Shane Warne was never about innocence, he was always the romance of cricket. He did not play the sport like boys do, he was always an adult playing mind-games. He did not approach cricket like a game of chance or glorious uncertainties, he plied his trade by luring, teasing, testing, trapping and outfoxing the opponents. I like this word- outfox, it describes perfectly what Warnie’s intentions always were. That was the aim, to outfox, and then celebrate with joyous abandon- index finger pointing upwards, vigorous shaking…

I am a big fan of Virat Kohli. Not particularly of his cricketing skills or his attitude though, but of his eagerness to play a social activist. If he plays his game the right way, he might end up as India’s Thunberg, although Tendulkar’s peak level and popularity might still elude him. Then again, Woko Harams have twisted aims and expectations from their lives and careers. They live to point fingers and tell, not to serve or deliver. On that count, Virat Kohli has been making all the right noises and is headed in the…

I refuse to tweet or put out a message in support of Shami. That is because I love Mohammad Shami, the Indian fast-bowler, a lot. I love that strong lad, built like a bull, for the jump in his stride, right before he delivers. His deliveries have that abrupt extra bounce that just grows on a batter and draws him in. I love that Shami- the man who is always in the hunt, bowling his heart out, ball-after-ball, match-after-match. I see no need to back him in the face of manufactured outrage by the…

“Never plead for love, demand it.” Clark Gable is reported to have replied when asked for tips on romance. If you have to beseech for love, what you end up receiving is termed sympathy. This is not quite astrophysics. Besides, the name is not Novice, but Novak Djokovic. The Serb who survived NATO bombings on Belgrade in his childhood is not some spring chicken, but a man of the world. He might claim to be “the happiest man alive” under the burden of gratitude towards the audience at the Flushing Meadows that finally…

It is clear that we have to get used to tennis tournaments without one or more of the big three not playing in them. World Number 1 Novak Djokovic played in the 2021 US Open while Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal opted out. Hopefully, we will see all three competing at the 2022 Australian Open. Novak was attempting to be only the 1st player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win a calendar Grand Slam. He was also aiming to win his 21st Grand Slam title. It was not to be, and it was Daniil Medvedev who denied him this…

The Chinese value stability over the right to elect, or dump governments every five years. The CPC has evolved with decades of experience, especially after it adopted market economy as its creed in the early 1980s. Controlled development and paternalistic regulation ensure quick and effective results in China. Unlike social and legal standoffs which are the basic features of indirect democracies, China resolves conundrums through executive fiat, and this has held the Chinese in good stead. A major problem bothering…

20 years of Grand Slam Tennis is over in the 21st century. The years 2000-2003 were dominated by American Champions (this article focuses only on the men's Grand Slam events). In this period of 2000-2003, Andre Agassi won the Australian Open 3 times and reached the US Open Final once. In addition to his six previous wins, Pete Sampras won Wimbledon once more, won the US Open once more as well and also reached the finals of the US Open twice as well. Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003. This was an excellent show by…

Congrats Novak Djokovic for winning the 2021 Wimbledon Championships and joining Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal at 20 Grand Slam titles each. 20-20-20. An extraordinary achievement for Novak. He joins his legendary rivals, and he is now expected to comfortably leave them behind. He is also now in a unique position of being the 1st of the glorious trio to have a calendar Grand Slam. Novak becomes the 1st player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the same year and the 1st since…

As opposed to an epidemic, which affects a large number of people across a community or population, or region, a pandemic is across countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as the biggest global pandemic spreading across the entire world and has affected countries and populations and individuals in several ways. The pandemic also changed the world economy drastically. Unemployment rates have increased and many people have also seen cuts in salary. This has had a direct impact on the various industrial and…

We just saw a very interesting French Open 2021, where Novak Djokovic got the better of Rafa Nadal for just the second time in nine matches and went on to win his 2nd French Open and overall 19th Grand Slam title. The French Open is played at the Stade Roland Garros or the Roland Garros Stadium. This 34-acre complex includes 3 main stadiums, 20 courts, VIP area, Press area, tennis museum and so on. The complex was constructed in 1928 to host France's 1st defence of the Davis Cup. The complex is named after Roland…