That was me blowing the dust off this page. I am indeed writing less and less often, and that has nothing to do with any lack of activity in the sports world. In fact, things are hotting up in various sports, from cricket to cycling to the age-old mudslinging game of Indian politicians, of whom Arvind Kejriwal is the newest.
          One long-awaited reformation which is taking place is the welcoming back of Pakistani cricketers in India. Harmless venues like my own Chennai have been nominated to host the one-day games. Choosing Mumbai or Mohali would be dangerous to all in the picture, so the decision is wise, even if not bold. This despite the fact that last year Pakistan played India in Mohali in a smooth semifinal where Misbah-ul-haq reiterated the fact that however useful he may be otherwise, he manages to goof against India.
          India and Pakistan remind me of neighbours who seldom speak or visit each other, and study the sky and floor tiles when meeting in the lift lobby.
          Even Nike has dumped Lance Armstrong after facing heaps of insurmountable evidence.
          Mark Clattenburg defeated Chelsea 3-2.
          Sachin Tendulkar received the Order of Australia.
          Big names are to use the Ranji Trophy as a warm-up to their test of character, the England series.
          Lionel Messi, as usual, looks the Ballon d'Or favourite. Some people, however talented, (think Manuel Neuer, Didier Drogba) are only making up the numbers. We all know who will win.
          This blog has missed a lot. I hope to cut the deficit next time.
          Till then.

A hero turned zero and a conundrum

          It has been a long time since I wrote. It has also been a long time since the USADA denounced Lance Armstrong a cheat. While I am now doing something about the former, I am yet to get over the latter. Millions of people have idolized the iconic cyclist, millions have patronized his foundation by proudly donning a yellow Livestrong wristband, millions have been given strength and inspiration by his victory over cancer, a victory of epic proportions hitherto unmatched. (If Yuvraj Singh can win seven Cricketer of the Year awards, that would come pretty close. But Lance did it first) And those millions got, through various sources, the textual equivalent of a slap on the face.

          The case against Armstrong is, well, strong. Witnesses close to him have come forth and testified. But bear in mind that Armstrong never tested positive in his career. The USADA has, in turn, accused him of taking substances that show up in the bloodstream only for 12 hours, and imagine athletes being called in for testing every twelve hours. Armstrong declined to contest the decision, an indication, according to some, that he is guilty. To me, it only means he is tired of fighting it out in court year after year. This saga has been on for too long. Guilty or not, it is best to stop fighting when a board is determined to expose you as a villain. But if he is guilty, the best thing to do is to come out and admit it, as the world 'knows' it anyway.

          Cut to a sport closer home. The series win against New Zealand was a bittersweet one. We all know that it is far easier to win at home than away, and all we have discovered through the series is that our boys are comfortable playing on pitches they have played on all their lives. We have found two new duos - Kohli-Pujara and Ashwin-Ojha - who may be the safe hands the future of Indian cricket needs. But there is one conundrum we are better off leaving to the Mensa.

          Should Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar continue being on the team lists? He has occupied a place in them for over 20 years; is he being selfish or self-assured, in holding his place in the team? When he has just been bowled three times in a row after a long time, when his footwork is looking less refined, when his ton of tons refuse to stop being celebrated, what should he do? Many are saying he should play as long as he enjoys the game, but I'm sure someone like Sunil Gavaskar does not love cricket any less. I feel he should give his bat a rest forever when he feels he is giving the team less than a possible replacement could. I am no one to judge - he should decide. Let us all pray that he decides right.



The biggest sporting extravaganza

          It's been a while! The last time I posted here, Federer was the best tennis player around, undisputed. No one could beat him, least of all the perennial loser, Andy Murray! What could he do? Especially at home! He was just a nearly man. He would never win anything. Federer was as good as it gets. The thought of him losing, especially in straight sets, was so ridiculous it never crossed anyone's mind. Least of all the vanquished, Andy Murray.
          Really? The desire to beat Federer on grass must have been on his mind for a while. And if he couldn't do it in Wimbledon, he had another chance in just a couple of weeks - the Olympics! What better time for revenge!
          Federer was obviously sapped after his marathon match with Juan Martin del Potro. He would have loved a rest, I would in that situation at least, but no. He had to play an Olympic gold medal match before adoring fans - of Murray. Federer may be a great man, but he's still a man! He was felled, after a long while.
          Other lead stories are, of course, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, who, in the space of two or three Games, have achieved the status of Legends. Phelps, of course, is justified, being the most decorated Olympian ever. Bolt, with his trademark action and blinding speed, is a fans' favourite. It also helps that he competes in the men's 100m, which is one of the more 'important' sports in the Games. (An Olympic record in judo, for instance, will not be as celebrated.)
          India flattered to deceive. As of now, not one gold. One silver and three bronzes. Hardly something to be proud of for a nation with more people than almost all others. The problem lies in the fact that (you know what I'm going to say!) we love cricket too much and everything else too less. We see cricket coaching centres and camps wherever we look; boys on the street are not seen playing anything else. When was the last time you drove past a archery coaching camp? We wake up to these sports when Olympics or Asiads come around and forget them the next day.
         It's hard to fight a mentality. But let's savour the international athletes. Nothing like a well-executed high jump.

