Prithvi's day out ... hitting 6 fours and a fastest 50 !

Perhaps he was not aware of the records ! ~  would one day claim that he never played for records too – the fastest 50 in IPL by KL Rahul on 8th Aor 2018 was not to be troubled as also by Yusuf Pathan off just 15 balls in May 2014 & Sunil Naraine (15 balls 50) in May 2017 but on 48 off mere 15 balls, he could have equalled Suresh Raina’s 16 ball 50 in 2014 – but let go a bouncer – then off Varun Chakravarthi played it to cover for a single and .. .. after 7 overs had to wait for strategic over break !  .. ..  he clipped Pat Cummins to leg and the whole team gave a standing ovation - great innings by Prithvi Shaw – a 50 off mere 18 balls  from a man whom many criticized not fit for One dayers leave alone for T20. ! – what a transformation and what an innings today against KKR.  Fastest 50 thus far in this edition of IPL 2021.

In the 2^nd over the innings – he hit 6 successive fours of Shivam Mavi with first ball being a wide ! 

At Rajkot on Jan 1-5, 2017 – Tamil Nadu played Mumbai in a Ranji semi-finals and lost.  The player of the match was debutant Prithvi Shaw who scored a century in 2nd innings.  On Oct 4, 2018 -  at the same Rajkot, against not-so mighty West Indies teen-age sensation, Prithvi Shaw marked his Test debut with a commanding 99-ball hundred - the third fastest (in terms of balls) on debut. Shaw also became the youngest Indian - and fourth overall - to hit a century on debut. He smashed more records against  a depleted West Indies attack.

Many know him as Indian U19 title winning Captain.  India has  participated in 10 U19 World Cups since 1998 and won the title four times and finished runners-up twice.  In the inaugural U19 World Cup in Australia in 1998, Amit  Pagnis was the captain of the team. In 2nd Mohammad Kaif led and won the  maiden title.  Yuvraj Singh was named as the player of the tournament. In 2002, it was Parthiv Patel; in 2004 it was dinesh Karthik. The left-handed middle-order batsman Ravikant Shukla  led India to their second final of an U19 World Cup. In 2008, it was the mercurial Virat Kohli and in 2010 – left-arm spinner, Ashok Menaria.  In the next two editions Unmukht Chand and Vijay Zol led India.  Under Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper from Jharkhand, India lost the finals to West Indies and Prithvi Shaw led India to another title triumph in Feb 2018 at Mount Maunganui.   

Remember that Pongal test at Chepauk 1980 – seeing him at the nets we were so excited – the smart Sandip Madhusudhan Patil did not make a big mark in that test. He was class, could hook and pull, hit 174 at Australia, played courageously after being hit on ear by Len Pascoe – he ended up his short career of 29 tests and 45 ODIs.  At Manchester in 1982,  At Manchester,  he hit Bob Willis for six fours (4440444, the third ball being a no ball) -  racing from 73 to 104 in nine balls. He was 129 not out when rain brought an early end to the match.

Years later at the Oval Chris Gayle hit Matthew Hoggard for 6 fours in a single over in 2004; Ramnaresh Sarwan hit Munaf Patel at St Kitts in 2006 and Sanath Jayasuriya hitting James Anderson for 6 fours in an over at Kandy in 2007.

Ajinkya Rahane who was briefly on the field today made mincemeat of Sreenath Arvind in 2012 in a match against Royal Challengers, Bangalore. .. .. and Tilakaratne Dilshan scored six fours off Mitchell Johnson in an One dayer in 2015.

The way Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan are chasing 154 – it seemed Delhi Capitals would win with ridiculous ease, even as DK is instructing Varun Chakravarthi in Tamil at 22.10 hrs now on 29.4.2021.

Prithvi Shaw looks unstoppable !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
29.4.2021.

throwing coins into water bodies !

Not sure, how many of you still carry small change (in coins) and do you remember naya paisa ? – I remember 1 paisa, 2 paisa, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 1 rupee, 2 rupee & 10 rupee coins – also remember having seen Rs. 20, 50 & 100 coins – not sure whether they were only commemorative coins !!

The renminbi (lit. 'people's currency) is the official currency of the People's Republic of China.  The yuan  is the basic unit of the renminbi, but the word is also used to refer to the Chinese currency generally, especially in international contexts. One yuan divides into ten jiao and a jiao in turn divides into ten fen !!

