Team KC

With exactly 100 days remaining for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the Indian selectors do not have a lot of time left. There are a maximum of 9 ODI’s, which the Indian team can play before the grand event of cricket commences. The selectors have a massive headache of selecting the best possible squad for the World Cup. A lot of permutations and combinations have been tried by the team management, to assemble the best team.

Being an ardent Indian cricket fan, I list down my squad of 15 for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. To name it, I would refer it as TEAM KC:

1.       SHIKHAR DHAWAN

Dhawan has been a regular member of the team since the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. His ODI record has been fantastic to say the least. His ability to cut the ball is gifted, and a lot will depend upon the explosive starts he provides Down Under.

2.       AJINKYA RAHANE

Having tasted success in England as an opener, and now a ton against Sri Lanka, Rahane is the ideal candidate to partner Dhawan in Australia. The Mumbai lad is technically one of the soundest batsmen within the Indian setup. As a consequence of his technique, Rahane can score at a healthy rate as well. His job in most cases will be to support Dhawan.

3.       VIRAT KOHLI

Undoubtedly India’s best batsman going into the World Cup.  With a towering batting average of 53.28 in Australia, Kohli will be the spine of the Indian batting. More often than not, when Kohli fires, the team gets to the desired result. There could be a similar situation lined up for the World Cup.

4.       ROHIT SHARMA

Sharma would have to come back to his original middle order slot for the World Cup. The signs as of now atleast suggest that. Sharma’s attributes of finishing the innings in a grand fashion may be another reason, behind keeping him in the middle order.

5.       SURESH RAINA

The team’s most efficient player will have to contribute in several ways. Raina has ironed out almost all his flaws against short pitched bowling. He would be expected to provide a strong finish towards the end of the innings. His handy off spin bowling is more than an asset for the side. With Raina in his ranks, skipper MS Dhoni will feel comfortable, as Raina’s bowling is pretty economical.

6.       MS DHONI

The phrase “BEST FINISHER” and MS Dhoni often go hand in hand. Dhoni has a terrific record in every nation and condition. Till MS Dhoni is at the wicket, Indians need not worry about chasing totals. His tactical moves in the field will matter the most in India’s World Cup campaign.

7.       RAVINDRA JADEJA

With the cushion of distant boundaries, expect Jadeja to be bowling freely in Australia. Skipper Dhoni has relied on Jadeja for the death overs. This may not be the case for the World Cup as spinners find very little purchase in Australia and New Zealand. However, his miserly spells and lusty blows towards the end may often turn the tide in India’s favour.

8.       R.ASHWIN

With just 8 wickets in 12 games in Oceania, Ashwin would be eager to redeem himself. And no better opportunity than the World Cup to do that. Ashwin has done well in several mega events, and another strong performance would be expected from the offie.

9.       BHUVANESHWAR KUMAR

His bowling average may not be the best, but his economy rate of 4.60 is surely worth applauding. He may not get the desired swing Down Under with the Kookaburra ball, so it will be crucial for Kumar to make the limited swing count in the first few overs.

10.   MOHAMMED SHAMI

The most successful pacer of 2014 will have to be at his best in order to enhance India’s chances at the World Cup. Shami has been phenomenal in the death overs. Though his economy rate is high, his quick wicket taking abilities are surely a positive. Shami’s overs at the death could change the complexion of the match in India’s favour.

11.   ISHANT SHARMA

Going into the World Cup, Ishant will be the most experienced pacer. Sharma’s record in Australia has been decent and his knowledge of the conditions will be handy. Sharma was brilliant in the Champions Trophy played in the UK. Optimistic expectations can be laid on  Sharma, who would play his first World Cup.

12.   UMESH YADAV

The  pacer from Vidharbha was one of the rare positives when India toured Australia in 2011/12. His outswingers in excess of 145 km/hr on lively pitches will be tough to negotiate. However, Yadav would have to take care of his line and length, as the batsmen will be severe on anything loose.

13.   VARUN AARON

Aaron recently clocked in at 152.3 km/hr on a flaccid Cuttack wicket. Just imagine how swift will Aaron be at the WACA? The most worrying sign for Aaron is his fitness. If he manages to stay fit throughout the endeavor, then Aaron will have a key role to play on the steamy pitches.

14.   KARN SHARMA

Wrist spinners have been highly successful in Australia. Be it Warne, Macgill or Kumble; all have found genuine success Down Under. With long boundaries supporting him, Karn will be an asset for the side. Karn is quick through the air, and therefore the batsman does not get the time to adjust his position against him.

