Cricket fever - 100 degrees and rising...

back to blogging after a long break! wonder how guys in the movies maintain huge red diaries with every day of their 'colorful' lives captured complete with special effects, fights , duets and those deadly secrets including their most heinous crimes described in graphic detail!!! Well over the past couple of months, one thing which has ruled my body and soul (outside of family ofcourse ;)) has been CRICKET! The IPL mania was well worth the wait with spellbinding action. And it was doubly sweet since Chennai Supper Kings, the team i rooted for, made the finals. Rajasthan were definitely the deserving winners though. When i watch the MLB or NFL over here in the US, i always used to wonder how nice it would be to see this sports bar/office talk/jersey touting back in India. IPL did just that. Local rivalries are actually cool. For example, how many times would u meet pakistanis and trash talk cricket with them? Now imagine how many opportunities u'll get bust chops with a mumbaikar or bangalorean! Movie stars, Beers at the pavilion, short games, prime TV coverage and explosive cricket ....what more do ya want? ICL took the first step, but thanks to childish checkmates made by the BCCI, was unable to generate the kind of hype and excitement it's 'official' cousin did. Nevertheless, no cricket fan would complain. the re-emergence of oldies like Jayasuriya and stunning new talent like Shaun Marsh & Yusuf Pathan was unbelievable. My PSBB schoolmate Badri did himself good with a couple of match winning knocks. Also heartening was the way bowlers fought back in this extreme version of a batsman's game.

My highlight picks would be:

* Yusuf Pathan's clinical agression
* Badri's adjustments for T20
* Underdog Rajasthan's resurgence
* Chennai's passionate but extremely sporting crowds
* Gony's amazing bowling
* McCullum's 'Kuthuvizhakku' innings!
* Chepauk's fascinating outfield patterns
* CHEERLEADERSSSSSSSSS..........THEY JUST ROCKED!

Coming out of IPL fever , i walked right into our NJ cricket league one! Sunday cricket with all the elaborate equipment , is the closest we can come to a national team spot contention!:)! But phew, let me tell you something. The IPL guys sure make it look extremely simple. Boy, after 80 overs of heat, i wish there were some cheerleaders to re energize us!!!