Showing posts with label BCCI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BCCI. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

India start as clear favourites for the first Test against Australia at Pune

 India starts as favourites against Australia for the first Test at Pune's MCA stadium. 

Australia are touring India after winning their home series against Pakistan, but given the conditions and temperament of Australia batsman on low bounce, turning tracks,  players will find it difficult to match the hosts.
 

England played well in all of the Tests, in fact after winning the Toss the tourists put on a handsome total in successive matches, yet their batsmen could not launch from the solid platform they found themselves on only due to sheer tenacity of Indian spin department.
 

Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are a potent bowling duo, and in Indian conditions they can beat any batsmen in the world.
 

Australia's last tour to Sri Lanka was a big loss, given the way their batsmen catapulted against SL spin attack, Australia players will have that loss back in their mind.
 

Though Aussie batsmen should forget it, but having lost the series so badly, it will be there in sub conscious.
 

Steve Smith is the vital cog Aussie team would be relying up on in addition to explosive batsmen in David Warner, but given the form Indian spinners are in, I don't think they will survive for long.
 

Captain Virat Kohli is an aggressive captain and has turned around for India for such a record breaking winning streak in India's cricketing history. Australia has struggled against India on previous tours, so that is an added advantage and it makes things easy for captain to plan the course of proceedings.
 

Not only Indian spinners are doing good, Indian pace attack is rejuvenated and will Test Aussie batsmen initially with swing and later on when the ball starts reversing.
 

Australia will depend heavily on their pace attack comprising Starc and Hazlewood, Lyon will be the key spinner for Australia.  In these conditions India clearly have the upper hand, if visitors don't adapt to the situation fast, I think India will win comfortably.


eValleyz.Blog

Thursday, January 28, 2016

If India could repeat the performance at Adelaide, then no doubt it can surely win the series.

If India could repeat the performance at Adelaide, then no doubt it can surely win.

The factors that led to the Indian win were good solid knocks from top order Indian batsmen, particularly Virat Kohli, and good bowling by the team.

Though it will be too tough to say that India performed exceptionally well, there were many new faces in the Australia line up like Richardson, Boyce, Lynn and Head. India too tried new  players like Bumrah and Hardik.

So it was like a league game so to speak both the teams trying to unravel the new talent for T20 World Cup in March.

So will there be further new changes in the team line up for the next two T20? 

It depends on the overall team strategy of the respective teams. Most probably I think the team managements would go with giving more exposure to young talent.

Monday, January 25, 2016

India plays Australia in the first T20 at Adelaide tomorrow.

India plays Australia in the first T20 international ahead of the upcoming World Cup T20 in march in India.

Team managements of both the teams are looking to give new comers the chance to see how they fare, based on the performances, they could be selected for the World Cup in India.

Adelaide pitch seems to be evenly balanced whether you bat first or second. So the team winning the Toss can opt according to their strengths like batting or bowling first and take that early advantage from the opposition.

Valleyz.Blog

Friday, January 22, 2016

India wins the final ODI at SCG, Manish Pandey leads the team for the first victory.

Another huge total looks a big possibility the way Australia is batting presently on the back of Dave Warner's 5th ODI century at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India won the toss and chose to field, Ajinkya Rahane was replaced by Manish Pandey, Jasprit Bumrah makes his debut for India. 

Australia lost some quick wickets early in the innings but Warner's contribution kept the run rate ticking for Australia. Australia are 225/4 after 37 Overs Mitchell Marsh is not out on 50.

Dave Warner is out for 122 Australia 235/5.

Debutant Jaspreet Bumrah has so far bowled a tight spell, giving away only 28 runs in 8 Overs so far.

Mathew Wade is the new man in for Australia. James Faulkner follows after.

Runs continue for Australia 302/5 Mitchel Marsh continues with free scoring with the bat. He is 88 of 70.

Australia set India 331 to chase in the final ODI of the VB series on the back of Warner and M Marsh centuries.

India finally won the match after some solid overall performance from the India batsmen. After Rohit Sharma's 99, it was left for the lower middle order to perform.

There was this opportunity for Manish Pandey and he grabbed with both the hands, scoring at a brisk pace, notching a ton, and giving India a much needed victory on the tough tour.

India reached the target in 49.4 Overs with Manish Pandey scoring 104 of just 81 balls that included 8 fours and a six.