Federer plots a Graf

          It has been a week since Roger Federer walked off Centre Court as Wimbledon champion for the seventh time. And as a Grand Slam winner, the best of 128 players, for a mind-boggling 17th time. The Slams simply dried up after January 2010, two and a half years ago. Novak Djokovic dumped on-court mimicry for titles. As his mother put it, 'Earlier it was Rafa, Roger, Rafa, Roger, now it's Novak, Novak, Novak..' Rafael Nadal grabbed the two available French Open titles. It is almost a given now - 128 men travel to Paris and Nadal wins.
          But Roger was the consistent loser. He never left before the quarters, but never left a winner. I was one among many who wrote him off as a has-been. But he pushed on, knowing he would win again, not hanging up his racquet just yet.
          And what better place to redeem himself than his adopted home, Wimbledon. In front of a polite crowd, appreciative of the genius he was displaying that day. Which brings me to the final. Andy Murray was the man on the other side of the net. (You think the next sentence will have the words 'first', 'British', 'man', 'Fred', 'Perry' and 1936 in it. I will spare you this most repeated piece of history in recent times.) The crowd was behind Murray, but some odd shouts in support of Federer could be heard. Federer had reached the summit clash having blown away the likes of Djokovic and Youzhny. Murray had braved Tsonga. He broke Federer early in the first set and went on to take it.
           Federer, never one to be walked over, bounced back to take set two. After two games in the third, the clouds opened to bless Federer. The Swiss accepted the blessings and romped his way to the set in progress and the next. Like Steffi Graf, he got around backhands to unleash his lethal forehand. He lifted the trophy, his long-time friend of ten years.
           British hearts were broken, but they got to see vintage Federer as a splendid compensation. Murray, the nearly man, praised his tormentor and thanked his crew between sobs. Federer was certain his vanquished opponent will win at least one Grand Slam some day. And I am certain that day will not arrive as long as Federer is playing this way.

The reign of Spain

          It's confirmed, for those who still weren't sure. Spain is the best international team at the moment. Take away Villa. Take away Puyol. Why, let boss del Bosque not play a proper striker at all. They are still the very best we have and we can relish that.
          That a team can win by the biggest margin in Euro final history without a striker is mind-boggling. I'm looking for apt words for blogging. Italy, famed for their defence, simply fell apart when it mattered. Stalwarts like Pirlo, Buffon and Cassano and stars like Balotelli had to walk past the Euro trophy without being allowed to lay a finger on it because they had not earned it, and because they were facing the best team in the world. The verve and resolve they showed in the same match-up three weeks ago vanished without a trace.
          Sure, Italy had a tad more possession in the first half. But possession does not win games. Ask Barcelona and Chelsea. Italy were unable to convert holding the ball into putting the ball into the net and they were penalised by Spain for it.
         Xavi defied his mounting age to send Jordi Alba a splendid through ball, which was promptly converted to a goal. Nearly half an hour earlier, David Silva had put the Spaniards ahead with a header that immediately found Cesc Fabregas's cross. The Italians were facing the same situation, scorewise, as the Germans three days earlier, but this time against a team several notches higher. They held out for a long while in the second half, but substitute Torres had what it took to put the seal on Spain's third Euro win. Mata, who had hardly been on for a minute, piled on the misery, slotting home Torres's pass into an empty net.
         Pirlo and Balotelli, both of whom had great tournaments, shed tears. They had defied expectations to get this far. To buckle this badly at the final hurdle would have been very painful. Had one mistake cost them on penalties, it would have been even more heartbreaking.
         Spain even bagged all the individual awards: Golden Boot (Torres - 3 goals, 1 assist), Man of the Tournament (Andres Iniesta) and Statistical Best (Sergio Ramos). But it is their team play which has left the world gasping.
         Spain's next test will be the FIFA Confederations Cup next year. They will face host Brazil and the winners of the competitions in other confederations, like Uruguay, Japan, Mexico and Tahiti. The Confederations Cup is the traditional warm-up to the FIFA World Cup the following year. Should they win, they will consolidate their position as World Cup favourites.
         Their critics have been silenced again. Tongues will wag again come next June. Till then, Spain is simply the best.

Germany still perfect

          Germany still haven't lost a Euro match, qualifying or finals, since the final heartbreak in Vienna four long years ago. The latest of these many wins has been a 4-2 humbling of Greece, who seemed like making giant-killing a habit. Greece, having never lost a Euro knockout and having never beaten the efficient Germans, went into the game with nothing to lose. They came out with heads bowed, ruing their shaky second-half defence.
          Six different people found the net on Friday night, five being splendid open-play goals and one neatly taken penalty. Germany pressed hard for nearly forty minutes before Lahm put the Mannschaft ahead. It stayed that way till half-time. After the break, Germany looked surprisingly sloppy, losing the ball easily and not winning tackles. Six minutes post the interval, Samaras pulled debt-ridden Greece level. That jolted Germany into action - they began attacking sharply again, and it wasn't long before Khedira restored Germany's lead. The match was only half over! The floodgates opened - Miro Klose headed in a simple one after the Greek goalkeeper came forward clumsily. Speaking of which, I doubt if he made a single clean catch, he always seemed to spill and then regain the ball. Newbie Marco Reus smashed one in after the keeper denied Klose and fell. It was all over for Greece, 4-1 down, but they managed to salvage a little pride towards the end. An unintentional Boateng handball gave Greece a penalty, coolly slotted home by Salpingidis. But the 'debt derby' had gone the way of favourite Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel watched with obvious pride.
          Tonight Spain and France battle to face Portugal, and the lethal Ronaldo, in the first semifinal. Spain looked rather tentative in the group stage, a shadow of the dominant figure of the past four years. But this can change very quickly. France, having won the last six games between the two, will look to exploit the defensively weak Spaniards. They have in their ranks Ribery, who made the Champions League final with Bayern, and Nasri, English champions with Manchester City. Spain needs no introduction - just take a look at the Spanish players of Barcelona and there you are. Add to this an in-form Torres and the best goalie at the moment, Casillas, and you have a world-class team.
          The great games we see all around may vanish next time round, as the next edition in France will welcome 24 teams, not 16. This will dilute the quality, no doubt, and will possibly mean a second group stage after the first.This clumsy format is Platini's brainchild.
          Anyway, let us savour these mouth-watering clashes as they are around now. Happy watching.

