FORMULA 1 FOR BEGINNERS

FORMULA 1 FOR BEGINNERS

The 2012 Formula 1 season has begun, with the practice and qualifying sessions for the Australian GP at Albert Park, Melbourne. I have followed F1 superficially since 2005, but never really been an avid follower. But this time around, I have decided to pursue it keenly. There are many reasons for it, that Indian GP last year reignited my interest in sport, Kimi Raikkonen, one of my favorites, is back and mainly because of my workplace where we cover F1 extensively (do check the website out www.f1pulse.com) and the guys there have been kind enough to always explain things to me. So I have decided to follow this season of Formula 1, understand the sport and try and write regularly about it. Hopefully by the time the 20 races are done till November, I will be able to call myself an F1 enthusiast.

Coming to the inaugural race of the season, the Australian GP, the qualifiers are done and the final grid has been decided for the race tomorrow. McLaren will have a 1-2 lead with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button taking pole positions. Then comes the surprise, Romain Grosjean of Lotus coming third and then comes the pleasant surprise with personal favorite Michael Schumacher coming fourth ahead of Defending Constructor Champion Red Bull’s Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Though the real shocker was Ferrari’s performance, with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa starting12^th and 16^th respectively. I was a little upset to see Raikkonen start from the 17^th place, but seeing Force India’s Niko Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta ahead of him kind of made up for it. (Can’t help but be biased to the team named after my country) Of course pole positions don’t always determine the result of the race and I’ll be hoping that some of these standings change after the race begins.

This season there are a few things I am looking forward to. Firstly, and most importantly, the comeback of the Iceman. Kimi Raikkonen has been a favorite since he drove for McLaren back in 2005. Then he moved to Ferrari and won the title in 2007 and then he retired. Now he is back in the drivers’ seat and I’m so excited to see him back in action! Secondly, I am hoping, although it is a bit futile, that my all-time favorite Michael Schumacher does better than last year. I have often heard that a driver is just as good as his car and admittedly his Mercedes isn’t the best car but I am sure that a driver of his caliber can improve his last season’s show where he finished on the 7^th position. I would also like to see a more competitive fight for the Championship Title, preferably being undecided till the Brazil GP. Defending Champ Vettel may be the favorite, but you can never count out the Brits Hamilton & Button. And with six former World Champions being part of the competition, for the first time in history, I hope not to be disappointed! (Although Alonso does not quite agree) lastly, I am hoping for an improved show by Force India. It may not be among the best machines in the game, but I am little biased towards them and am hoping they can do much better than they did last time with a new driver and some fresh administration.

So here is to the start of another F1 season filled with speed, thrills, competition, controversies and fewer accidents! And here’s hoping that I can finally learn to write more about Formula 1!

WHAT RAHUL DRAVID MEANS TO ME…

WHAT RAHUL DRAVID MEANS TO ME…

For the first time when it comes to cricket I don’t know what to write. To be honest, I am really clueless as to what and how can I write. In the last two days so much has been written, said and typed, I don’t think anything I write will be new, fresh or something we don’t already know. The story is covered so extensively, there is no new angle to take. So I decided to simply write what I, as a fan, went through when the news broke and what Rahul Dravid means to me.

I have no shame in admitting that it was not Sachin Tendulkar, but Dravid who I idolized from the beginning.
Why Dravid over Tendulkar? I can’t remember the amount of times I have been asked this question. By the boys who played gully cricket in my area. By my school mates and teachers. By the chaat counter guy in college. By the newspaper vendor. By office colleagues. Once even by a rowdy gang at the Wankhede stadium (which ended in a farcical situation, but that’s another story) Truth is, I don’t know. I don’t know way but Rahul Dravid, for me, is the greatest man to have held a cricket bat, worn the white jersey and walked on to the pitch. Maybe because the way he batted. Maybe because of his success. Maybe because he was the only gentleman in the field full of boys. Maybe because of his selflessness, dedication and commitment to the game. Maybe because of the Kissan jam and Pepsi ads. Maybe because he is simply Rahul Dravid or Jammie as I always referred to him. There was no other like him, there will be no other like him.