Valleyz.Blog

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

IndvsAus2016: India did better, but Australia played exceptionally well to win the VB series 2016.

India has lost the series to an in form Australian side despite good showing with the bat. 

As always Indian bowling remains a concern on every Australian tour. But this time around the team should have prepared itself for any eventuality like the injury to paceman Shami.

But I don't think any drastic changes are required for the team.

Also Australia's bowling is also good I should say, keeping in check any letting off of Indian batsmen to score freely.

 In a way the inexperienced Aussie attack of Hastings, Paris, Richardson, Boland, Hazlewood and Faulkner managed to restrict Indian scores at around 300 run mark, thus making it easier for Australia batsmen to chase down the total with comfort.

Had India added those crucial 20-25 odd runs more, then surely Australia batsmen would have come under serious pressure.

Overall I think India played well, and lost out only in some quarters, like Skipper Dhoni lost out on one or two occasions to capitalise the solid platform India top order provided. 

I think India should continue to play as it was, but I think it will be interesting to see the motivation of the players after losing the series after putting up such good huge totals on the board for the team.

Rohit Sharma did exceptionally well, scoring back to back centuries. Virat Kohli played gem of a knock when India needed it the most at MCG. Rahane was always there with the bat keeping the rate up for the team.

It is only on a day all the bowling, batting and fielding clicks for India, that India could win against a thoroughly professional side like Australia.

Talent wise India I think India is far superior than Australia, but to win the game you should need to perform as a team.


Valleyz.Blog

Saturday, January 16, 2016

India bats again at Melbourne in a crucial match in the series against Australia

India batting first after Australia elected to field after winning the Toss. Rohit Sharma was out early for 6.

Thereafter Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli built the innings together with a 119 run partnership for the second wicket, and then Shikhar Dhawan was out for a patient knock of 68.

As the last reports came in Kohli 71 Rahane 19 India 170/2 was the scoreline.

It is bowling which is of a concern for the team as was seen on two batsman friendly wickets at Perth and Gabba.

Melbourne is altogether a different wicket, you need to toil hard to get runs it is not that easy for the visitors.

But when the hosts will come out to bat it will be an altogether different story. They will surely come bang bang as they have nothing to loose and they are already two nil up in the series. Home conditions is an added advantage.

Rishi Dhawan has been included in the place of R Ashwin in the playing eleven.

320 should be scored for defending against a strong inform batting lineup. I would be happy if the team wins with even a 280 too, but that isn't the case as has been observed in the earlier two matches. Australia easily managed to chased down two 300 plus totals.

Rishi Dhawan is too a late a change, he should have been in the team from the first match, but one or two players inclusion or exclusion doesn't matter, it is a team game. The team should collectively have to perform out of the ordinary to win. And Australia looks in ominous form as usual at home.

Valleyz.Blog

Friday, January 15, 2016

Australia batting strongly in the second ODI at Brisbane against India

India second time in the series has posted another big total 0f 308/8 for Australia to chase in the second ODI at Brisbane.

Rohit Sharma continues his form with another stroke filled century in the second ODI after the huge Perth knock.

But Australia in reply is going strong at the moment at 143/0 24.3 Overs.

 Finch and Marsh are presently batting at 69 and 61 respectively. 

India bowling has again failed to put any pressure on Australia batsman. Looks like Australia is on it's way to win the second ODI also in a more convincing fashion.

Update:

148/1 Finch is bowled out by Jadeja for 71. Skipper Steve Smith is the new batsman for Australia.

eValleyz.Blog

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Ravindra Jadeja could be send up the order to do the Pinch hitting

Spinners can't do much on surfaces like Perth, which are very flat and the ball doesn't grip on the surface of the pitch.

Bowlers from all the teams have gone for runs in the recent past at Perth.

In such circumstances one is forced to think, was India short of another 50 runs. 

Indian batters did well but more could have been scored from the pitch if someone do the pinch hitting up the order to boost the Overall team total.

Brisbane is too similar where bowlers if hit the deck hard can take wickets.  Though it may not be such a huge scoring game as Perth.
  
 Valleyz.Blog

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Smith and Bailey partnership wins the game for Australia against India at Perth.

On the back of 207 run partnership for the 2nd wicket between Rohit Sharma 171 and Virat Kohli 91 India scored a 300 plus total against Australia at Perth in the first ODI.