Mid-Euro Musings

          We are halfway through the group stage of the Euro this year, and one team has really stood out. I am an unabashed Germany fan, let me clarify right away, and that team is Germany. They are the only team to register two wins so far. They have faced tough opponents - namely Portugal spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, who can be fatal if he wants to, and the Netherlands, featuring stars like Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt. Strangely, though, they are not yet completely assured of a place in the last eight - if they are toppled by Denmark and Portugal win against the Netherlands, the group will be decided on goal difference. But seeing that their next opponent is relative minnows Denmark, that should not be a problem. Not to forget that Denmark beat the second favourites.
          Some players have looked great as well. Mario Gomez, Alan Dzagoev and Mario Mandzukic jointly top the scoring charts, the former finally breaking his jinx for his national side in important games. Andriy Shevchenko, no less than 35, scored twice in a come-from-behind win for his host team Ukraine. Fernando Torres was half the scoresheet is Spain's 4-0 thrashing of Ireland.
           Notable absentees so far have been Villa, Lampard and Puyol (injury), Gotze and Mata (Bench) and Rooney (Red card in qualifying). All of them would have lit up the games so far. But none is missed quite as much, especially by fans of Barcelona, as Lionel Messi.
          Paul the Octopus, watching from up in the heavens, will definitely be amused to see his countless successors trying to emulate his 100% record two years ago. Animals from many countries, including an elephant, monkey and parakeet have tried their hand. But none is quite as iconic as Paul, who created the field of animal predictors of games.
          Apart from the lightness, there is the serious issue of racism and fan misbehaviour to consider. Black players of the Dutch team were abused during training and Czech Theo Gebre Selassie by Russian fans during ther opening match. With many countries fielding players who are black or of mixed race, the problem could recur. It doesn't help that the UEFA has stated that players leaving the field due to racist abouse will be yellow-carded. Does that mean they should tolerate it and stay on? Is it their fault they take offence and wish to leave? It is in the hands of the UEFA, the body presiding over the event, and the associations of the national teams, who influence their fans, to stop this age-old problem. Also, supporters have thrown things onto the pitch.
           But in terms of winners, nothing is clear. The team with most wins so far has looked tentative and error-ridden in the penalty box. Spain are finding their feet. England and France are yet to play the minnows of the group. Netherlands, who has a mathematical chance, are wounded and will want to give it their all. It is also possible that all these falter when crunch matches loom and a less-fancied team will take the cup home. Who will throw the biggest party come July?

A unique experience and Euro 2012

          Few people not from the mass media or a sponsor company get to attend a press conference. More so if the person is all of 14 and the sportsman being grilled is giving his first PC in his home country after having sealed a world championship title abroad for the fifth time. Which is why I consider myself really lucky to have managed this on Sunday.
          Viswanathan Anand made his appearance shortly after 11, for an event organised by his main sponsor, of which my father is a part. He addressed youngsters about many things, including a blow-by-blow account of the eighth regulation game, which was the turning point of the match. The holder was a point down and needed a win to not trail and put more pressure on himself. He won in just 17 moves, a record, the small number also making it easier to go through for the students. (What if he had chosen the 77-move second tiebreak game?) This was followed by a brief autograph and picture session.
          Some time later, the press arrived in large numbers. TV channels were to beam the PC live, and set up their cameras and slung their mikes over the speakers. Print media people took a seat and whipped out their writing material, armed with the press release. The cameramen stationed themselves behind a row of chairs. Photographers knelt abominably close to the stage, standing up when the champion arrived and blocking view of all present. They also took a keen interest in his wife Aruna, who was also there.
          The humble star spoke for a while, again going through the seventh game, this time with a tad more detail. He then sat down and answered the myriad questions from the press. The questions ranged from retirement to family to Kasparov, and the articulate 43-year-old answered most of them. Some were asked and answered in Tamil.
         Many answers were laced with humour, while some dealing with Kasparov's comments showed displeasure. As is with many aging sportspeople, the question of retirement reared up again and again. Some were as inane and how the man felt on winning it for the fifth time. Some were probing, some were unnecessary. But Anand handled them with ease and grace. He did not at all seem tired or jetlagged, he looked like a champion.
          Turning to a more popular sport, there are no outstanding favourites for the Euro this year. Sure, Spain as holders are very formidable, but they are missing Villa and Puyol. Torres and Pique look out of sorts. Xavi and Iniesta, the team's core, are aging. They had a flawless qualifying campaign but that does not indicate that they will perform against big names.
          The Netherlands, with their starry line-up, look strong as ever. Robin van Persie has come off a great season with Arsenal, albeit trophyless. Arjen Robben made two finals with Bayern Munich, but missed penalties have hurt him hard. They will be wanting revenge after their World Cup final loss after extra time.
          Germany's midfield is peerless. Many players have been picked from Bayern and league champs Borussia Dortmund. The young talent is hard to miss. Joachim Low, the young coach, will be yearning to crack the Spain puzzle which cost them the last Euro and a spot in the World Cup final. Though the Champions League loss will still be hanging over the Bayern players, Schweinsteiger in particular, they have the power to shake it off and win a first major since 1996.
          Don't rule France and Italy out either. Both have found young talent and will want to make the world forget their group stage exits in the World Cup. If France have Ribery, Nasri and Benzema, Italy have Balotelli, Cassano, di Natale and Pirlo. Italy in particular will look to overcome the fixing scandal which has attacked the Serie A. England have the power to make it to maybe the last eght, but missing Lampard, Cahill and Barry for the tournament and Rooney for the first two games will hit them hard.
          And the unpredictable may happen like it did in 2004 and 1992. That is the reason the likes of Croatia and Sweden play. Never underestimate a team like they all did back then. Always be ready for a surprise.
          The party begins Friday. Who's your winner?

