IPL 2015: Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)...

It has been settled for me that captaincy does not certainly suit Virat Kohli. I had a chance this year to watch him perform since ICC World Cup 2015. My observation so far is he has failed consistently to exhibit certain leadership qualities.

First of all he gets excited for very small achievements, and quite expressive. Certainly not like the cool captain 'M. S. Dhoni' caliber.

Second his performance as a batsman really concerns me, being a fan of Indian Cricket Team. He has failed consistently to perform under pressure. Right since the world cup quarter final till todays IPL game against Rajasthan Royals. The RCB’s victories so far in this IPL should be credited either to Gayle, A B Devilliers, bowlers performance or anybody else other than Virat Kohli. He has not delivered a match winning or the great wall performance. If he has in any match so far, I must have missed it. If we talk about the previous match where RCB defeated RR and RCB had to chase 134 where conditions were in favor of batting, I really do not think that was the pressure situation, which one would expect Captain to stand up for the team. He had apparently many opportunities in this IPL but he stood for none.  Sometimes I doubt if he should hold the position of a player as well in the Indian Cricket Team and giving him a rest for few matches would not do harm to Indian Cricket Team and to VK as well.

I see a great potential in Yuvaraj Singh as a captain of Indian Cricket Team especially in One day (50 overs) or T20 (20 overs) format of the game. His fitness is the concern but I’m sure if given a chance, proper attention and encouragement he would overcome all the physical limitations and could prove to be very useful to hold nation’s flag high in the game of Cricket which is considered to be nation’s pride. Besides, Yuvi has already proved his leadership qualities in Under 19 World Cup, where his team had won the Under 19 World Cup for the India. Such a player is not even counted in the India’s national squad for the world cup. Little dis-heartening.

Virat may be a gentleman and a man of great character, on and off the field, but what matters on the ground while standing with the team of 11, especially for the Captain is the contribution, performance, dependability, consistency and most important maturity…

Does blogging help? Do bloggers help build better and responsible society? HDFC Bank Ltd. acts +ve

This is in reference to the article posted on this Blog on 11 Dec 2014 and 16 Dec 2014 with the title:

‘Job (Naukri) with 100% guarantee: is it a con or ponzy money making scam to fool innocent & needy job-seekers??? If yes, please do not get wooed by such con offers’.

These posts were about how ponzi/ con schemes are run by various con players by using the medium and face of the reputed banks.

Yesterday when I had gone to deposit cash at HDFC bank, happened to come across one form at the counter called “Annexure – I” to be filled by the person depositing cash to an account belonging to someone else.  This annexure is basically aiming to seek purpose in writing of the deposit being made(when someone is depositing money to an account not belonging to self).  It also tries to highlight that the purpose of this deposit is NOT FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

1>     Payment towards Job Offer

2>     Payment towards claiming Lottery Winning

3>     Payment towards claiming awards

4>     Payment towards claiming gift, or

5>     Payment towards claiming inheritance

I must admit that these are the general purposes or mediums through which many phishing scams and fraud schemes are being run.

I hereby sincerely appreciate the proactive approach shown by HDFC Bank Ltd. in making it’s customers aware about such possible fraud schemes right at the point where Customer interacts with the Bank for the deposit purpose.

Ban new Pepsi advertisement!!! And also it’s advisable not to drink Pepsi or any carbonated cold drink on the health grounds. What ‘Advertising Standards Council of India’ has been doing?

Just happened to see new Pepsi ad while watching IPL and thought of writing immediately about it. One thirsty guy approaches a food joint and asks for a bottle of water. The shopkeeper at the counter first time pretends as if he is not listening. The thirsty guy repeats his request ‘ek Paani ki bottle dijiye’. The (chhapari – cheap guy) guy at the counter shouts back ‘kyaa’?  (means what?) as if he has not understood what this guy has been asking for. That thirsty guy repeats his request again. Again that chhapari pretends as if he has not understood. Then a kid comes at the counter and says “Bhaiyaa ek Pepsi do”. To which that Chhapari responds asking ‘normal or diet’. The kid says normal.

That shopkeeper gives that boy a normal Pepsi bottle, the Kid leaves the shop. Then this cheapo looks at the first customer who had approached him for the water and gives a cheap smile.

> The advertisement is targeting  Kids to sell the Pepsi, a drink which has been scientifically proven which is not good for health and definitely not good for children

> The advertisement tries to give impression that the person looking for water when he/ she is thirsty is considered shabby, could be taken for granted, humiliated and laughed at. This would affect the psychology of children especially going to school and colleges and would encourage them to grab Pepsi when they are thirsty instead of water which is the best natural and effective solution for the thirst.

I do not understand what ‘Advertising Standards Council of India’ has been doing while approving release of such advertisements which are against social interest, especially against public health and targeting children and offending their psychology!!!

It’s not just tobacco and liquor products are injurious to health but slow killer products such as Pepsi and other carbonated drinks. 

Virat Kohli @ RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) @ IPL and Indian Cricket

Today RCB lost in IPL miserably by the SRH. Virat Kohli must consider himself lucky that he was denied LBW decision by the umpire on the swinging in delivery by Trent Boult. The first game RCB could win because of single handed performance by the Chris Gayle.

While I got a chance to follow cricket closely since the World Cup 2015, I could not help noticing my self Virat’s poor performance since World Cup quarter final. In semi-final against Australia, don’t deny precious, consistent and reliable Shikhar Dhawan lost his wicket because of losing temperament may be or may be wrong shot selection or combination of both. Thanks to Mitchell Johnson who had to open his mouth in 11^th over of the Australian attack and in which Shikhar Dhawan seemed to got pulled in, but no worried he had done his role. But then what Virat Kohli did was a grave mistake. The situation required a stable, steel headed batsman with the utmost possible strong technique. Of course India could not bring great wall ‘Dravid’ back after retirement but, we had option then. Option of Ajunkya Rahane. I think Dhoni should have promoted Ajinkya Rahane to one down considering the need of an hour. Openers had set the stage really well…

I personally think Virat Kohli could be great asset to any team if he comes on 4^th number i.e. as a 2 down batsman. While his technique and strength is quite good, I personally feel it is not very much dependable for him to face the new and shining ball.

In RCB while Chris Gayle could be expected to pay solid anchor role as an opener, I think AB de Villiers could come as one down who has ability, fitness and skills to blend in any situation and provide great support to the team, Gayle and middle order. Virat Kohli could come as two down to act as game setter. While he has strength, technique and most important the probability of ball losing it’s shine, RCB would be able to make most of these three legends they have on their side.

One must not forget that RCB’s real strength is strong Batting order so, I guess they should make most of it by re-shuffling the batting order.

About Virat, I think in any form of cricket he is coming as a two down batsman could help him to be more consistent, dependable and evolve as a strong captain - leading by performance.

This season I’ve became great fan of Shikhar Dhawan. After Saurav Ganguly I’d  not witnessed such a dependable opener for India in any form of Cricket. Also I like him for his cool, calm, cheerful yet sometimes expressive behavior. He represents young generation of India undoubtedly. Hats off to Shikhar Dhawan! J