Rohit Sharma  was at his best and played strokes all around the ground and that gave India a good total of 309 to defend.

Australia in reply lost it's both the openers quickly to Barinder Sran in his debut match. After that Skipper Steve Smith and George Bailey built the Aussie innings with nice batting display.

Thus taking away the match from India. 242 run partnership was broken when Bailey got out at 112. Australia team total was 263.

Skipper Smith was in tremendous touch once again as he notched one more hundred against India. Maxwell followed Bailey but was out for only 6 runs.

 B Kumar was economical giving away 42 runs in 9 Overs. Sran 3 and Ashwin took 2 wickets each.

Perth has seen some big centuries too in the recent Test match played between Australia and NewZealand. So it was expected that this could be high scoring game.

How many runs were India short that is for team management to look into the matter. Altogether it was a good match for India, as it is a tour opener and India playing a new player in the team after Md Shami's withdrawal from the tour due to injury.

Though spinners went for runs, but pitch may have played for the turners.

Australia wins easily 310/5 in 50th Over. Skipper Smith 149 made a crucial contribution in the win.


eValleyz.Blog

Friday, January 8, 2016

Perth game should include new talent regardless of the warm up results

India team has elected to bat first at the first tour game against Western Australia at Perth.

Looking at the team composition the new selections Barinder Sran, Manish Pandey, Rishi Dhawan and Gurkeerat Mann all are in the playing eleven. That is the right kind of exposure the new talent needs. 

Though the first ODI is four days away I would still like to declare my selection for the first ODI.

I would definitely like to see all the new selections in the first match at Perth,  so that there is no pressure on them to play to their natural abilities. 

Though some of them have good experience with the IPL like Manish Pandey and Rishi Dhawan. Playing away from home and in Australian conditions like WACA is going to be a test.

I would like to see them play early games and hope for the best.

Rishi Dhawan in place of Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey in place of Rohit Sharma, Gurkeerat Singh in place of Ajinkya Rahane and Barinder Sran should be there in the first match itself I think.

Murali Vijay had a good stint Down Under last summer, would've liked to see him in the ODI format too.

One or two or all is my selection for first game at Perth. My opinion is for new players in the starting games.

Team management is perfectly placed to make the final call. Final call is theirs. All the best team India.

Valleyz.Blog

Friday, December 18, 2015

India should devise a strategy, game plan ahead of the ODI/T20 2016 tour of Australia

India is touring Australia in January 2016 where it is slated to play five ODI's and three T20's.

National Selectors are meeting in Delhi to pick up the squad. India lost T20's as well as ODI series on the last tour. I would not argue on the team composition, because most of the players pick themselves on their past experience and their present form by a margin. There is no doubt about that.

The thing I don't like is, Indian team doesn't plays to its full potential from game one, be it a T20 International or One Day International.

The team should play to it's full potential, that doesn't mean our bowlers are mercilessly used and tiring them off, but clever use of conditions. In Australia I have seen India team improving year on year, but the goal should be to win each game at a time. Convert the away series into wins. 

I think training camp should be held at venues in India which offer similar conditions to that of Australia, like say at Mohali or Dharamshala or any fit venue for the purpose especially for the youngsters, new comers in the team so that they are fine tuned from the game one and play to their full potential.

Players should take this opportunity to excel in away conditions, and devise such a plan and strategy to counter pace and bounce in the batting department, as well as studying the nuances of sticking to line and length in the bowling department, which promise dividends to players on any given Australian tour.

Australia extracts more from their agility and fire power on and off the field in Australian conditions, it suits their overall physical abilities on any given day, but the tourists too could make up to the hosts by training and devising a strategy, plan to counter the Australian onslaught.

 Valleyz.Blog

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Are the batsmen to blame in the IndvsSA Test series? Too much T20 cricket?

India faces regular seaming and bouncing tracks away from home and infact India did a splendid job in away conditions off late.

But is it the same case with the visitors Who always play with the strength of their pace bowlers ? Is it not the case that Imran Tahir did perform well in the series and the fact that South Africa batsmen were found wanting with the bat?  Indian batsmen faltered too, that indicates the mindset. And moreover Indian batsmen were found wanting and look to be more comfortable with T20 type wickets.

South Africa will have to cope up with the spin playing tracks in the sub-continent. How far India can stretch the home advantage is the question? Did India went far and presented pitches as being reported or did the batsmen of both the teams did not perform?