IPL 2012 - A mixed bag

          Like any long tournament, the IPL has had its highs, lows, great moments, times when you want to simply strangle someone and times when you turn off the TV in boredom. Times when you take one look at the snaking queue in the stadium and wish you could jump it. Times when you simply don't know which team to support. Times when you feel hopes are hanging by a hair - but that hair is (Garnier) long and strong and gets you through.
          On the field, some shots have simply taken out breath away. Vijay, due a big one, fired in the second qualifier with some scintillating ones. Gayle as usual punished bowlers, erring or otherwise, with his muscly ruthless shots. Delhi's Warner, Sehwag and Pietersen were having a good time as well. Of course, good balls are present too, despite the odds being stacked against the bowlers. Speedsters Morkel, Dale Steyn and Malinga contained and took wickets, while spinners Narine, Mishra and Muralitharan in parts and some other flashes have shone. Fielding - Steve Smith with his dives could be the next Jonty Rhodes, while CSK as a team showed good commitment.
          There were a large number of last-over and last-ball finishes, so much so that some even became suspicious. But some thrillers were worth hearing the criticism. CSK had a part to play in many of them - against RR, RCB and MI.
          A number of off-field events marred the IPL. I shall not go into them in detail because they have been analysed to death over the past few weeks. But if they want the fan following to remain and not walk away disillusioned, the authorities need to step up the control and security.
         Many players seem to enjoy using unparliamentary language when celebrating and former players have voiced their displeasure against this. A win, wicket or century is a time to smile and enjoy, not negatively influence youngsters watching the game! This gives a feeling that the happiness experienced by the player is a competitive, furious joy, not clean happy thrill. Of course, there is also swearing at an opponent, which is again because of all the attention, high stakes, pressure... and TV cameras.
          Some up-and-coming stars are being noticed, hopefully they will prove their worth in the longer formats. Bowling 24 good deliveries or hitting around for a few overs is not a good parameter for genuine talent. More attention should be focused on the Ranji Trophy games to look for young talent. The good young players unearthed in the IPL should be trained properly for longer periods to groom their skills.
          People have begun to speak about IPL 6, and many are looking to the Champions League. And of course the World Twenty20 will be upon us in a few months. Love it, hate it, there is no running away from the shortest form of the game.

CSK develops a good habit

          Like any good five-year-old, the CSK side has begun to develop a good habit. Here, it's not daily brushing or weekly nail-cutting, but an almost-yearly sojourn to the final. This time, like the others, it has been done in style, with a whopping 86-run win over table-toppers Delhi Daredevils. Murali Vijay stole the show with a blitz century, indiscriminately massacring the bowlers.
          Delhi's daredevilry hit them hard - they chose to leave out influential pacer Morne Morkel and opened the batting with Warner and Jayawardene rather than with the successful duo of Warner and Sehwag. The fielding of newbie Sunny Gupta in a crunch match also rebounded as the spinner was heaved for an economy of nearly sixteen an over. Skipper Sehwag also chose to have a bowl. He will probably empathise with the bowlers he faces more as he was smacked for 21 runs.
          Chennai's deep batting line-up helped - as Vijay fired on all cylinders at one end, almost everyone else pitched in at more than a run a ball from the other. Bravo's cameo in the dying overs was rather helpful. Setting a target of 222 in an important game is always helpful, and though Jayawardene and Ross Taylor looked a little good for DD, they never really looked like they were going to overhaul the mammoth total.
          Hilfenhaus did well to remove countryman Warner early, and when Morkel took out Sehwag, only God could have saved DD. And he chose not to, because CSK and Vijay deserved a win for their performance. Ashwin and Jakati wrapped up the rest, with Bravo also pitching in with a wicket, and it was all over for DD after a great league stage.
          Chennai will now have to deal with Kolkata Knight Riders' batting variety and good spin, particularly the unpredictable Sunil Narine. They have beaten them before, courtesy a last-ball Bravo six, so they will carry hopes. But underestimating the sparkling line-up will amount to self-destruction. Both teams should be careful in this regard.
          This year's IPL has got more bad publicity than ever before. Thankfullly for its fans and organisers, no key players have been involved in fixing. But a player getting into a fight and two more attending a rave party is not the best news for them. And of course, a celebrity filmstar having to resort to bad language and violence to deal with security guards. But as Kirti Azad found out, openly criticising the IPL and fasting in protest can hurt. There is no doubt that this tournament is here to stay. And if we continue seeing great cricket like we did last night, I am perfectly okay with its staying.

