Has Indian Cricket lost the art to play spin

We got a very surprising gift on India 68th Independence day from Sri Lankan spinners. Our on paper  strong  team of the richest board in the world cricket  lost to  a side which is going into a transition and struggling.The fact India was dominating the Test for three days , hurts more . The attacking trio of Chandimala , Thiramane and Mumbarak  gave the Lankans  a respectable score to fight .

     With the thought we Indians would get to enjoy  a victory by the end of the day to celebrate  , we were shell shocked to see Indian batting collapsing  in heaps in front of Herath and Kaushala. The conditions in Sri Lanka are slow , low bounce and turning but as professionals and  the good ranking team has it had to be cake walk to win this Test at Galle.

  The reasons for this loss can be:
1.  Too much playing of IPL , T20, ODI formats.: These three formats has given the batsmen to play shots which are risk driven  and at times orthodox.

2. Pitches : Pitches which are being used for these formats are flat  to be able to have high scoring games. Thus Indians who are champions in this format are flummoxed when they are against swinging and spinning tracks .

3.Technique:  Its history, Indians were always susceptible to pace bowling on  fast pitches and that  thing was always hard  to work on. But in the three short formats with pitches made flat and dead, to have high scoring fares , it was solved with players like Rohit Sharma  scoring twice double centuries and are dud in Test  cricket. But our strength where our players  are best to spin attack  are losing the plot as seen even Moeen Ali, Monty Panesar and Lyon  can get through our line up easily.
The technique to defend on turning slow pitches has gone out. With batsman  completely going into shell , give the bowlers to dominate and create pressure on the batsmen. Nobody even tried to neutralize the spin by stepping out of crease and whacking out of ground.

5. The big   Indian  stars  Sachin, Dravid ,Laxman and Ganguly were both technically sound  and aggressive when required. They had clear strategy in place with how to pace the innings and counterattack  as wast the case Tendulkar  - Warne duel.

6.  Experience v/s Novice:  The Indian team now has generally players which has come up from the IPL T20 format.Gone are the days  when players used to come  by playing a grueling competitive season of  Ranji domestic season or stint in English county season. These would give them ample practice to practice against quality pace, spin and competitive cricket.
( Images from cricbuzz.com )

Double Seat : Sweet Feel Good Movie

                            

                   “Everyone should dream big , and move on to chase the  dream". 

 You don't always need a story with corporate rivalry  and competitive sports hero for inspiring film ,  a family film residing in the Mumbai chawl system  can also give you the same impact . This is the beautiful concept of the very beautiful family film “Double Seat “.  The film revolves around the newly married couple and family members. The major attraction for the movie is the star cast which has been chosen which includes Ankush Chaudhari. Mukta Brave, Vidyadhar Joshi &  Vandana Gupte. Director Sameer Vidwans  has used each character to the fullest which brings on an array of emotions and plots which the audience feels they are a part of it. While the film finishes everyone in the audience at least connects with the situation or rather is inspired to pursue and take a leap towards their unfinished hidden goals in life.

  The story is centered around the Naik Family which stays in a chawl in central Mumbai Lalbaug. Amit and Manjiri Naik are the newly married couple which stays with their parents. The family of five , stays in a small one room kitchen.   The newly wed couple face issues of privacy in their house and they have one ambition to have their own flat in Mumbai.  Here,   there the title of the film has been meaningfully portrayed in the film.  In every dream of life, you need a partner who always nudges you to think big in life and supports in the time of distress.  Mukta Barve plays the role of this character perfectly where she who has come from outskirts of Mumbai Roha, is always positive chirpy and always aspiring to live a good life. But she also understands and never lets the family down.  The film also sends the important message that you require the support of family members, without whom you cannot enjoy the fruits of success.

  The basic theme of the movie is along to dream, aspire for a better world tomorrow.The Ankush  Chaudari and Mukta Barve  pairing for the first time  has been refreshing and very pleasing  to eyes.  The movie has always a jovial feeling and no over dramatization in any of the scenes. Even the scene where the family loses all the money saved by family to but new house is lost, has been handled well. Every character in the film has a positive thread in it.  The songs in the film are soft and melodious and picturised well with background of Mumbaikars life and its lifeline Railways.

 Overall, a beautiful film which stresses on the fact that you have to face every situation together and hold on with your partner with a smile and tread the path of success  in  "Double Seat".