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Mahendra Singh Dhoni: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"Look at them, some day one of them will just collapse."
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not enamoured about the amount of cricket his team has played in recent times.
What he really meant:
“My players are tired and jaded. Isn’t that evident?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Team India are pushovers—literally.”
Parthiv Patel: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“Whenever I close my eyes and seek inspiration during trying times, I see only Tendulkar!"
Parthiv Patel, who made his Test debut at 17, has just one idol—Indian icon, Sachin Tendulkar.
What he really meant:
“Inspiration—thy name is Sachin Tendulkar.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Eyes wide shut, I have T20 vision—visions of Tendulkar.”Sunil Gavaskar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“It looked like a contest between a professional team and a schoolboys team.”
Sunil Gavaskar is scathing in his criticism of the Indian team’s performance against a superior English side.
What he really meant:
“It’s no wonder warm-up games feature second string players (Northamptonshire).”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Isn’t this remark pithier than Boycott’s ‘India played like Bangladesh’?”
Kapil Dev: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“Why should they speak out against the board? Will a Congress leader speak against his party in Parliament?”
Kapil Dev makes his opinion known as to whether Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri can be unbiased with their statements in the press box while being simultaneously indentured to the BCCI and providing expert views for Sky Sports.
What he really meant:
“The BCCI functions like a (Indian) political party. Either you toe the party line or you’re out.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Are there any vacant slots for me, in that box?”
Sunil Gavaskar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“But they have got to remember that achievers, like them, also have two eyes, two hands—and a stomach (to feed)!”
Sunil Gavaskar is unconvinced that his contract with the BCCI as a paid commentator conflicts with his role as an expert for Sky Sports. Ravi Shastri is the other ex-cricketer hired by the Indian administrative body, each paid Rs. 3.6 crores annually. The master opener defends his position saying that there are conflicts in every sphere of life.
What he really meant:
“Hey, if the BCCI and Sky Sports don’t care, why should you? Lump it or leave it.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m not paid by either party.”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni going the Kapil way?
Kapil Dev Nikhanj. Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Two charismatic skippers with winning ways.
The former led Team India to an epochal triumph in the 1983 World Cup, a victory which led to a radical power shift within the ICC. The Reliance World Cup followed in 1987. The circle was complete. The colonised were now king-makers.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was fortunate to be selected skipper for the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup. He thrust a young, inexperienced team to the pinnacle in a format ignored by the bigger guns—Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Saurav Ganguly.
Saurav Ganguly: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“Make the most when you get it, once it goes, you won’t get it back, even how much you want it."
Saurav Ganguly has no sympathy for the moaners and groaners in the Indian squad. He feels that the India cap is hard-earned and is not to be worn lightly.
"I’m too fed up hearing this "time to recover" [excuse] – don’t play for India then, you know this is what it is, you have to come back and play a Test series.” said the former captain.
What he really meant:
“Aches and pains come and go. The India cap comes along—rarely.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“The guys in this Indian side can approach me for tips on how to play short-pitched stuff.”
Q & A With Sheila Dikshit
1) The Comptroller and Accountant General (CAG) report indicts you…
No comment. I have yet to receive a copy of the report. Can’t I beautify my beloved Delhi for the CommonWealth Games? Should cost be an issue?
2) But it’s a case of Disappearing Beauty….the potted plants are missing from government offices…
Beauty is temporal, isn’t it? Just proving the old adage.
Geoffrey Boycott: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“India looked like Bangladesh in disguise.”
Geoffrey Boycott is scathing in his criticism of the Indian cricket team. “Their ground fielding was atrocious, their bowling was wayward and lacking thought.” says the Yorkshire great.
What he really meant:
“I’m sure Bangladesh would have put up a better fight. England beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in three Tests, and yet the No.1 side are down 0-2 in two. Yeah, I forget, they won’t be No.1 after this series.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Duncan, you can go home now. I’d like to coach this Indian side.”
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