World Cup Buzz

India’s sensational win last night in the quarter-final fixture against Australia was the main buzz of the morning. Till yesterday, die-hard cricket fans like Bapu Rane and Bhaswati Bose were skeptical about India making it to the semi-final. They even spoke of lighting agarbattis and performing puja on their TV sets to seek divine intervention.
Today Rane was ecstatic. Beaming from ear to ear, he boogied into the Garden, looking like a toothless trapeze artiste who had lost his way. He was soon to be joined on the bench by Ved Prakash Grover, Hari Singh Shekhawat and Yusuf Rassiwala among others, one more excited than the other – as though India had already lifted the World Cup. “I couldn’t watch any of my TV serials last night because of the match,” said Shekhawat, known to be otherwise quite indifferent towards cricket.
“Dhoni took a wise decision by not sending Pathan,” noted Yusuf-bhai. “Remember the way Raina skied the ball for a six? That was the real game changer. Raina played a rock solid and responsible inning.”
“No, it was Yuvraj Singh who was the game changer,” argued Rane. “What daring he has – 57 not-out! He gave stability to the team.”
“Bechara Ponting, this is his last World Cup,” intervened Kishor Babani.
“I feel sorry for that Australian bowler also," added Grover-sah'b. "What’s his name? Brett Lee. He got hit under the eye and was bleeding. Still he came to bowl!”
The conversation inevitably veered towards next Wednesday when India meets Pakistan in the semi-finals. “Pakistan koh harana mangtaa hai,” said Rane, suddenly turning thoughtful.
But for the cricket talk, it was a normal day at the Club. Since Kishor-bhai had to leave midway through the exercises, his quota of jokes for the morning (jotted on a piece of paper) was read out by Yusuf-bhai (right). But it was not the same. As Shekhawat observed, you need style to narrate a joke. “Sabhi ke bas ka nahin hai,” he pointed out.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Maar diya paapad wale koh!"
Tara Chand on India defeating Australia by 5 wickets yesterday.

Dilip Babani says:
Yes, cricket was the main attraction today. All the Club members were happy that India has reached the semi-final. While India was playing, everybody was praying to God not to make the player out. But my suggestion to all is not to over-react in a cricket match. Do not feel bad if anything goes wrong. One should be strong to face bad with good. We are born to be happy always -- just as we are happy during the morning exercises, which make us feel strong. Somebody getting a heart attack and dying due to India losing a match, or fainting, or putting himself on fire... you are not born to do such bad things. You watch cricket to enjoy -- whether India wins or loses. Don't put your heart in the match. It is only a game. You are made for bigger things, which are much more important.
--Dilip