Hi, hello, and welcome back to 'Around the world of cricket'.
We have got so many cricket happening including CPL, Australia- New Zealand Chappell- Hadlee ODI series.England vs South Africa test series have come to a close.this test series result is really important from an Indian cricket point of view in the World Test Championship.
Had South Africa won this test series, then it would have been so much different for the World Test Championship table.But fortunately, I mean, it is good for English cricket and sad for South African cricket.
But it is an important result for India as far as WTC is concerned.But before we get there, I thought of giving a touch-up on Asia Cup.
Obviously, the Asia Cup didn't go well for India.Obviously, there is more disappointment from a fan's perspective.
There are some criticisms that India doesn't do well in any multinational tournaments.But more than anything else, it is just a disappointment for many fans, and I totally get it.Because I was also a fan at one point in time.
I was a fan before becoming a member of the Indian cricket team.I have been a part of World Cup winning teams, and I have also been a part of teams getting knocked out from the World Cup.
So, I am perfectly able to understand both sides of the story.But I would like to tell you only one thing. Yes, we didn't qualify for the semis in the previous T20 World Cup.
And we couldn't qualify for the finals of this Asia Cup.
But as a country, since the start of 2000s, India has done really well at ICC events.For example, New Zealand has also done well in ICC tournaments.But how it pans out on that day is an important aspect in cricket.Especially in T20 cricket where the margins are very closer.
I am not giving this as an excuse. But we did have many positives that came out of this Asia Cup.Especially keeping the T20 World Cup in mind, we have had so many positives.
Even in the games that we lost against Pakistan and Sri Lanka; we had a few positives.But keeping all that aside, not the greatest of campaigns.It would have been outstanding had we played the final against Pakistan or Sri Lanka.
I thought of touching up on few stuffs on Asia Cup.First of all, for India, the last round game against Afghanistan.
The highly anticipated 71st international ton of Virat Kohli.As they say, in fact, I am a firm believer in 'Like life, like in cricket' concept.
In my life, cricket has taught me so many things.Cricketing experience and life experience are almost the same.
How you live your life will get translated to your cricket.
How your work ethics are, how your discipline is in cricket, that's how your life will also be.
I firmly believe in that concept.
I believe this is another lesson that has been taught by life to me.
Everyone was arguing on which test match he will score his hundred, which ODI he will score his hundred, and why he has gotten out for a 70 or even a 60 sometimes...No one would have guessed that he would get his 100 in a T20 match against Afghanistan because he bats at number 3 and sometimes, it is difficult to score a century even after playing 20 overs in a T20.
But his 71st 100 came in this game only.
As a teammate, and also as a person who has been following his career for a long time, and as a well-wisher of Indian cricket, this hundred is an extraordinary sign for Indian cricket and also for Virat.
It will be a monkey off his back, I believe.He played exceptionally well, and he will be relieved.
When he plays well, his switch-off shots will really come good.
For example, his pull shot, he will come down the track and play a flip over straight mid-wicket for a six in Rashid Khan's over.He will hold his shape and play straight in Mujeeb's over too.
Amazing shot of the day will be the sweep he played against Mujeeb in the 6th over and I think that will set the ball rolling for him.An extraordinary knock by Virat Kohli.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a 5-fer in that same game. Hardik Pandya gave a finishing touch against Pakistan in the Group A game.Arshdeep Singh gave a terrific closeout against Pakistan. He bowled extraordinarily well in the last over against Pakistan in that tight finish.So, I mentioned Arshdeep Singh because of a purpose only.Despite dropping that catch, how well he came back and bowled the last over in that game. What composure!
Both against Sri Lanka and Pakistan
. So, a big kudos to that boy.I have followed him from his U-17 and U-19 days, and I have played with him for Kings XI Punjab.He is an outstanding person. He is a cricketer who has got a superb work ethic.I am sure this kid will go places. I don't have any doubts about that.
So, we will get to the outrage that we saw on social media about his dropped catch against Pakistan.Yes, anybody in the public eye will face criticism, agreed.
It is a part and parcel of our life. We will accept it and move forward.
But getting personal is not the greatest of feelings.He is representing all of us when he is on the field, right Sometimes, we have to put ourselves in that situation as a commoner, be it someone working in an IT industry, or someone working in a factory.
We are tweeting out of emotion as soon as he drops a catch scolding him.Let's admit that it is an expression of our emotions.If we are in Arshdeep Singh's shoes and drop that catch, what will we expect
