The trip

We were 4, we saw it sunny hot, we saw it pleasant warm, we saw it cold. In the early hours there was some dew, I was supposed to be asleep, that was the plan, I was asleep, was I, no, I opened my eyes, where am I looking, I cannot see anything, I thought I was looking at the windshield, then I hear, "Dude, I cannot see anything". So much fog, they were constantly discussing, and I was giving unsolicited suggestions, he he he, it was so much fun troubling the driver, then I think, ok lets shut up, before I was told to. It took hours, but successfully we steered it through. It was exhausting, why for me? becoz I couldn't catch proper sleep.

Next was the dry part, it was like a location for a movie shoot, a straight road and endless desert on either sides, we were like driving hours and hours, but still at the same place, pretty much identical and girr... this time I was at the front seat bored of looking that I forced myself to turn back to see their faces. This was exhausting too.

And finally was the adventurous part, and yes, I was driving, this stretch was full of valleys, ups and downs. There were so many twists and turns, and it was fun and exciting before the tummies were complaining. Before they were taking a complete toll, we hit an elevated road, and when it ended, there was an ocean of lights, and my eyes poped up, with a jaw dropping excitement, wow, welcome to the fabulous Las Vegas.

Money Spinner

Twenty 20, ODIs, test matches and now IPL. When some one is not in form, gavaskar says he is not a worth to the team. When someone like Ishant says he is tired, he says he is playing for his nation and being a professional and playing at an international level, one is not suppposed to be tired.

At a stage when there are so many forms of cricket providing entertainment, thin line exists between playing for nation and playing for money. A sedate knock from Rohit sharma does not save the match against sri lanka. Players playing for position or victory. All these observations make one wonder why IPL?

Aren't people concerned about the way it is goin on. At one end, Indian team form is dependent on fitness and other things, doesn't it get influenced by additional schedules?. Don't the players show more interest and try to be fit, play well for money in IPL, or is it not going to effect their commitment of playing for the nation. The primary purpose was to groom locals, but is it the way it is going on, and is it not pure entertainment now ? Isnt't it evident when the cunning sharukh khan made good frnds with pakistan team, ganguly and dhoni during sahara pariwar marketing campaigns. Isnt't it about just money? Too many questions isn't it ?

The association set a limited budget for each franchise, but one never knows what goes off the record. Its not a new concept of commercial game, and is prevalent in australia and england, but we play a lot more matches compared to them, and are more inconsistent to have a set of players for any series and are more prone to fitness / injuries. Its not just entertainment in India, but gradually will become if it is a hit. Food for thought ?