A few stray thoughts….

And, for the first Saturday after the world cup debacle, a few stray thoughts

I do believe that the world cup is really boring without India. We may not have done better than Ireland but we would have certainly done better than West Indies.

The famous Marathi humorist, the late P. L. Deshpande once said that cricket is only game which is more talked about than played. How true it is! Even our shameful defeat has not stopped us from talking cricket.

Even Narayana Murthy, normally a sober person, can't stay away from it.

I even sympathize with our stars after I saw them on TV returning from the World Cup tour. Even Sachin Tendulkar's BMW didn't look like a BMW.

And I am not sure if Shewag would have had to pick up his own bag from a police van if he had to return twenty days later.

I don't know if I was pleased when I read that Ganguly got a warm reception when he arrived in Kolkata. Why should Bengal behave differently?

And what business is it of Ian Chappell to suggest retirement to Sachin Tendular? That is prerogative of advertisers.

I wouldn't be surprised if mirrors become the fastest selling commodity in India after Ian Chappell showed one to Tendulkar. Is it ambush marketing? Have to check the ICC rule book. Or do BCCI rules supersede ICC's in commercial matters?

And I wonder if the advertise can live without Sachin even after he retires.

It is also a sad day for Indian cricket because Kumble has declared his retirement. No one who has won us more matches than he did in last decade.

That certainly doesn't mean he shouldn't have retired.

The lesson future coaches of India must have learnt from this crisis is that SMS is not an option of communication. At least not with the journalists.

I entirely agree with Shewag's papa. Fifty overs were not enough for his son to defeat the opposition. This must be on Vengsarkar's mind also when he complained about the format of the world cup.

If BCCI is really worried about loss of revenue, I suggest they arrange a one day series against Pakistan. Indo-Pak cricket is always a hit. Nothing delights us more than beating Pakistan.

The way the Pakistanis are playing it would not be difficult for Papa's boys to defeat them in 50 overs.

This would also bring back Dravid and Dhoni in Videocon ads much faster.

And I am glad that Mumbai won Ranji Oneday Tournament. If not my country, at least my city made me proud. Though Rajasthan victory may have been better for Indian cricket.

And this final point of view:

In these tragic days of cricket in the sub-continent, we have to appreciate Bob Woolmer's family. They lost the world, but the dignity they have shown in this crisis is remarkable.