Dhoni Shepherds India to Another Win ! Fan Who is Willing to Lose Couple of Day's Income !!

Of the many formats in World Cup, the 1983 version was different – India, West Indies, Australia and Zimbabwe were in one group – they played each other twice.  India and WI moved to Semis to meet England and Pak respectively.  On 25^th June 1983, at Lords  – Kapil’s Devils, the underdogs successfully defended 183 to create history.   That Prudential World Cup victory changed the way, India and its Cricketers were treated internationally.  2nd April 2011 turned another cherished day notwithstanding the bizarre start of a retoss, when Sanga claimed otherwise.  Lankans batting first put up 274. Immediately after lunch break, at around 0650 pm – a hush descended at Wankhede.  The slinga Malinga had Virender Sehwag ~ he went for a review but still was out.  First wicket gone without score on board. The first ball of the seventh over silenced the Nation.  The noise Wankhede went in to a huddle.  The ball moved got the outside of Sachin and thudded into the gloves of Sanga.  A very well phased innings by Gambhir, who unfortunately missed his century and his century partnership with Dhoni enabled Indians pull off a great win.  Dhoni wrapped it in style with 10 balls to go, he sent the ball flying over long on for a huge six.  How many die-hard cricket fans will be willing to sacrifice their income for a couple of days if India wins the World Cup? Today’s The Hindu carries an article on  30 year old auto driver ‘Speed Murugesh’ who operates from a stand on Greams Road. A huge poster, with pictures of Virat Kohli and M.S. Dhoni, announcing the offer is stuck on his vehicle -  he has offered free rides for two days. It is stated that his youngster earns around Rs.1000 a day on an average and saves around Rs.700/- - with the Indian win in the finals, this man is prepared to forego nearly Rs.1500/- - as he has announced free rides for 2 days in his auto from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., to any destination in the city.   It is stated that in 2011 too, he offered free rides in his rented vehicle. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association gifted Rs. 1 lakh after learning about the gift to society. With the money, he  purchased a new autorickshaw, he earned the prefix ‘Speed’ to his name for his athletic skills. The driver also sponsors cricket bats and balls for children in his locality in Porur and also screens matches on a big screen. Way back in 2003, at Gandhi beach in Chennai, matches were shown on big screen and hundreds of people spent their evenings at beach watching the match on big screen.  We had put up one at Tank Square for the India Australia finals, which turned sour.  The photo at the start was taken at Triplicane Vegetable market (Near Gangai Kondan Mandapam), Thiruvallikkeni, Chennai 600005, on 16^th Mar 2012 – the  vendor having basketful of chocolates and happily giving his to his customers for that special ton of Sachin Tendulkar.  The same person had given  a 1 kilo of tomato free to many  people when India won the WC 2011. photo credit : bcci.tv Before the start of today’s match WI fast bowling icon – Curtly Ambrose, their bowling coach had called for discipline from his pace attack.   With a four-wicket win over West Indies at the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground in Perth, India strengthened their position at the top of the Group B table in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.  At Perth today, India were given their first scare of the World Cup when West Indies reduced them to 78 for 4 and 134 for 6 in a chase of 183, but MS Dhoni shepherded them through to an eventually comfortable win with four wickets in hand and 10.5 overs to spare. The inexperience of Jason Holder and non-communication from Coach and bowling coach was telling – when Indians were struggling with 6 wickets down – one expected their best bowlers Jerome Taylor, Roach and Jason Holder to bowl – any way the match was not going to last beyond 40 overs – then why try Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith together ? Interesting ! With regards – S. Sampathkumar
6^th Mar 2015.