Europe's unlikely champion

          They were possibly the team in the semifinal which seemed least likely to win. With powerhouses like Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid around, who would have expected a team languishing in the league, with no Champions League trophies in the cabinet, aging players and an inexperienced manager to come out with the cup? But their fans stuck with them and were rewarded with club football's biggest prize. And Bayern's home fans were heartbroken, for they came so close.
          In terms of playing style, 80 minutes flew past in a manner not unlike the Barcelona game. Bayern held possession but simply could not break through the blue defence. And when they did, their below-par finishing prevented them from going ahead when they could and should have. The slight underdogs' two-tier defence, now perfected, created a deadlock. Finally, when Bayern went ahead amid wild celebrations, their defence went slack and allowed Drogba to equalise. Incidentally, the Ivorian, set to leave his club, has made a habit of scoring in finals.
          Extra time followed. The very Drogba who had lifted Chelsea fans' hopes now seemed to kill them again by conceding a penalty. Dutchman Robben stepped up - and missed. Incidentally, Robben has made a habit of missing penalties in key finals. Extra time finished with the score locked at a goal apiece - the Champions League would culminate in football's cruellest creation, the penalty shootout.
          Lahm scored for Bayern. 1-0. Mata missed for Chelsea. Would this be fatal? Still 1-0. Gomez, denied in open play may times, scored. 2-0. David Luiz pulled one back for the Blues. 2-1. Surprise! Bayern goalie Neuer scored. 3-1. Chelsea veteran Lampard scored. 3-2. Olic's last kick as a Bayern player - missed! 3-2. Experienced Cole equalised for Chelsea. 3-3. Virtual sudden death. Schweinsteiger stood behind the ball. The very man who whipped off his shirt after sealing a penalties win against Real Madrid, now buried his face in his shirt in shame and agony. He had missed. 3-3. Drogba simply needed to score for thousands of fans to not bay for his blood. His own last kick as a Chelsea player was a resounding success. It was his turn to remove his shirt and run like possessed. Chelsea had won the Champions League for the first time ever.
          Skipper John Terry, suspended for the game, hoisted the tall trophy along with stand-in captain Lampard. This was later paraded in West London. Chelsea also get to qualify for next-year's tournament at the expense of Tottenham, which would not have been the case had Bayern won. Drogba will leave the club in style, albeit on a free transfer. Torres, though, spoiled the party with his ill-timed comments on his not starting the game and debutant Ryan Bertrand starting instead. But until next year, Europe's best team is blue.

A tumultous week

          The past week has been a hectic one for all fans of sport. Summer is the time the European football leagues shut shop and the Formula One races take over. The run-up to two back-to-back major tennis tournaments makes the players frantically try to get used to the surfaces. And who can forget the magnetic Indian Premier League, drawing Indians and some foreigners of all backgrounds and interests into its net.
          New champions were the norm in Europe this year. Real Madrid ended its La Liga trophy drought which lasted four years in style. Juventus enjoyed a tremendous winning run in Serie A and won its first legitimately won title since 2003. In both cases, the winners are also the record champions. Perhaps the most dramatic was Manchester City's first league title in 44 years. The 'noisy neighbours', as described by Sir Alex Ferguson, clinched it in unbelievably film-like style. Simply needing a win against London minnows QPR, they took a first-half lead. But the pressure subsequently got to them and by midway through the second half they were a goal down. At this stage, it looked like the trophy would go to the red side of town. The Manchester United-Sunderland match concluded with Rooney scoring the solitary goal for the Red Devils. City were still trailing. But two injury-time stunners from Dzeko and season-long star Aguero deservedly brought the trophy to City.
          Exceptions to the new-champion rule were Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam, who defended their titles in Germany and the Netherlands respectively.
          In the Madrid Open, the top two seeds Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal crashed out relatively early. They blamed the unusual blue clay for their failure and will be glad that Roland Garros is always red. The forever-young and adaptable Roger Federer came up trumps against Tomas Berdych in the final.
          Pastor Maldonado assumed the top step of the podium in Catalonia after Hamilton was relegated from pole position to last place on the grid after a fuel issue.Alonso and Vettel are level on points on top.
An exciting period of world sport is here, with the UEFA Champions League final and IPL playoffs still to come. May the best teams win. 

