A(u)ction Time
Well the IPL has officially kickstarted with the Auction ,how exciting!As you are aware,the Team is focusing their efforts on 2 senior batsmen, as we believe we have one of the strongest bowling attacks with strength in depth(the technicalities I’ve been told!;).
Last year was disappointing for us but a learning curve, but we didn’t see any need to fundamentally change our strategy, of blending experience with youth. We have some exciting new talent for 2010 as well, and we used the auction to supplement our squad - although there were no definite ‘must buys’ this year. Most importantly, our focus this year has been to work with many of our existing squad. Indeed, Darren Berry is currently in India.
The Batting needs some additional experience to support Graeme Smith and as a result we have two international class batsmen who can provide the platform for other players to perform around, but also have the potential of winning games themselves. I am sure Rajasthan Royals might have surprised some with our selection of Damien Martyn (he retired 18 months ago), but he was a truly world class top order batsman that others will learn a lot from. Our inspirational captain has a hunch about Damien and when it comes to cricket we are very happy to trust Shane Warnes “hunches”!(D)amien!!:)Adam Voges again is someone we are kicked about ,great statistics in the past and a great price! Can’t wait for this squad to come together.
More importantly,As for all the noise about our Pakistani players, it is a shame that we will(once again)miss some of the best players in the world. We are in constant contact with them,and we understand and empathise with their hurt in the current scenario.. But I can say THIS with complete confidence from. Our end that it wasn’t a contrived attempt to insult or ignore..It is a huge loss for US to lose such quality players some of the Best in 20-20 cricket. However, for such a long tournament we have to be completely convinced on player availability ie: NOT just their dates but their presence in India, as providing security is a huge concern, with threats from some Lunatic fringes..we could not afford that risk as we value our players!!it was a catch 22 situation for us. Wish we(indians and pakistanis )could handle the situation a little sensitively and with a bit of maturity and request Journos to not politicise it any further. Don’t we have enough on our hands to handle already!??!let’s not make the situation any more volatile.People in both countries love good Cricket and there’s nothin bigger than the sport. let’s grow up and move forward. Phew!I’ve said my piece.Stay positive.. it works..everytime!:)
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January 22nd, 2010 at 1:01 am
hey shilpa nice to hear from you after long. I even commented on your last post bt seems u dnt read that as its not in the comment section. Anyways being your fan i will always keep writing may be you read that or nt. Anyways nice to see u back in mumbai and must say you and shamita were looking lovely in your orange and pink trackpants whn you arrived at mumbai airport from london. i saw that pics on net. Anyways m planning to make something creative for u and raj wedding pics as m a graphic web designer bt dont knw how i can send you as that will be an jpg image. Anyways if possible u can tell me the way as i have already started making it.
with lots of regards and love
farah abbas (DELHI)
January 22nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
Dear Sir/Madam,
Hope this mail finds you in good health!
Recently December `09, in royalchallengers.com - they had an campaign going on for recruitment in RCB team. I did send my resume with this e-mail attached, but i havent heard anything from them yet, but when i went to there website recently they had posted my letter in there blog and motivated me with there comments -
http://www.royalchallengers.com/blog/touching_note_from_a_fan
http://christopherdavid007.blogspot.com/2009/12/cricketers-tribulations.html
This mail is about me Raghu, I am in my early 20`s now , i m working as a Assistant in Bangalore .
In 1997 (age 13) i was in my 8th std ,during mid term test i couldn’t perform well in my exams and my dad was a very strict about my studies and if i couldn’t perform well I used get beatings from my dad always as he wanted me to score above 90 every time. Today I realize that all which he did was his love towards me to make me a better person. During my test i couldn’t perform well in 2 off my papers and after my exams my teacher wanted to meet my dad cause of my poor performance .With my fear i couldn’t tell this to my parents and i took a decision without even thinking about my future. I left my home ,my parents, my studies everything , i was the only son for my parents, I was 13 then (1997). My journey started in Bangalore railway station ,i went everywhere chennai, hydrabad, nagpur, lonavala, pune…mumbai…sleeping in goods section in trains
Finally i got tired and landed in mumbai…yes Mumbai .In mumbai i went to an hotel in pillohouse ….started working there then started selling tea , citrates, on a cycle…worked in chowpaty in dosa stalls…you might think why i am telling you all these things..but… i dont know…
During this period i used to work for rs800 as my monthly salary in tht hotel…i used to save all my money without spending on anything because i wanted to join Bengal cricket club in dadar, where sangam lad sir use to be the coach. i came to know about this in a newspaper there where i used to read daily in fear thinking my photo might come up in papers.. after 6 to 8 months i collected 4500rs i paid sangam sir the money nd stated playing for the club….my struggle went on….after some time amir chahcha passed away the hotel got closed and i was left homeless….i then went to agripada,which is near lower parel…got a job in dosa stall …where i used to work nd sleep on the table to luk after the stall which was there on footpath.But my struggle n love for cricket never died…i still remember one day i didnt had money to get the train ticket from mumbai central to dadar and the previous day i had seen the conductor TT catching a person and handing him over police who was caught travelling without ticket …having that fear i ran from mumbai central to dadar morning 4 o clock.
yrs passed on and i kept on doing the same thing every day morning practice even work in food stalls. later amith bhate uncle from national cricket club in oval maidan told me to practice there and i started playing for national cricket club in 2003.he also got me a job in a courier company .