Narendra Hirwani in 1988 once bamboozled West Indies team and set a record on Test debut by taking 16 visitor's wickets, even so Anil Kumble took 10 wickets against Pakistan. 

Hindustan Times reports that the pitch has been referred to the committee by ICC. 

ICC says pitch for the Third Test in Nagpur was poor, Report under review - Hindustan Times

ICC should take a holistic view and strike a balance with the fact that Sub Continental teams teams too face fast and pacy tracks not best for their comfort while playing away from home. 

 Valleyz.Blog

Friday, November 27, 2015

Are the pitches in the Test series against South Africa upto the International Standards ?

There is lot of suspense over the way the pitches are being prepared in the series against South Africa.

I think it was for the first time that these type of wickets were on display in the Indian subcontinent. Even when the likes of  Anil Kumble, Raju and Bhajji bowled, the pitches were not so muddy.

Wickets used to offer considerable support for the pacers early on in the Test match, say like the morning session of first day of the Test match until the shine goes off the ball. I remember India scoring many more runs against England at the same ground if I am right.

But not so in this series I suppose, the wickets were quite muddy, ball gripped the surface eternally, turning sharply. Doosra's were simply unplayable.

I won't say that it is unfair. Because both the teams have equal opportunity to bat and bowl.

But is it acceptable according to the international standards?

Like when India travels abroad, mostly down under, the pitches at Perth and Brisbane have that pace and bounce that Indian batsmen sometimes falter at.

In the Brisbane Test when Johnson quickly removed the Indian middle order and the whole Indian batting line up came under pressure. But the pitches were up to the international standards I suppose offering nice pace and bounce.

I think it is an ethical question here more so that the matches in this series were totally lopsided, with the hosts completely dominating.

I was particularly aghast to see when some of the deliveries didn't rise even up to the knee of the batsmen



Valleyz.Blog

Thursday, November 26, 2015

India outplays South Africa in the spin department

India has clearly outplayed South Africa in the spin department. Both Ravi Ashwin and R Jadeja have provided the impetus the team India needed.

Imran Tahir on the other hand performed extremely well for the Proteas, but there was little support for him from Harmer. Instead it was Morkel who provided crucial breakthroughs for the proteas.

With Dale Steyn on the sidelines South Africa were just missing the edge they needed to give a good fight back .

Batsmen of both the sides were clearly outplayed by the spinners in the match. With the top score being 40 runs by Murali Vijay after three innings in to the match.

Many are arguing that pitches prepared in the series are spinner friendly. But I think both the teams have fair chance of winning the match, those who ever win should take the title.

Bowling friendly or batsmen friendly, a pitch plays true for both the sides and better team wins in the end.

Valleyz.Blog

South Africa chasing 310 in the second innings in the Nagpur Test

India is clearly way ahead in the third Test against South Africa in Nagpur. After hosts being bowled out for 215 in the first innings.

Proteas succumbed to a very low score of 79, courtesy guile and spin of R Ashwin (5/33) and Jadeja(4) on the second day of the match.

Murali Vijay top scored in the Indian batting line up with 40 runs. While Duminy top scored for SA with 35 runs.
  
India in the second innings replied with 173 in 46.3 Overs. Imran Tahir took 5 wickets in 11.3 Overs while Morkel took 3 in 10 Overs. Shikhar Dhawan top scored with 39 runs in the second innings for India.

South Africa are left to chase 310 runs in the second innings to win the match which looks very difficult. 

In reply SA are 21/1 in the second innings.

 Valleyz.Blog

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Australia easily wins the warm up tie against India at Adelaide Oval

Australia won the warm up game against India at the Adelaide Oval by 106 runs. David Warner 104 and Glenn Maxwell (retd) 122 helped Australia post 371 in 48.2 Overs. 

In reply India scored 265 in 45.1 Overs with Dhawan, Rahane and Rayudu scoring fifties.

The pitch was easy to bat, with the ball nicely coming on to the bat. David Warner played good strokes all round the wicket at a fast pace. 

Glen Maxwell later scored heavily and scored 122 runs of just 55 deliveries.

Indian batsmen were mostly out caught trying to play some enterprising strokes to up the scoring rate.

Mohd Shami took 3/83 in 9.3 Overs, Umesh Yadav 2/52 in 9 Overs and Mohit Sharma 2/62 in six Overs.

