The Inevitable Innings: Retirement

19.29 hrs:
August 15^th, 2020.
“Consider me retired.”

19.45 hrs: I scroll through my Instagram filled with creative Independence Day posts by various Indian public figures, friends from across the world celebrating the 73^rd year of Indian independence from British colonialism. And suddenly, hidden in plain sight, were these words by none other than Mr. Dhoni himself, under a video clip, illustrating his international cricket career from 2004-2020 with a melancholic Hindi song playing in the background. The above words resounded like a distant explosion in my head, this flood of inevitable grief I’m still trying to process. At first, I thought it was some sort of a prank or a hack maybe, this isn’t possible.

21:00 hrs: A while later, Suresh Raina A.K.A. Chinna Thala declared to retire as well. This amount of heartbreak was unexpected on a rainy Saturday evening but these two gentlemen decided to drop truth bombs, knowing very well the reactions it was capable of spurring. The staggering announcements left the nation stunned in a matter of hours. Almost everyone jolted from their weekend vibes as Dhoni decided to leave his way. No farewell match, no victory run, none of it. All over social media, people shared multiple clips especially the popular Ravi Shastri commentary like BGM “…And Dhoni finishes off in style. India lifts the World cup after 28 years.”  My favourite tribute of them all is that of Mr. Harsha Bhogle’s whose play of words never fails to surprise you!
It is indeed tragic that the world’s best finisher, an unpopular position until the last decade, has decided to bid farewell to his international career. In 2014, out of thin air, he declared his retirement from Test Cricket and handing over the mantel to Virat Kohli to lead the Indian National team. One of the finest minds in cricket history, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a stalwart when it came to limited-overs cricket (Mind you, I’m not undermining his Test Cricket statistics, but I personally enjoyed watching him play ODIs and T20s), an athlete who chose to believe in instinct over analytics. In one of the interviews, Chennai Super Kings Coach Stephen Flaming mentioned that Dhoni used to walk away from the room when statistics were discussed to design a strategy for particular players and preferred to judge his game on the match day. A wicket-keeper known for his lightning-speed dismissals and an awe-inspiring fielder hang their boots and move on to the next chapter, in the most discreet and unexpected manner, it almost feels like a tale out of mythology.

23.00 hrs: I’ll truly miss him in the Indian Blue jersey but inevitable as it is, retirement was coming, it was being hinted at several occasions, especially after the semi-final loss against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup. Raina’s word was sincerely shocking though, but you know when the time has come to call it quits and move on to the next chapter. Both these gentlemen have left with every ounce of dignity and respect, a well-deserved legacy left behind. Imagining the partnerships, they shared, not just as batsmen, the ones behind the stumps, that jolly banter between keeper and 1^st slip is a unique equation altogether. A bond that crossed the political and physical barriers involved and lasts beyond the pavilion. This is one of those hashtag friendship goals moment in history, with Raina following his captain’s suit, that final walk out of the field as a player. If only we could choose a DRS review to reverse the decision. Now every caption will begin to carry a former captain, former Indian player to their names, the harsh reflection of time itself.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

16^th August 2020
11.00 hrs: The reality sets in gradually, like that gasp you hear when you whack the ball up in the air and you hope it lands either beyond the boundary lines or in no man’s land. You know it was coming, it was long due, that full stop to the magnanimous innings, lined with facts and figures metamorphizing into an irreplaceable legacy. The only captain for having won all 3 ICC trophies- T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy and also, championing 3 IPL titles together. Take a bow, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, one of the most underrated duos, a love that’s grown on us with each passing IPL season, and we the IPL generation will forever cherish for decades to come.

14.30 hrs: My grief-stricken imagination takes me down memory lane, a few years back, not sure of the exact date. It was an IPL match, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, held at Hyderabad, that was perhaps the first time I witnessed the uber-cool Indian Captain and this brilliant fielder-batsman, Suresh Raina, for the first time, live. While my friends cheered for the home team, my heart was for CSK, for it was home away from home. Every time there was an IPL match between Chennai and Hyderabad since 2008, I’ve struggled to choose one side because while one might be the place, I’ve lived all my life, whereas the other city being my native home. The stadium was fully packed with a jubilant crowd, roaring with celebrations and cheers alongside the home team. But as the calm-like-the-storm Captain MS. Dhoni walked out, the nail-biting enthusiasm commenced and suddenly, and almost secretly the spectators were rooting for him, his helicopter shot and his power-packed sixes and boundaries. How the tables turn, and all rivalries are forgotten, that moment I think defined the impact Dhoni held on his home supporters. No matter who you were, where you belonged, we always depended on him to finish things off, carry us forward over victory lines using his own goosebumps-inducing strategies. His calculations and deductions were a theory of their own, a unifying factor you placed your bets on knowing all odds. You deserved a closure too, Captain Cool. We as cricket lovers, watching that final walk to the pavilion knowing full well, this is where it ends. Yes, a closure, an endgame would be fulfilling and fitting.