Yuvi's return and some heroes

          Yuvraj Singh, the long-term absentee from Indian cricket, made an unofficial return last week. In a home match for the Pune Warriors, he had a bat before the game. When he was interviewed during the match, the TV broadcaster proudly identified him as Yuvraj Singh, Pune Warriors India. He will probably not play in this IPL, but he has lifted many spirits anyway.
          It will be very difficult for him to match what Lance Armstrong did after overcoming cancer. The legendary cyclist won seven back-to-back Tour de France titles post his return. Yuvraj, on the other hand, has achieved a lot already - a World Cup, a World Twenty20 which included six sixes in an over. In the ICC Cricket World Cup last year, he established himself as an all-rounder; he became the first to score a half-century and take five wickets in a WC match. I was also fortunate enough to witness a century from him live from the stands against West Indies here at the MAC. No one was aware that he was going through health problems at the time.
          A malignant tumour in his lung was detected which was soon diagnosed as cancer. The star flew to Boston for treatment, where he kept fan updated through Twitter. His will and strength showed as he is now back from the ordeal. He will now have to find his cricketing spark, if he wishes to continue his career.
Meanwhile, in the IPL, some people are shining bright. Virender Sehwag is in sublime form, taking over from a merciless Kevin Pietersen. The marauding duo are demolishing bowlers like a wrecking ball would a rickety building. He has saved Delhi in many a match. He may well lead Delhi to a maiden title.
          Not that others aren't hitting hard. Chris Gayle may not be the phenomenon he was last year, but is clobbering bowlers anyway. Ajinkya Rahane is not a new find but his ability to play elegant shots in a format where smashing is the norm catches the eye. Faf du Plessis has not been very consistent but his hits have given struggling Chennai some reason to smile.
           Among the bowlers, Dale Steyn, Brett Lee, Morne Morkel and Lasith Malinga have made an impact. Some like warhorses Muttiah Muralitharan and Azhar Mahmood; newbie Pawan Negi and Ashok Dinda have stood out in some matches. But for bowlers to contain and take wickets in Twenty20 at all is a challenge, so hats off to them.
           Just five points separate the second- and eighth-placed teams, so it's an open tournament. A little slump can cost a team big. Some teams have found consistency and that is helping them in this fast, dynamic league that is the IPL.

..and it's Bayern v Chelsea!

          Would you believe it? Most people felt the world-famous La Liga rivalry would spill over into the Champions League like it has before. Or at least one would make it to Munich. After all, they are widely accepted to be the best sides in the world, aren't they? Few predicted that both would exit the first leg with deficits and bow out after humdingers at home. But they did. Bayern and Chelsea showed fantastic spirit and strength to hold off these giants from Spain to progress to the event in Munich.
          Chelsea, going into the second leg with a slim 1-0 lead, held out with some dedicated defending until Sergio Busquets slotted home a simple one. Not long after, John Terry was shown a straight red for sticking his knee into Alexis Sanchez. The absence of the captain and defender threw Chelsea off track for a while, leading to their conceding another, this time from Iniesta. The Camp Nou rejoiced. But soon, Ramires ran up on the counter and accurately  chipped it over Victor Valdes' head. Chelsea now led on away goals. It was to stay that way for a long while, an entire half in fact, until a high ball found Torres, who stormed into the penalty box, ran round a hapless Valdes and scored. Barcelona were stunned. Having been unable to crack the Chelsea defence for a half, they now needed two goals in a matter of seconds. Needless to say, they couldn't; Chelsea had beaten the formidable defending champion and were on their way to Munich for the final.
         24 hours later at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich walked onto the ground knowing exactly what to do. Real were on course, with a penalty and an open play goal for Cristiano Ronaldo withing 14 minutes. Bayern were not the kind to be bogged down though. Robben converted a penalty after a foul on Mario Gomez. 2-1 that night, 3-3 aggregate. In the shootout, Kaka and Ronaldo missed the first two penalties, causing Real to be 2-0 behind. At 2-1, Ramos sent one high over the bar, needing Schweinsteiger to just score to send Bayern to the final. Schweinsteiger scored without a problem as the Bayern team whipped off their shirts in unison.
          The final at the Allianz Arena promises to be a thriller. Neither side will be domestic champion, but they have a lot to win. The flip side is, both teams will be missing key players after a double yellow in the tournament. This rule has come under fire. Nevertheless, it will be a grand spectacle watched by the world.

Bayern have one foot in the final

          Having snatched a win in the last minute of normal time courtesy a Gomez conversion of a neat Lahm cross, Bayern Munich will start the return leg at the Bernabeu with a 2-1 aggregate lead. Bayern and Real Madrid both showed energy and skill, making it a game worth waking up at midnight and watching. Franck Ribery pounced on Sergio Ramos chesting away a corner and pushed one past keeper-captain Iker Casillas. Mesut Ozil equalised, slotting home a simple Cristiano Ronaldo pass. Mario Gomez, frustrated many a time in the second half, must have felt a combination of thrill and relief while making his way to the corner flag after his 90th minute goal put the home crowd on its feet. The very same stadium will host the grand final in a month's time and Bayern Munich would kill to be a part of it.
          With Chelsea, it was a different story. Faced with the daunting obstacle of holders Barcelona, the only English club left in the competition looked calm and poised before the big game. 'All matches begin with a 50-50 chance', Frank Lampard had said. Resolute defence, great goalkeeping and the post denied Barcelona the whole time. In the very last kick of the first half, Didier Drogba swept in a cool cross from Ramires, who had broken the Barcelona defence. This turned out to be the only goal of the match. Barcelona made inroads early in the second half, but were thwarted again by Petr Cech. It stayed that way till the end, when Cech dived fully to save a shot. Barcelona had lost to rank outsiders and will have to battle a deficit during the return leg in the Camp Nou.
          Till then, it's celebrations in London and Munich. Both started as underdogs, Chelsea more so. The Spanish clubs are not the kind to be bogged down by pressure, though. Expect fireworks in Spain next week as all four teams scramble to be part of the spectacle in Munich. Chelsea's aging leaders may never get such an opportunity again. It will be a fitting build-up to the final.