The  Government of India has the sole right to mint coins. The responsibility for coinage vests with the Government of India in terms of the Coinage Act, 1906 as amended from time to time.   The coins are issued for circulation only through the Reserve Bank in terms of the RBI Act.   Coins in India are presently being issued in denominations of 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees and five rupees. Coins of  50 paise are called 'small coins' and coins of Rupee one and above are called 'Rupee Coins'. Coins can be issued up to the denomination of Rs.1000 as per the Coinage Act, 1906. Coinage of India, issued by imperial dynasties and middle kingdoms - Cowry shells was first used in India as commodity money.  Metal currency was minted in India  during the famed  Mauryan Empire.   

                       The first rupee coins of the Republic of India were minted in 1950. These included 1/2 rupee, 1/4 rupee, 2 anna, 1 anna, 1/2 anna & 1 pice coins, and are referred to as the anna series or pre-decimal coinage.  On 30 June 2011, all coins in denominations of 25 paisa and below were officially demonetised.

In Aug 1990, I travelled by Circar Express and in the afternoon crossed Godavari river – was amazed looking at the long rail bridge – and then saw many people standing near the doors and throwing coins into the river as offering.  Sure, rivers are reverred – there are so many rivers, and so many trains cross over them – assuming that 100 people throw say Rs.200 worth coins – how many would be thrown in a day – and in a month and .. .. .. years later, worshipped at another temple that had beautiful ponds all along the way to the main sannathi – and the bottom of the ponds were not visible as there were so many coins !

For sure – India is not alone .. .. as MailOnline reports that a man in China was detained by police after he was caught throwing coins into a jey's engine for good luck - a superstition that put the lives of the 148 passengers and crew in danger.

The passenger, identified only as having the surname Wang, was scheduled to fly from Weifang to Haiku on a Beibu Gulf Airlines flight GX8814 when he tossed a handful of coins wrapped in red paper into the engine. Coins in a plane's engine can damage the blades or even cause a fire.  Luckily, runway workers noticed the coins on the tarmac under the plane before it took off and alerted the aircraft's crew.  Wang reportedly admitted throwing six coins wrapped in red paper into the plane's engine. A picture of the coins was later shared online. The staff managed to recover all the coins but the flight had to be cancelled due to safety concerns. All 148 passengers were forced to disembark and wait for another flight until the next morning. Wang was then detained by the police.

Many Chinese people believe that tossing coins into a specific target - such as a statue in a park or a bell in a temple - might bring them good luck or ward off evil spirits. This is not the first time a passenger has attempted to toss coins into an aircraft engine for good fortune and a safe flight in the country. In 2019 a passenger was ordered to pay Lucky Air more than £13,000 as compensation after throwing two coins at the plane's engine, causing the flight to be cancelled and more than 160 passengers stuck overnight. The court ruled in favour of the airline. It deemed that any normal person with common sense would think that the coins might land in the engines, which could lead to 'a serious accident'. In April that year, a 66-year-old female passenger was detained by police for throwing six coins at a plane for good luck before take-off in Inner Mongolia.

Those who disrupt the normal operation of companies and organisations are subject to a maximum of 10 days of detention and 500 yuan (£56) cash penalty, according to China's Public Security Administration Punishment Law. Unruly and untrustworthy passengers in China may also be blacklisted by the country's civil aviation authority and banned from taking planes, according to the nation's social credit system.

More interestingly, the majority of the nation's citizens have never travelled by air despite the fact that the country is set to overtake the United States to be the largest air travel market in the world in 2022.Most air passengers in China are repeated travellers from big cities. It has been estimated that more than 70 per cent of Chinese - or more than one billion people - have never flown in their life; therefore they are oblivious of the etiquette and safety regulations of travelling by air.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
28.4.2021. 

lies, misinformation and malignant tendencies - Delhi Court pulls AAP Govt on false count of remdesivir

At the time of national crisis, Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas and .. .. Aussie pacer Pat Cummins were  in news for their contributions – we have not heard of tinseldom glamour actors and some richest persons of Tamil Nadu and elsewhere !

Sadly at a time, when India is deeply afflicted by Covid 19 – some are spreading malignant misinformation and hatred.  At a time when people need to unite and fight the dreaded  Corona virus, some politicians are so petty minded that they enjoy vicarious pleasure in tweeting and posting photos that appear in Western media aimed at belittling and weakening India.  BBC would often post volumes on how India struggling without mentioning how Britain has mismanaged.  What BBC and other media would not portray is geographically India is 1249% larger than United Kingdom and the population comparison is UK 65.8 million people as against 1.3 billion in India. According to latest reports – India has 1,73,13,163 people affected and 195123 deaths while UK has 44,04,882 affected and 127428 deaths ! – see them in % instead if aggregate nos. and the stark reality would be clear !!