18:00 hrs: That acceptance I’ve tried defending sets in with a bittersweet hope, as we will get to witness their magnificence at the upcoming IPL tournament in another 5 weeks. I’m sure like me, this year’s IPL will be special and watched with increased fervour and sheer devotion we have for these two fine gentlemen. Thank you, Mr. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina for entertaining us and raising the standards for Indian cricket and being an inspiration for people from all walks of life.

With big shoes to replace, the Indian team’s batting order will need for rearrangement and fill Dhoni’s spot as the finisher and the mastermind behind the stumps. The unforeseeable future shall tell, especially with the sombre mood of this year’s IPL. From players trying to regain their form and mining new talent, an exciting season awaits.

Image Courtesy: Google

#7 The Willow Game!

Note: III Quarters challenge is about writing 750 words consistently to keep my writing muscle active. It is mostly unfiltered, minimally edited and more of instinctive writing.

Cricket is back! After a prolonged, unexpected break, it has begun with the West Indies tour of England series. It was disappointing when IPL missed this year’s summer slot due to the ongoing pandemic. The excitement that every summer night carried, with a battle of words and live commentary over dinner with friends and family, supporting our favourite Indian franchises. Various cricket fans across the globe have found their new solace with the resumption of international cricket, including me. Despite a “constricted” normal being restored, with terms like a bio-secure bubble, bio-security protocol flying around, nevertheless, it’s a surreal delight to watch cricket on TV. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Test cricket, almost sacrilegiously, and an old-school admirer that way. Test cricket is like a slow-burn film, you learn to appreciate it only when you reach the climax. And it takes immense patience and a force of habit to appreciate this format of the game. It took me watching 3-4 Test series’ to truly comprehend the beauty and skill it requires to play Test cricket. I think it mines out the complete physical and mental potential of a player and testing his durability due to the long format. In the age of T20s, test cricket is surviving like an Ilaiyaraja song on a rainy evening.

It was increasingly spectacular to watch cricket resume in its birthplace: England. Playing the mighty Windies, England struggled to find their form in the first match and lost by 4 wickets, the match restricted to 3 days of play due to poor weather conditions. Ben Stokes was made the stand-in captain for the 1st Ageas Bowl match, and I’m sure he’s relieved from his captain duties as Joe Root returns for the second test at Old Trafford. Above all, it is heartwarming to witness sport being a unifying force when the players took a knee, a representation of their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. A campaign instigating the equal treatment of individuals irrespective of their colour and creed, and a democratic stand against white supremacy. Michael Holding gave a stirring speech about racial discrimination and the Caribbeans winning the first game served as a huge metaphor. It felt like raising the curtains of oppression being lifted to welcome unity in diversity, like a victory run after a war. Once known to be the colonial masters, it was pleasing to watch the England players sport the Black lives matter emblem with pride and honour. England players despite having the home advantage, couldn’t suffice for the indomitable Windies spirit. Jason Holder’s men, especially Blackwood and Gabriel charged through the British attack like lions anxious to taste victory. As the Windies got accustomed to the English conditions a month prior to the first game, it was an intriguing sight to watch the two teams compete.
The second test, with England standing strong with a 437 run lead in the first innings, the strength of West Indies’ batting line-up will be put to the test. After a lot of debate and criticism, Stuart Broad returns to the side along with Chris Woakes creating an equilibrium in the England squad. Ben Stokes and Sidley scoring a century each, the Windies will need to buckle up their game to secure their position. The Old Trafford pitch negated the strong pace bowling Windies attack, with Roach and Chase keeping them afloat, it’s up to the batsmen to give a collective performance. With three days remaining, England has an upper hand over the game for now.
With no crowd of tensed spectators watching, the stands do seem to lack a certain charm to them, but the expectations are still soaring high. Ultimately, cricket is back, and it doesn’t matter if we watch it on our television or mobile phones, it is an irreplaceable experience. Especially under the solemn circumstances that we are living in today, it is with great satisfaction and relief we embrace the comeback of sports all across the world- football, formula one, cricket, tennis. However, this series will also have a consequential effect on upcoming series- India’s tour of Australia series, IPL and T20 World Cup, the latter two not yet scheduled. There’s an enthusiasm in the air, a longing we are all craving for, a return to the normal. I hope the resumption of international cricket is the first step to normalcy, a return to the ordinary from the abnormal. As we step into the second half of the year, let’s cross our fingers and hope for the better.

Fun fact- 3 Team cricket, each consisting of 8 players made a debut today. The first match was played in South Africa, starring 360° player AB De Villiers, among many others. The rules are simple- Each team bats for 12 overs, new ball introduced every 12 overs and the team that scores the highest runs wins gold. And yeah, while on team bats, second bowls and the other fields. Gotcha?