Nothing's clear yet, which is good

          As with most Twenty20 tournaments, nothing is clear at all. No team is dominating completely like the Rajasthan Royals of 2008, who are doing well this year anyway. Some teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have been remarkably inconsistent. The latter pulled off two spectacular wins and fell to three tame losses, the batsmen being particularly unpredictable. I was just querying Deccan Chargers' depth and ability and as I write they are defending 197.
          The thing about Twenty20 cricket is that things can change in the blink of an eye and the innings is irreparable and sometimes over before you know it. Lose three wickets in succession and before the new batsmen can settle in, it's time. For example, Rajasthan were playing Kolkata and batting. Their run rate was steady until three quick wickets tumbled. They managed a harmless 131 and the Knight Riders had no problem chasing that down. So the challenge is to find a rhythm and get going consistently in this gamble of a game.
          The disappointment of the season, Chennai, may take comfort in the fact that they have never started really big in four editions, but somehow picked up and made it to the last four. The batting has looked especially like Jekyll and Hyde, looking benign against Delhi and Mumbai and looking like twice champions against Bangalore.
          There have been the issues, like chucking and fixing, but none quite as big as Fake IPL Player, so things look okay for the time being. One hopes this will be a clean IPL. After all, if it was dominated by one side or rigged like a movie, would it be as much fun as it is to watch?

The cricketainment festival is here!

          After a very short year which seemed like an eternity, the Indian Premier League caravan with its non-cricketing shots, filmstars, cheerleaders, enthralled crowds, hyping commentators, thumped bowlers, flat pitches and of course, cricketers has arrived. The twice champion which had not lost an IPL home game for nearly two years, began with a crushing loss at the hands of a resurgent Mumbai, which with smart buys, a CL trophy and a legend fresh from a milestone, looks all out to win this time around. They went on to get upset by a revamped Pune who changed everything from jersey to captain to stadium after a disastrous first season. Meanwhile, a strong Kolkata line-up embarrassed itself at the hands of the inconsistent Delhi, while 2008 winner Royals, missing Warne for the first time, dismantled Punjab.
          Love it or hate it, the IPL is here to stay. Whether it is a genuine indicator of talent or reveals mere flashes in the pan, whether it endorses good cricket or just provides starry nights, whether it's out to draw people to the game or just make money, it will be around for a long while. A team has been terminated, the founder has been sacked, players have been traded like player cards but the fan following cannot be thrown out because of its sheer size. I have asked many people, 'Do you follow cricket?' and a very frequent answer has been, 'Only the IPL.' The idea of stars from all fields packed in a three-and-a-half-hour nutshell has appealed to most.
          Only the orthodox remain. The presence of legends like a Dravid, who has adapted well to the slam-bang form, Tendulkar, who has always been versatile anyway, Ganguly, whose captaincy redeems his age to an extent and Gilchrist, who suits this form perfectly, has resulted in few converts. However, these anti-IPL purists are few and far between, and almost everyone I know has been, willingly or otherwise, sucked into the T20 mania.
          The 45 days of action are here. In the end, one team will come out on top. The rest will make their money anyway. But it the cricket we watch it for, and it seems promising enough.

Two Fridays

          Two things happened on consecutive Fridays. One was a bittersweet event that left the nation sorrowful and pondering over who could ever be a replacement. The other was a joyous happening that ended a year-long wait and the country celebrated.
          Indian cricket is now a house without a wall. The wall was the first of three large walls to decide it was time to leave the house and move on.
          Yes, I know Rahul Dravid was not particularly fond of the nickname. Nor was Nirmal Shekar, whose articles are being serially recycled in The Hindu. But it was the one that would describe his batting best, especially to frustrated bowlers. Bowl, bowl, bowl. Keep bowling. You just can't get the ball past this man so it hits the woodwork.
          This point has been driven home so many times, but I will cover drive it further. He will be sorely missed. Not many teams can boast of a batsman who was so supremely skilled in one position but would willingly swap. Or keep when the specialist keeper was bowling. He was very versatile but thrived in the position which is possibly one of the hardest.
          He has a perennially thoughtful face and was a good speaker, formal and clear. However, he may not be the best of commentators as he is not as much an entertainer as a gentlemanly thinker.
          The team needs a worthy replacement.
          After a year that seemed like an eternity, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar became the first in all cricketing history to score one hundred hundreds sporting the badge of his nation. He himself admitted that it was a huge weight off his back. Fans, selectors, players, all can heave a huge sigh of relief. The enormity of the number had weighed down on him innings after innings. Commentators started the countdown right from the time he walked out!
          The number 100 was constricting his batting and clouding his mind. He got close a couple of times, which only made him more tense. When the jinx broke on 16 March 2012, fans celebrated and the great man looked up at the sky - the limit.
          Speculations of his retirement have been flying around. He has made it clear - he has cricket left in him. Like Rahul Dravid, he knows best when the time to leave the game has come. Until then, we shall enjoy his mastery over batsmanship.
Adieu, Rahul and congratulations, Sachin. Lots more to come.

Things are back to normal

          India, after a little rise in fortunes mid-series, have gone back to their sad old losing ways. This is hardly surprising, considering how the rest of the tour went for them. Unlike the horrendous England tour, however some sparks of brilliance, both individual and team, could be seen.
          The rotation policy has come under fire from all quarters, barring the most important - the BCCI. The Board has rather unsatisfactorily explained that this funny system is to train young players for the 2015 World Cup down under. This is one of the most illogical explanations I have heard in recent times. Would anyone in their senses train people 36 months before the actual tournament? India may even tour them again before the far-off World Cup. Why throw out an in-form Gambhir for a young man who may not be around for the tournament?
          Unlike in football, where the World Cup is unrivalled in prestige and importance, there are a lot of international tournaments in cricket which are highly coveted. The cashy domestic leagues too are assuming importance. Planning for such a tournament three years in advance is not a great idea.
          Dhoni, in his usual style, took a dig at the top three's fielding. But he is justified. Younger legs - and hands - are helpful and necessary.
          India very large-heartedly withdrew the appeal to have Thrimanne out 'Mankaded'. This went on to cost them a lot of  runs.
          Something should change. The bowlers should step up. The batsmen should stop walking back for single-figures. Chases should not go to the last over. Older people may gracefully retire and younger ones should show why they should replace Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and the like.
         Things cannot continue this way.