Back home, Uttar Pradesh is a very big state with highest no. of population of 200 million people.Uttar Pradesh’s population is so large it’s more comparable to the other largest countries in the world. As data scientist shows, every country in Africa, Europe, and South America has fewer people than Uttar Pradesh. On 26 January 1950 Govind Ballabh Pant, Premier of United Provinces, became the first Chief Minister of the newly renamed Uttar Pradesh. Including him, 11 out of UP's 21 chief ministers belonged to the Indian National Congress.  The present CM is Shri Yogi Adityanath, a monk who assumed office in 2017. He has been the Member of Parliament from the Gorakhpur constituency, Uttar Pradesh, for five consecutive terms since 1998. Adityanath is also the Mahant or head priest of the Gorakhnath Math. He completed his bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand.

But everyday one would see meme in social media highlighting the backwardness of the State, wrongly attributed to its CM, comparing it with a much much smaller Delhi.  The fact remains there are many CMs of other States, who are not graduates too.  Today a small time failed actor of Tamil Nadu arrogantly tweeted about Yogi blabbering something about lies – would he today do it again after Court’s continued hammering of this CM is the Q ! – unlikely for these failed actors and some writers of Press which don’t sell enough try to defame the country fully influenced by some hidden hand outside !

The darling of the tainted media - Arvind Kejriwal Chief Minister of Delhi is always touted as educated and providing good governance but falters at every step and tries to blame everybody else for his failures.  The press remain audaciously silent despite one among them ‘The Print” publishing an article that AAP Govt had spent over Rs.274 crores on outdoor publicity since it assumed office in Feb 2015.  From   videos at Metro stations about “sweeping changes” brought by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the education and health sectors to individual newspaper ads and posters congratulating each of Delhi’s 11 districts for launching work on roads and drains, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s photograph was nearly ubiquitous in the national capital before the model code of conduct kicked in this month.

Today – there is yet another shame.  A bench of the Delhi HC slammed the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government over the shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir. The drug, which is in short supply, is being used to treat moderate-severe cases of Covid-19 in hospitals. The high court said records show 52,000 vials of Remdesivir were delivered to Delhi against the Delhi government's claim that it only received 2,500 vials of the drug. "Hoarding of medicines or oxygen cylinders leads to creation of an artificial scarcity to an extent which may not be there," the Delhi HC said while appealing to the people not to indulge in such practices. The bench also asked the Delhi government to consider the use of DTC buses to transport the dead bodies of Covid-19 victims.

A bench of the Delhi HC on Wednesday took cognizance of the attack on doctors by family members of a deceased Covid-19 patient at the Apollo Hospital. The high court was hearing matters related to coronavirus management in the national capital when it made the observation. "Such incidents are bound to demoralise the medical community which is serving tirelessly to save lives of the people," said the Delhi HC. The bench went on to say, "We hope such incidents will not be repeated. The authorities, including the police, should be mindful of such conduct and be vigilant to prevent any such untoward incidents."

The Govt gets pulled up everyday but the media savvy CM often tries to blame the PM, the Central Govt and everybody else for their failures – and what would that smalltime actor say on this. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
28.4.2021.

Oxygen Politics ! ............. Aussie Pat Cummins stands tall !!!

A decade ago ! (in Nov 2011) – in the 2nd Test at  Johannesburg, South Africa:

266 & 339 lost to Australia – who after scoring 296, chased a target of 310 and won with 2 wickets in hand.  Why remember the match, in the background of Oxygen politics in the State and in the Nation ?  Can you identify this handsome Cricketer ??

 

The second wave of Corona and the high increase in the no. of persons affected is showing some States in poor light but they are still trying to play the blame-game without caring to do any administration. Sad is the state of affairs. 'Not Wave, But Tsunami': Delhi HC Censured Kejriwal Govt Over Oxygen Crisis in National Capital.  The Delhi High Court said on Saturday that if any official at the central, state or local administration was obstructing in the picking up or supply of oxygen, then “we will hang that man". The observation by a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli came during hearing of a plea by Maharaja Agrasen Hospital over shortage of oxygen for seriously-ill covid patients.

Tamil Nadu too had been rocked with ‘oxygen’ being the main subject matter of all debates.  Hours before a Supreme Court hearing and an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to discuss the issue over reopening of Sterlite plant, Vedanta Limited filed a special leave petition asserting that the Tamil Nadu government should not be allowed to take over the oxygen plant, and claimed that the State government does not have the requisite operational expertise.

Not many would have expected but not exactly a bolt from the blue !- an all-party meeting convened by the Tamil Nadu government today  resolved to allow Vedanta's Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin to produce oxygen for a four-month period amid surging covid cases, paving the way for the partial reopening of the copper smelter closed in 2018 over pollution concerns. The unit was sealed by the state government in May 2018, days after 13 agitators were killed in police firing during a violent anti-Sterlite protest in the southern district.