Stuart Binny and Axar Patel took one wicket each.

 Valleyz.Blog

Thursday, February 5, 2015

The World Cup winning team of 2011 for India was easily the most experienced and talented of the time in the world

The World Cup winning team of 2011 of India was easily the most experienced and talented in the world at the time. And it was no wonder that India won the cup so handsomely.

When you have Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Mahender Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir then you could easily be on top of the world. The champs had to do it in front of the world and they did it in style, dominated the world with their eloquent style of Cricket that is not found in any part of the world.

Yuvraj Singh with his remarkable form with the bat won the Man of the Tournament award, which is one  award any player playing the World Cup cherishes for lifetime. And Yuvraj Singh won the award after match winning performances through out the tournament. 

Zaheer Khan with all his experience in One Day Cricket was the main spear head of the Indian team, and go to man in times when team needed him during the course of a match. Harbhajan Singh was the India's spin wizard who lend the team with a reliable spinning abilities and providing crucial break through at regular intervals.

In Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India had a safe opening pair. Particularly Virender Sehwag with his amazing stroke play used to put pressure on any opposition with in no time. And the legend, maestro Sachin Tendulkar himself was there to provide that touch of solidity to the team, any team in the world would like to have such a player in the ranks. Dhoni was the captain cool, shrewd and tactical that kept India in the hunt and ensured the team won the World Cup, he was handful behind the stumps and was demolisher with the bat. Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli were experienced enough to keep India in good stead through out the tournament.

The players like Praveen Kumar, S Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, Yusuf Pathan all provided the team with the cushion the team needed and with that strong bench India proved insurmountable to any opposition in the World.

Here on sub-continental wickets the ball does not rise as much and the tracks are batsmen friendly so to say, but still the batsmen had to play their strokes to put a score on the board for bowlers to defend. Or chase down runs as the Indian team did against Sri Lanka in the finals.

Sri Lankans as always are a respectable side with likes of Mahela, Sangakkara, Dilshan, in their side. But it was India's day and they finished their campaign in 2011 by coming out on the top. History has been created. India became the World Champions true to their repertoire.

After four years this World Cup edition is less than a week to start in Australia and New Zealand and most of the teams have warmed up for the occasion and ready to start their campaign.

In the preliminary stages we will see developing cricketing nations rub shoulders with their more experienced counter parts. Ireland, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Zimbabwe all the other teams have some element of surprise they carry in them. It is the exposure to more and more cricket that will make them more experienced. These teams have many times sprung a surprise by defeating top teams in the World Cricket. 


Valleyz.Blog

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

India need to attack pace bowling in World Cup with sound technique and temperament

World Cup is round the corner and all the teams are buzzing with confidence. 

India is on a long tour of Australia that started in December last  with Four Tests, a T20 and an ODI Tri-series. The team lost 0-2 in the four Test match series. Though the team lost but there were positives from the series to be taken into account.

In One day series the team did not do well, often loosing early wickets to pace bowling in Australian conditions. Many players did not adjust to pace and bounce that well, often edging catches behind the stumps.

Though Mitchell Johnson who is the main spearhead of the Aussie attack took rest from the series, India could not win the series. Though it is another matter, in the last match it played against England at Perth, the team had a good start but could not convert into a challenging total in the end, the match was easily won by England.

In these conditions India need to adapt well and particularly should have the strategy to counter the likes of Mitchell Johnson, James Anderson and other host of bowlers from different nations. 

India are defending their World Cup title here in Australia- New Zealand of the World Cup 2015, if India puts up a meek response it will be difficult for India in crunch matches like Semi-Final and Finals of the World Cup.

India need to take every match seriously and prepare accordingly and don't give the opposition the comfort to attack in crucial situations of a match.

India need to make strategy to tackle pace bowling very clear and follow it.

Valleyz.Blog

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Cricket administration in India is to blame for the team's debacle overseas so consistently.

There cannot be any justification for the batsmen to present any excuses when they are not performing, that is the what the game is all about,  if you're out, you must leave the crease.

Now if you keep claiming that such and such thing happened that's why I got out is a lame excuse to the glaring reality and fact that you've been caught behind on a legal rising delivery that was up to your throat  and you ought to have left it alone, and you could not fend it off (blame it on your technique or become superstitious). You could not keep it out and that's a failure.

