I think, it is very difficult to say what the truth is. If it is really the same as Viru is saying, then it is really a bad news. Everyone would want tht politics should not get involved in the games. Ranji matches are really important as far as the domestic cricket is concerned and should be looked at with great respect. And now after Virender Sehwag, as you said it's the turn of Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma etc. to threaten to quit the Delhi team. The reason according to them is fairly obvious. These guys are unhappy with the Delhi Cricket Association's sports committee. The reason being that they interfered in the selection process and took undue part in corruption. Now that is what these players feel. And it's the most arguable thing. No one knows if that exactly happened or not. These are surely not good things to happen. Cricket is adored in India like anything. And when players like Viru and Gambhir say such things, they surely dishearten fans like you and me. Let's hope that all goes well with the Delhi team and that the "Daredevils" remain in the Delhi team and give the dues for which the spectators pay for come to see their favourites play.

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Yuvraj really saved the day for the Indians. His impact is not new to Indian cricket and on Indian cricket. Some years back it was Sunil Gavaskar, then the Record Master, Sachin Tendulkar ruled and is still doing so, showing his vintage form. And as his career is coming to a glories end, his place will not be empty - so thinks Yuvraj. From his sensational partnership with Mohd. Kaif against England in the Natwest Series while chasing a near impossible 320+ score, to his 6 sixes in an over in the T20 World Cup match against England, from mind boggling catches to sensetional piece of fieldings to run batsmen out, we all have seen what Yuvraj is capable of. A true one day specialist and a one man army.
A one day specialist, a one day specialist ! How long will we hear this? And really, who wants to hear it? If he is a one day specialist, then does this mean he is no good for Tests? How good he is at one dayers - and even better in the shortest form T20 - we all have seen. And how important he is in Tests , this fact he has proved himself. And each cricketing buff has seen it, and knows it. He was ignored for the Tests all these many months shows in the fact that Yuvraj has played only Test in more than 12 months now. There was a time when Sachin Tendulkar was understood in the team. That was because of his merits. No one ever questioned his inclusion. Again because that was because of his merits. But had he not been included, then the selectors were surly questionable. First Sachin was ''selected'', then the captain + 9 others. Such an impact this little Champ possesses. The same can and should happen now the Yuvraj. He has proved himself time and again. With his bat doing the talking, he silenced his critics. He literally made them dumb. His exquisite cuts, drives and pulls are a cooling stuff to the eyes. Ears love to hear his bat coming hard to the ball. His fielding abilities are second only to the great Jonty Rhodes. Known as the Indian Jonty Rhodes, he has proved his point at point all the time. His back to back centuries agaisnt England in November can be remembered at this stage.

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I think India has the guts to come back again strongly as they did in exactly the same WC 2 years back. According to Dhoni, when India is under pressure, they perform well. India needs to win the second of their Super 8's match against the Englishmen on Sunday to keep their hopes alive of remaining in the competition and defending the title that they had won two years ago in style in South Africa. If they have to win the match against England, they will have to dominate every area of the game and will have to perform like complete pros. The unexpected 7-wicket loss to West Indies should provide as an eye-opener to Team India. There are a lot of concerns for India to handle and rectify to remain the competition. The short-pitched bowling from West Indies was the backbone reason why India lost to West Indies. The Indian batsmen just could find no answer to these rising deliveries. Dhoni himself has been a failure with the bat. In the last game he played an innings suitable for Tests. The first and the final overs too are proving too costly and runs need to be curtailed especially in these overs. On the other hand, England too needs to win the match to remain the competition. They too have lost a match in the Super 8's. And if they don't win against India on Sunday, then they are virtually out of the tournament - they have just huffed and puffed into the Super 8's. The England captain Paul Collingwood has already issued a warning to India and they are going to play tough cricket. Well, not only England, but also India has to play tough cricket and win both the remaining matches to think of defending the title.

