Perth. Windy conditions. India is so used to losing now that
they are convinced that Australia didn’t win the toss, they continues to lose.
The mood in the Indian dressing room is somber. There is a
difference in the attitude. For once no one’s worried about Sachin Tendulkar’s
100th century. They are focusing on how to make use of the vital
training they underwent on the go-karting track.
The sea gulls smile as MS Dhoni makes his way back to the
Dressing Room. Soon they would witness a different breed of sitting ducks or so
has been conveyed by David Warner.
MS Dhoni has returned from the toss. He looks calm; he is
used to losing now and has started to believe that winning the toss doesn’t
mean the same anymore.
Dhoni
(with the same authority with
which he asked Viru to
sit out of the T20 Final against
Australia)
Guys…as we pad up, we must
realize a few things…
Gambhir
You ain’t we.
We is Viru and me.
Dhoni
(Realizing eating the same
breakfast as the
T20 Final isn’t helping)
And your point
is…?
Gambhir
Just
correcting.
Dhoni
Don’t push me I might retire by
end of 2013 and you’d be shortchanged like IPL and Delhi Daredevils; BCCI will
make Sehwag the skipper and that
will be that. You want that?
Before Gauti can react, the maestro speaks.
Tendulkar
Where is that
coming from MS? I am still around and
Boost now runs
in your veins so how the hell can you
think of
retiring. Won’t you be around when I get my 100th 100.
VVS Laxman
Where I have
heard that before...
MSD is furious; in spite of his Very Very Substandard
outings he has continued to believe in VVS Laxman and is shocked to hear this.
Unknown to MSD is that VVS’ iPod is playing a high quality
MP3 recording of his iconic 287 not out against Australia. VVS is trying to
figure out if his bat maker is making an ass of him; why isn’t he able to hear
the same sounds from his willow.
Dhoni
Okay. We have a match at hands
(to Gambhir
and Sehwag)
and you are padding up as you are
the openers, right?
Sehwag doesn’t move his feet but Gambhir nods; he could be
agreeing or finally realized what MSD meant when he suggested that he could be
shortchanged.
The analyst walks in with his laptop and looks at Sachin
Tendulkar who walks to one corner of the room.
The analyst sets up the videos and Tendulkar look at them.
Analyst
These
are number 12, 8, 22, 19, 33, 38, 44…and the yeah,
29
as well.
Tendulkar
29?
Why that one?
Analyst
Looked
most convincing to me….
Tendulkar
And
why is looking convincing to you so important?
When
you have to remember and look different a 100
times
you think the level of conviction matters?
Before the Analyst can say anything Tendulkar points to a
section of the dressing room that has DRAVID written on it.
Tendulkar
He
has faced the maximum number of balls. No one remembers
the balls. No. They remember him
taking on each ball with the
same determination. Get that?
(Pauses)
No one will remember how I looked
at the 100th…the only thing
That will be remembered is where
were you when Tendulkar got the 100th.
MS catches himself looking too long at Sachin and the
analyst. He breaks his spell and looks around the dressing room. He seems to be
looking for someone or something but can’t spot them or it. These days he is so
busy looking for an excuse that everything seems like a lost cause.
Rohit Sharma, the eternal benchwarmer for Australia 2011-12,
walks up to him and points him towards the enclosed area within the dressing
room.
MS walks to the enclosed area. He spots Rahul Dravid who is reading
something. It’s not the Fletcher report for the match, or the pitch report or
even the minutes of the last BCCI meeting he attended as captain. He is
rereading John Medina’s Brain Rules.
Dhoni
I…well, just pad up.
Dravid
Is
Viru back?
Dhoni
The
match is yet to start but you know the
drill….
Dravid wraps up his book and nods.
Dravid
Yeah.
I know. Been there, got done.
MS wants to reach out to Dravid and beg him to save him but
then realizes that’s what Dravid’s in the team for and he isn’t asking too much
from him.
Dravid
Is
he going to score his 100th?
Dhoni
You know I
don’t ask him such questions.
Dravid
Oh yeah I
forgot. Okay I was thinking I’m going to
Need a record
or two but there’s too much pressure on me
To perform
when he can’t decide about his 100th. I mean come
On it’s been
15 outings already.
Dhoni
Fair enough. Okay from what I
heard you are quite close to Border’s maximum bowled record. Will that do?
Dravid
I need to
think about it. But thanks to Viru I might just have
To dive in…
Dhoni yells out for Vinay Kumar.
Dhoni
Pad
up.
Vinay
Hain?
Dravid
He
means gear up. You are playing.
Vinay who’s been enjoying the sights and sounds of Australia
doesn’t know what hit him.
Vinay
Why
I am playing? I mean thanks but what did I do?
And
aren’t these guys supposed to bat first for a few days
and like score
some runs…
Dhoni
Don’t
you know it’s Perth, and it’s bouncy
And
on fast pitches we play four seamers.
Vinay
Okay….guess
I won’t be playing any more matches…
Can
you at least try me for IPL 5?
Fletcher who’s been quite till now emerges.
Fletcher
I
think we should call Gary…if you guys could pick me up
Just
because he suggested then he might have some more
Good
ideas still. We could just call and get some inputs
The BCCI honcho who’s tagging along wants to pacify the
situation and what better time than now when everyone’s looking.
BCCI
Guy
We
will win this one. History repeats itself. Last time we won in Perth.
MS Dhoni loses it.
Dhoni
Is
Harbhajan here!? Is he?
(realizes)
Oh
Symonds is in The Bigg Boss House. Thank god!
The Match Referee comes in.
Match
Referee
I
think we need to start. You don’t want to be fined for delay.
For the first time MS has a smile on his face.
Dhoni
Oh you can’t blame me for this
one! I have kinda started a
new format here. Do you know
anyone else who specializes
in four day cricket? Do you!
Match Referee shakes his head.
Dhoni
Yeah.
Now get back to your TV room and look out for Virat’s
Finger
and don’t worry about the delay. Won’t keep you waiting. Got
To
take the ladies for shopping and all, we need a full day here.
Gautam and Sehwag walk out.
Fletcher runs up to Sehwag; he is still on the phone with
Gary.
Fletcher
Viru…Viru…it’s
a bouncy pitch so remember to duck.
13 balls later Sehwag is back. He ducked.
Dravid is out there making Gautam realizes the importance of
sticking on.
Tendulkar can’t decide if he should go with the 17th
century reaction or the one that followed the 32nd. He decides Adelaide would be better sign off.
VVS has finally placed a collect call to his bat maker, no
VVS isn’t stingy but the bat maker feels more in control that way.
Dhoni’s informed about Saakshi’s tattoo; the pressure to be
a good husband has just gone up a few notches and even four-days look like a
lot to play. He can’t figure out why is Laxman there for so long and not
scoring. Even Dravid doesn’t take 108 balls to score 31.
2013 looks too far off.
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