15.   ROBIN UTHAPPA

Uthappa will be the backup keeper and the opener. Dhoni hardly gets injured, so Uthappa can even be played as a pure batsman. In case Dhoni is unfit, Uthappa can keep, as he is often used to it. Uthappa has toured Australia in the past, so his experience will surely count.

Patriotism does more harm than Good

“I can happily lay down my life for my motherland. Doing this would give me tremendous honour and dignity.” “The welfare of my motherland, gives me endless pride, and that’s what my motive is.” Just imagine a person, saying these words in today’s era, where life sprints ahead at the highest possible pace. The reply in today’s era for the above mentioned quotes would have more or less the same meaning, with most of the replies likely to be, “Hello, why don’t you consult a renowned psychiatrist.” Other typical replies are likely to be, “I guess its high time for you to start reading comics, and take things lightly,” The replies to the initial quotes very much provide my answer to the concerned question that Patriotism does more harm than good? I stringently believe that patriotism does more harm than good.

In uncomplicated terms, patriotism basically means being highly attached to your homeland, and its traditions. The uncomplicated definition of patriotism however, seems to be taken for a toss. The factors that cause me to take a drastic stance against patriotism are several. A significant factor is that the so called “acts of patriotism” have often been the reason, behind the disruptions of several lives. This has atleast been the case with the world’s purported “LARGEST DEMOCRACY”. Several political parties, in order to hog the limelight, take irrational decisions, on the basis of patriotism, that severely deter lives of quite a lot of citizens.

Just consider a situation, where a film, a majestic piece of art, is banned, or its sets are vandalised, as it is branded as “UNPATRIOTIC”. Sadly, this has been the case with several Asian nations, where films have faced an ‘EMBARGO’ just on the judgment that they clash with the nation’s patriotic values and the age-old traditions. A film is usually an independent piece of art, where artists toil hard daily, to entertain the audiences. But, patriotic values often cause the film to be banned from being showcased in several cinemas. By committing such a horrendous act, the nation often has to miss out on the revenues that it could have generated and the possible profits for cinema owners. But the one group that suffers the most is that of the audience, who miss out on the fun that they could get.

The films have just been a common issue. There are tons of issues that arise from the so called acts of patriotism. On the basis of patriotism, a political party in the central region of India, vandalised an undergarments shop as they thought that the posters and hoardings in the shop defied Indian Culture, and were “unpatriotic”. The political party workers and unions even termed the shop owner as “ANTI INDIAN” and “LEWD”.

However, it was absolutely “PATRIOTIC” for a leader of the very same political party, to watch PORNOGRAPHY in the Assembly session and give himself some cheap thrills. The so called act of “PATRIOTISM” of the same political party just didn’t end there. The workers, of the same political party, that vandalised the undergarments shop, were also caught by the police for charges of molesting an American woman. That was very “PATRIOTIC”, wasn’t it?

The social issue of patriotism has even cramped up endless lives. In democratic nations, the actions of several individuals have to face the ire of a few political parties, who instantly term them as “UNPATRIOTIC” and try to deter those actions. So my question is: “HOW CAN WE SAY THAT A NATION IS DEMOCRATIC, IF THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?” The answer very much lies in the question. It’s the act of patriotism, which clashes with the actions of the common man, to literally deprive them of DEMOCRACY.

It is more often than not, due to patriotism that numerous developing nations are incompetent across the globe. The acts of patriotism, of a few individuals, time and again disrupt the economic activities within a nation. As a result, the analysts of several reputed MNC’s do not consider that nation to have the optimum business environment, and therefore, the nation loses out on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This further has dire consequences, on the nation’s economic indicators such as the GDP, Balance of Payment, Exchange Rate.

It has been the sole courtesy of patriotism, that several nations have adopted a “REGRESSIVE” stance.  This regressive stance has thereby resulted in the severe downturn of the nation.

Patriotism has become a meaningless ten letter word in this era, as several distinct members of the society have alienated the term from its meaning. The true patriotism lies in ensuring that the nation as a whole prospers and achieves great heights of success. But the most significant objective of politicians these days is to inflate their appetite for black money, and to accomplish this objective, they often indulge in mammoth levels of corruption, such as endless scams. This surely isn’t patriotic by any possible means.

Patriotism has been the antagonist behind spoiling the foreign relations between scores of nations. The patriotism within a nation, is more like the ego within a person. Its often the ego, that destroys the person. Similarly, clashing patriotic values are like those egos, that destroy the harmony attained within a nation.

However, I do feel that the act of patriotism done has its pros as well, but only to a certain extent. The degree to which the theory of Patriotism is practiced, should not be breached beyond a certain limit. However, in this modern era, breaching limits has become an increasingly common issue. Thereby, to conclude, I adamantly believe that PATRIOTISM INDEED DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.