This morning, Chief Minister Edappadi  K Palaniswami-chaired meeting, attended by main opposition party DMK among others, resolved to allow Sterlite produce oxygen from its plant in Tuticorin, days after Vedanta moved the Supreme Court in this connection. "As per the Supreme Court directive, power supply may be allowed for Vedanta's Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin for four months to repair and operate oxygen producing and related equipment only," the meeting resolved. The period may be extended later but "at no cost" shall other activities like copper manufacturing and running the co-generation plant shall be allowed and the "power supply shall be cut after this period (four months) by TANGEDCO," it added. Tamil Nadu should get priority in the oxygen being produced here and it shall be taken to other states only after meeting its requirements.

On Friday, the apex court had said people were dying due to lack of oxygen and questioned the Tamil Nadu government as to why it cannot take over the Sterlite copper unit for producing oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients. "We are not interested that Vedanta or A, B or C runs it. We are interested that oxygen should be produced," a bench headed by then Chief Justice S A Bobde had said.

On that day at Johannesburg, the light was fading fast and Australia were in serious trouble. The thrilling first Test in Cape Town had featured two dramatic batting collapses but Australia's second-innings total of 47 was calamitous - their lowest in 109 years. At  Johannesburg, they needed 18 runs to level the series while eight wickets down and facing Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander with the new ball. Eighteen-year-old Pat Cummins walked to the crease and took guard on debut. He had already taken six wickets in South Africa's second innings, and seven overall, bowling with impressive pace and swing.  

Rewind back to  Adelaide in Dec 2020 – perhaps not  the best Australian team – the bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood,  Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon did not sound – Jeff Thomson, Max Walker, Dennis Lillee,  Len Pascoe, Rod Hogg, Alderman,  Mcdermott, Glenn Mcgrath, Bret Lee  .. .. but  for  the devout Indian Cricket fan, utterly devastating – depressed, the ignominy is complete.  We were so sad to see a scorecard reading :

4, 9, 2, 0, 4, 0, 8, 4, 0, 4, 1 .. ..  +  0 extras  = 36 / 9 (1 retired hurt)

Pat Cummins was breathtaking and on the way took his 150th Test wicket, average 21. Josh Hazlewood upped him one, getting  200 Test wickets, average 25.  Pat Cummins figures of 10.2-4-21-4 were truly upstaged by Josh Hazlewood 5-3-8-5.

A few days ago at Wankhede -  15th Match (N), Mumbai, Apr 21 2021, - 422 runs scored and  there were so many heroes in the same match – bowling hero and batting heroes in the same innings !  - awe-struck !! KKR started chasing a big total in the worst manner possible – getting reduced to 31/5 courtesy magic of Deepak Chahar – the scorecard read : : 1-1 (Shubman Gill, 0.4 ov), 2-17 (Nitish Rana, 2.5 ov), 3-27 (Eoin Morgan, 4.3 ov), 4-31 (Sunil Narine, 4.6 ov), 5-31 (Rahul Tripathi, 5.2 ov), but some different script was to follow :  Dinesh Karthik made 40 off 24 with 4 fours and 2 sixers – big hitting Andre Russel charmed with 54 off mere 22 with 3 fours and SIX sixers .. .. and then when the match appeared lost, Sam Curran was hit for 30 runs in an over – 4 sixers and 1 4 by Pat Cummins whose 66 off 34 threatened to snatch the match away.

The man PAT CUMMINS is a real hero !! The Kolkata Knight Riders' Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has donated US$ 50,000 "specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India's hospitals" to PM Cares, a fund-raising scheme set up by the prime minister of India in March last year when the Covid-19 pandemic first broke out. Cummins - the first cricketer playing in this year's IPL to publicly announce such a contribution - put out a note on Twitter, also calling on his fellow IPL players to contribute. "There has been quite a bit of discussion over here as to whether it is appropriate for the IPL to continue while COVID-19 infection rates remain high," Cummins wrote. "I'm advised that the Indian Government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult time for the country.

Cummins, who was signed for a record INR 15.5 crore (US$ 2 million approx.) last season, is part of a diminishing pool of Australian cricketers at the IPL. His compatriots Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals' Andrew Tye have all pulled out over the past two days, while England's Liam Livingstone had done the same last week. While Livingstone had spoken of "bubble fatigue" for his decision to leave, the Royal Challengers put Zampa and Richardson's departure down to "personal reasons", while Tye has said that he wanted to avoid the risk of not being able to return home.

Salutes to you Sir – the big tall Pat Cummins, you really stand tall.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
26.4.2021.