Accept it as a part and parcel of the game, agree you lost fairly and squarely and move on, that is what sportsmanship is all about.

Unfortunately, our batsmen are in their dreams eternally, when they suddenly wake up on a day three pitch to a fiery spell from Australia's most prolific and fastest left arm bowling action from Johnson. That's always music to any batsman's ears in the world.

Are Indian batsmen colour blind or what, can't they spot the pitch of the delivery and leave those short in your throat deliveries, can't they duck? no, no, no it's the flaw in their technique and temperament, that is honed on sub-continental yawning pitches, where the ball takes a huge effort from a speedster even to rise below the waist of the batsmen.

The greatness of any batsmen or a bowler of a touring team is measured on how one's own performance contributes to the team's overall success in over coming the challenges on a foreign tour, exposing your limited experience to overcome them with sheer brilliance and discipline.

Presenting the excuse of an inexperienced side or a  match day mishap is just so lame, that you are shirking  from taking responsibility that you've consciously taken a decision to do so. Who would buy that?

Honestly speaking, in India the Crickets as a sport has been heavily politicized and monetized, and as such talent is hindered showing up regularly, gone are the days of a reliable middle order or a solid opening pair or  mercurial spinners or a genuine all-rounder .

Here we have a so called 'inexperienced' side which is always in the process of getting 'experienced' for half a decade before winning a single game of a Test match overseas.

Why are our Test players so lacking in technique and temperament, Why the team has been exposed very badly overseas on the seaming and bouncy pitches?

Our batsmen make tons of runs in domestic games even internationally, but hardly score a fifty when the situation demands, they simply go into a shell and they won't come out of it until they are back playing on the home turf notching a 'scintillating double ton' belting the same speedsters that they cannot defend even for a few overs when overseas.

There is something awfully wrong to say that Indian players can't compete internationally. It's the complete failure of the Cricket administration in India to have brought the team in such a precarious mess, that you always look up to players like Tendulkar's, Kohli's every time in a match to save the team from sporting disasters overseas.

If the mindset of the cricket administration in India, is just to 'manage' the things than winning a series or two in over half a decade overseas, is like bringing bad name to the overall health of the sport in the country, no one will want to side with a team which loses and loses. Accepting defeats consistently is mediocrity.

It is Cricket administration in India to blame for the team's debacle overseas so consistently.

Valleyz.Blog

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Sachin's farewell series unearthed talent in debutants Rohit and Shami

Recently concluded Sachin's farewell series has unearthed talent of the debutants like Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami.

Rohit Sharma had to wait for his Test debut and made a mark when given the chance by back to back centuries. Mohammed Shami justified his debut by taking 9 wickets. Both of the players remember their memorable debut which enthralled the Kolkata crowd at Eden Gardens.

West Indies didn't perform up to their potential and had their chances in the first test when India lost six wickets for 150 plus runs until debutant Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin turned around the match for India. From there after India siezed the initiative and went on to win the match.

Second test at Wankhede the Sachin Tendulkar's final test at his home ground is a memorable one, for the way the Master batsman batted while at the crease.

The delicate cuts, straight drives, and subtle manoeuvrings  of the pitch enthralled the crowd one last time for the vociferous audience at the Wankhede watching vintage Tendulkar in full flow.

And a delivery by Narsingh Deonarine outside of out stump  had nothing in it except inviting the batsman to cut it for four, but sheer presence of Darren Sammy, lost his control while the fast flash of the bat which was traveling, had their been another fielder, there could have been a catch dropped.

But destiny had it and the Master batsman had to leave the crease after such a master class at the crease.

Crowd was watching the master batsman walking back to the pavilion for one last time and turning back to acknowledge the crowds gesture.

The match drew celebrities from across the spectrum including the Congress scion Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai, bollywood stars including Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan were there to felicitate the champion batsmen.

Then the Master batsman gave a befitting farewell speech at the presentation ceremony which held the nation's breath for a moment.

A prodigy of Indian Cricket, SR Tendulkar went on and on and illustrated his 24 years of passionate journey with immaculate words coming straight from the heart.

They inspired a generation and a country was in a sombre mood both celebrating the class of the batsman and his retirement at the same time.

Though the Master batsman retired from the game but he will always be there in hearts and minds of millions of his die hard fans.

Such a short series with so many beautiful memories. Test Cricket could have never been any better except for the retirement of a legend.

Valleyz.Blog