Djokowin!

          After a while, the Australian Open does not have a new champion. Djokovic held his nerve and serve to defend his title in a match that lasted a giddy five hours and fifty-three minutes. This match will go down in history, statistically as well as in terms of quality, with fortunes swinging like an erratic pendulum and predictions going crazy.
          The jubilant Serb ripped off his shirt, luxury enjoyed only by the players on Sunday night, and exulted topless in front of a full house at Melbourne (suprising for a quarter-to-two finish!), before hitting the sponsors' names near his box. Later in his acceptance speech which was less primal and more appreciative, he thanked each of the sponsors individually. He also praised a tired Nadal, who had fought very very hard but just could not have the very first fifth set between them go his way. In the customary family-and-team thanking, he named his girlfriend and then his coach - whatever that implies. He also wished there would be many more similar matches between him and Nadal (would Nadal have wished the same?).
          With Djoko winning three consecutive Grand Slams, we can be quite sure that the era of fixed final match-ups in Federer and Nadal is over. As his mother summed up (not verbatim), 'Earlier it was Rafa, Roger, Rafa, Roger, now it's Novak, Novak, Novak!' This energetic young man from a troubled nation has shaken the tennis world for good.
          A Djokovic-Nadal rivalry could also be in the making. However, the Serb won all their five meetings in finals in 2011, and this year may well be a repeat, considering his explosive start. If Nadal learns to read his shots and serves, the head-to-head may take a different turn and could end up like Nadal and Federer's one-sided one.
          However things pan out, Novak Djokovic has made his mark on men's tennis and his dominance seems to be here to stay.

All eyes on Australia

          The Australian summer is here. And all sports fans are training their eyes on the smallest continent, for this month's action is all in Australia. While the Europeans and Americans are recovering from the frosty winter, the Australians are enjoying the summer and the limelight.
          For a country with more sheep than people, they are very good at many sports. They are four-time world champions in cricket, play decent soccer and have some players donning jerseys of top clubs, have produced supremely talented tennis players and are often among the best at the Olympics.
          The Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground is well known, and the most recent one was a roller-coaster ride with team fortunes changing by the minute. The series then became a blatantly one-sided affair and continues to be. Their revamped domestic Twenty20 league, the Big Bash League of BBL, also attracted fans and was neatly scheduled around the ongoing Test series. The final will take place on 28 January at the WACA, between Perth Scorchers, featuring experienced players such as Brad Hogg and Sydney Sixers, who boast of an attack spearheaded by Brett Lee.
          And of course, the Australian Open. What better way to begin a year than a hard-court tournament in sunny Melbourne (again!). The Grand Slam is drawing to a close, with four pairs of eyes aiming for one trophy. Wozniacki has been finally knocked off her controversial perch on top of the WTA rankings, while Nadal and Federer will face off for a spot in the final for the first time in nearly seven years. Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, seeded 6, have booked a place in the mixed doubles semifinals while Leander Paes, teaming up with Czech Radek Stepanek, has reached the last four and will play second-seeded Mirnyi and Nestor.
          This is the season for looking Down Under for all the sport action. In a few months, the French Open, IPL and other northern hemisphere-based events will return for another edition. Life and Earth's tilt move on.

Another Hiding Underway

          The Indian cricketers are having the worst imaginable start to the New Year. Down 2-0 against the ever powerful Australians, the players are under media fire and are facing ire from the cricket-loving masses of the populated nation.
          The Indian media is truly unparalleled in its contrasting treatment of players. And others from all fields, for that matter. Should someone score a century or take a mugful of wickets one day, they are duly coronated and divinified - for the time being. Fail to replicate that the next time around and they have 'flattered to deceive' and 'failed to live up to expectations' (set by?).
          I have not got too many opinions from the general Indian cricket-mad crowd, but I have got a sense from my classmates what they feel about India's ability and their series predictions. (This was after the first Test) One said India 2 Australia 1. Now that is a dream. The Australians subsequently proved this wrong. Another said 4-0, the number which is haunting the sports pages of the newspapers and occupying a good amount of television time, also the scoreline which seems most likely at the moment. A third said 5-0, which speaks volumes about Australia's prowess and her own knowledge of cricket.
          At this juncture in the England-India series, the debate was whether it would be 4-0 or 2-2. No one considered a 3-1 or the possibility that one match or both remaining games would be drawn.
Also, the century- or half-century-makers have largely been old masters like Ponting, Dravid and Hussey. An exception has been in Clarke and his mammoth 329. Both teams are in a period of great change, where the aged soldiers of the past decade are moving on and youthful players are entering the fray. The young Australian bowlers are slowly beginning to look like they can replace the famed attack of McGrath, Warne and later Lee. The Indian batsmen are not yet making way for the younger generation, though at this rate they may give way and need to hang up their boots.
          These are some thoughts on the much-awaited 'Agneepath' series. I join the other cricket fans in the country in wishing the Men in White (for now) the best of luck.