And during the same year i was transfered to banaglore,may be by gods wish..i came here wrote letter to my parents (after 7 yrs)that is something which i cannot express nor i can tell in words..it was as beautiful as it can get …i came to blore started working nd i couldnt miss my routine even here,,,i joined brijesh patel academy … Ananth sir was the coach then ( hope he still remembers me, Selector now for the state ),I used to play around Ganesh Satish, Amit Verma, Nikhil Kashap, … Ganesh and Amit are now playing for Karnataka and Nikhil for Bangalore Brigadiers.
By now I had realized my mistake which I made 13 years ago by leaving my studies, I then planned to continue my studies and got my Diploma in Web and Graphic Designing thru Aptech Academy. Started hunting for jobs as I had realized that I should settle and leave the cricket madness forever.
When I got to know about you online , my body said YES raghu got your chance, but my mind still says don’t repeat the same mistake. Coming to a happier note I just got married a month ago and leading a good married life. But I still pray to god
“Give Me Some Sunshine, Give Me Some Rain Give Me Another Chance I Wanna Grow Up Once Again”
Please please keep me updated on any selections happening for RR, would be happy if i get a reply from you.
Thanks for your time
Regards,
Raghu Shivakumar
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Dear Shilpaji,
Wish u a happy married life. Nice 2c u back in india. Enjoy ur life n ur surrounding atmosphere.
rksharma,sikar,rajasthan
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Love is crucial but may u get it forever.
January 24th, 2010 at 3:28 am
Play Yousuf Pathan top of the order.Tell this to Shane.He will be determined to come back to Indian side and he will definately play well this time.. RR rocks.
January 24th, 2010 at 8:57 am
to be honest i haven’t read your blog for the day…i made the comment for the previous -written-blog and it appeared fter days ,but it mentioned the corerect date of writing …nways hey I have spelled correct incorrectly a few words away from this :-)…i will just read and write to u later and if time permits do write often and if time permits more(hahaha!)please reply….with Lots of Love:Ms.supreet.s.shetty
January 24th, 2010 at 9:13 am
hi!just read ur post (as uual my previous post is in moderation…)nways back to ur post…i don’t keep myself updated on cricket so i din’t had an idea of the auction(obviously)..but people at home know,for the fat there are many things i’m not aware and everyone at home even younger ones know!!!i guess it has to be common ,was it the same with u?did u ever feel that the younger one in your house …shamita 2 b precise,i mean the difference in the horizon of thinking,enacting,persuaing are so clearly different?welll i think u will go mad with me if i go offbeat from the topic soooo back 2 Cricket!the only thing i could capture was to see u in a purple outfit as shown in Times Of India and Karnataka Malla aswell as in our own leading telivision channels which gave me ahint that the IPL is back…with ofcourse the housemates giving me some ample conversations on the same an not at all surprised at my Arrogance!!!!(ha!ha!)….hey u mntioned in write one should always be positive…love :supreet
January 26th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Nice 2 hear frm u after so long….anywez HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!
January 27th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
HEY MRS KUNDRA!!!!!!!!!HOW U DOING? HOW IS MARRIED LIFE? HEARD ITS CRICKET SEASON AGAIN……………………YIPEEEEEE. I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ITS MY FAVORITE. I ENJOYED THE IPL LAST YEAR IN SOUTH AFRICA IT WAS GUD(”,) I WATCHED THE GAME BETWEEN RAJASTHAN AND KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS. IT WAS GUD REALLY ENJOYED IT EVEN THOUGH RR LOST BUT THEY PLAYED WELL. WAS HOPING TO C U THERE BUT DIDNT. CANT WAIT FOR THE IPL TO CUM AGAIN TO SOUTH AFRICA. I THINK THAT THE IPL IS GUD IT GIVES THE CRICKETERS TIME TO SOCIALIZE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO LEARN AND PLAY WITH AND AGAINST EACH OTHER. SO U BACK IN INDIA WATS GUD AND HOW ARE THINGS DOWN THERE? HOW IS BOLLYWOOD TREATING U? WATS YOUR NEW PROJECTS THAT U BUSY WITH? CANT WAIT TO C U ON THE SCREEN AGAIN YOR ITS BEEN A LONG TIME……………(”,) HOPE U WELL AND EVERYTHING OF THE BEST AND GIVE SHAMITA MY REGARDS AND TELL HER SHE LUKED AND ACTED AWESOME IN HER MOVIE ZEHER OPPOSITE EMRAN HASHIMI ……………(”,) TAKE CARE AND WILL CHAT SOON!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE AND DUAAS ALWAYS MMMMWAHH (”,)…
April 24th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Raj & Shilpa:
Congratulations on your marruage and business alliance. I admire Raj for his business enterprenueurship, but am really shocked to see how the two of you can support Lalit Modi, who I clasify as the scum of God’s good Earth. He has degraded the gamee of Cricket with his free swinging bat and greed. He just thought his bat was mightier than teh sord of the law. I am surprised to hear the comment that Modi eleveated the standard of the game. The idea of IPL was great, but brininging in gambling and betting and craeting an atmosphere not conducieve to good business is not what one expected of the league.
His method of bribing and threatening individuals was uncalled for. He has massed illegal wealth at expense of inncoent fans and franchisees by compelling the franchisees to take in one of his sidekicks as co-owner.
Both you and Raj have worked on your own and earned a name for yourself. You did not use inncoent individuals to build your wealth. I have known Modi since his days at Duke, he was a drug peddler and would have been arrested for intent to murder if he had not absconded. If he ever steps into the USA he will be locked up. Is that the type of commissoners you need?
SUrprise to find out that the franchisees are fighting for Modi. and are aginst his ouster. I know Modi will end up at the scheduled Meeting on Monday as he knows that he if he does not, he will be fired.