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India succumbed to the pressure and lost to West Indies in a crucial Super 8's match - the first for India. India's batting was let down for the first time in this tournament and the bowling just was not enough to defend the total of 153. West Indies won the match by 7 wickets. M S Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. But he did not get the start that he had in his mind. The makeshift opener in Rohit Sharma failed to a rising delivery from Edwards. He attempted a pull shot just the very next delivery after hitting a boundary. One down Raina came in at his usual spot but could not do what he usually does. He did not trouble the scorers much and was castled by Edwards again. And again this was a short-pitched delivery. Both Sharma and Raina were castled by Edwards for the individual scores of 5. The team total read 2 for 27 in around 4 overs. Yuvraj then walked in to give company go Gambhir. Bravo was the first change bowler for West Indies. And it worked straight away. 2 runs later, Gambhir was yet another victim of a short-pitched delivery from Bravo. Simmons took his second catch to send Gambhir back. Simmons ran some 8-10 meters back and took a stunning catch almost single-handedly. The Indians were searching for some space and were poorly placed at 40 for 3 in 6 overs. Yuvraj and Dhoni tried to steady the ship caught in the hurricane created by the pace trio and batted cautiously. Such slow was the batting of the Indian skipper that he managed only 11 from 23 balls. Yuvraj on the other hand as usual tried to make things happen. He took some risks early on. And they paid. Playing safely, he started to increase the run-rate that had fallen miserably which at one stage was over 7. Bravo removed Dhoni's gloomy innings when Fletcher caught him on the square boundary. Then walked in Yusuf Pathan. When the Indian total was 75, Yuvraj hit the first six of the Indian innings and then things started to happen. In the meantime, Yuvraj got a life from Fletcher when he could not hold on to a seemingly easy diving catch again on the boundary line. Otherwise it would have been difficult times for India. Fours and sixes started raining and except Irfan Pathan all the remaining batsmen scored good to take the Indian total past the 150 run mark. Yuvraj hit fiery 67 off 43 while the injured Yusuf braving his shoulder injury hit 31 in little time. Harbhajan hit 3 fours off the final 3 balls of the India innings. But it was a whirlwind innings from the Mumbai Indians' team member Dwayne Bravo who his 66 off just 36 balls to dampen the Indian hopes of a surprise win. He hit 3 huge sixes. After getting Gayle and Fletcher speedily out quite early in the innings, the Indians might have fancied their chances. But the speed-breaker called Bravo came between the Indians and the win and made sure that not only the wickets remained intact but also the scoreboard was kept moving. He along with Simmons took the score to the three figure mark.

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A loss is a loss. But still, I think, the practice matches are their to learn for. And these failures shouldn't be taken so seriously, though it's a loss. But you should see the brighter side of the match. Though the lack of form of Gambhir and Dhoni can give some sleepless nights for India, along with the lack of form of Sehwat. To add to it even Zaheer Khan is still not fully fit and as per Mahi's statement he can't even play in the first game against Bangladesh at the weekend. Time doens't seem to be on India's side this time around.But each game is a new game and each day is a new day. Saying this only can we give ourselves some respite and say that Team India can overcome all the obstacles and get on top.

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Without doubt yes. I would say, India is presently in such a mood that even the Aussies failed to stop them. I would say especially the bowling department has improved a bit. Because that has been a concern for India over so many years - the bowling. And as usual the batting too is on a high. In the last ODI played, when India scored a mamoth 392, in that match, Sehwag had failed very miserably. Honestly, he did not scored according to his reputation in that match. Then destructors like Sachin, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina did the job for India. The point to mention is that when someone fails the other does the job for his team. Even Gambhir was not in the best of the touch. But he too showed why is among the best of the Indian batsmen in the 4th ODI scored a sound half-century. But Sehwag was in his discructive mood scored a super fast century with half a dozen sixes.To come back with the point that you are mentioning, Saurav Ganguly in a statement said that the current team is not the BEST EVER. While Sachin on the other hand has said that the current batting line is the best ever - that is of all time. However, our fielding department is still too weak. And this needs to be improved by Kirsten and Robin Singh in tandem. Otherwise there is no stopping the Men in Dark Blue!

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India looks well set for the no. 1 spot. With both the bowlers and batsmen in form, it doesn't look too difficult now. And India has marched towards this spot by dethrowning Australia from the No. 2 position. Now, SA is no. 1, India is no. 2 and Australia is no.3. But still in the longer version of the game, it's Australia who is still at the top. It will take some tough cricket from Dhoni and his men before his dream of taking India to the top in both the versions of the game is realised. And I think, that day is not too far when it will materialize.
But the loss to Sri Lanka in the final ODI pushed India to the third spot once again. As SA was just for some days at the top of the ICC Team rankings, so was India. But there was a double blow. The first was that, India lost to Sri Lanka. And there Down Under, OZ defeated NZ. So Australia could climb up a spot again.

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It's a great feeling to see your country a victorious one. Dhoni is the man of the moment. He is doing everything right. His times are such that he can do nothing wrong even if he does so with decision. Anyways, its a great great feeling. Taking a lead early in the series is always what any team is looking whether it is playing in home conditions or away. Gautam Gambhir once again played a crucial knock early in the Indian innings along with Suresh Raina. On one hand where Sri Lanka stiched together a 118 run 2nd wicket partnership, here was India who got 113 run-partnership. Dhoni let by example and played a captains knock. His 61 not out from only 65 balls was the third half-century of the Indian innings. Gambhir, Raina were the other two who not only played some breath taking shots but also took the initiative away from the Lankas after losing Tendulkar early for only 5. But that LBW decision looked rather doubtful; but that made no difference to the two left-handers.

Another thing. When all are talking about the Indian batting spare a thought for the bowlers too, who gave away only 5 extras as compared to 17 by the Lankans. As when we are talking about all this, Dhoni remains as the center of the foucs not only for his batting, but with the precision that he decided to use the batting site powerplay was taken at the most correct time. And he pair that time was Dhoni-Rohit Sharma. These two added around a run a ball. As compared to this the Lankas had not scored much but importantly lost the prize wicket of Jayasuriya.Anyways, congrats again to Team India, and we all look forward to yet another win on Saturday.

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