I was lucky to have started watching cricket form the Dravid (and Ganguly era). 1999, the year that Rahul Sharad Dravid established himself as The Wall of Indian cricket. And in the 13 years since, he has firmly been established as the cricketer I respect, admire, adore and look up to the most. As a girl who was first a cricket fan, then a fanatic, then a freak and finally a cricket nerd, Dravid was the ultimate player to look up to. He was a part of every happy memory attached with Indian cricket. From Kolkata to Headingley to Adelaide to Rawalpindi, he was the cornerstone of most historic victories. The best speaker in the Indian team, he was there at press conferences and interviews talking cricket like only he could, and whenever he spoke, I learned something new. I remember an interview he did in Bangalore exclusively with female journalists back in 2004, that was the first time I remember hearing him say how much he dislikes the tag of “The Wall”. Again in 2004 came the inaugural ICC Awards in London, a night that belonged to Dravid. He won two trophies, Test Player of the year and Garfield Sobers Player of the Year.

Logically the next step was 2005, when he got the Indian captaincy. But for me 2005 never happened, I could never accept that Dada was no longer captain and that Chappel had had his way. Dravid was not a great leader, but he lead the team well. Again, 2007 World Cup did not happen for me. But the 2007 England series happened and after leading the team to a Test series victory in English soil, Dravid left captaincy, much like he leaves the good balls while batting. He captained Royal Challengers Bangalore too, without success. But all I can say is that Rahul Dravid was a much better vice-captain than he was captain. In 2011 he was the highest run-getter (apart from being the oldest active cricketer), he was the only silver lining in the dark cloud called England tour. Scoring three centuries, one of which at Lord’s fulfilling his life-long dream, he was the joint Man of the Series.

Then on November 24^th 2011, on a hot Mumbai afternoon, he scored his 13000th run. Only the second man in the world to do so. I remember this so accurately because I was there. Seated among the famed Wankhede crowd, watching Rahul Dravid bat will always be one of the highest point of my life. He scored a normal 82, but for me that innings was extraordinary. It was the first time I was at a Test match, it was the first time I was watching Rahul Dravid bat, it was a dream come true. I can vividly recall the thwack of his bat as he caressed the ball through covers for a four, his stance of concentration as he watched the incoming bowler, his shuffling and talking to his partner in between overs and even though I couldn’t see it, the sweat pouring off his face in rivulets. I watched him get out too, bowled. And although I didn’t know it then, I now know that he getting bowled like that is the one of the main reasons I have to write this today.

I knew something was wrong when I got the BCCI Press Release stating that Rahul Dravid was to address a press conference at Chinnaswamy Stadium on the 9^th of March at 12.30 pm. And when at 12.30 I heard him say it in so many words, “I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first class cricket…” A portion of me retired from cricket as well. I have nothing else to say. This was just something I wrote in the stream of consciousness and I hope that I have been able to express at least some measure of what Rahul Dravid means to me.

THANK YOU DRAVID

THANK YOU DRAVID

Thank you Dravid, Thank you for the memories.

Thank you for Lords, 1996.

For those 95 runs, for that glimpse into greatness.

Thank you for World Cup 1999.

For the runs & centuries that helped get over being knocked out.

Thank you for Kolkata, 2001.

For an innings, played with fervor & despite fever, that heralded us into a new era.

Thank you for Headingley, 2002.

For a century that not only gave victory, but hope & confidence in the future.

Thank you for Adelaide, 2003.

For the 233, the tears of joy and the high of winning on Australian soil.

Thank you for Rawalpindi, 2004.

For the 270, the highest score, pride of beating Pakistan at home.

Thank you for ICC Awards 2004.

For making India proud winning the Garfield Sobers Trophy.

Thank you for 2005.

For taking up captaincy in uncertain circumstances and doing the best you can even though you weren’t the best.

Thank you for West Indies, 2006.

For leading us to a victory once again, helping shed the tag of poor tourists.

Thank you for England, 2007.

For a series win at the home of cricket, for the graceful exit from leadership.

Thank you for Perth, 2008.

For helping us forget the Sydney nightmare, for another historic win at an unlikely venue.

Thank you for New Zealand & India 2009.

For understatedly laying the foundations for another overseas series win; for helping India achieve the Number 1 position.

Thank you for India, 2010.

For whitewashing Australia, for snatching back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Thank you for England, 2011.

For being the only silver lining in dark times, for the long-awaited ton at Lord’s, the three consecutive sixes, for giving us something to smile about.

Thank you for Wankhede, 2011.

For making my dream come true, those 82 runs which I was blessed to watch live, for crossing 13000 runs.

Thank you for Bangalore, 2012.

For leaving me with sadness but with pride.

Thank you Dravid,

For that sweat-stained, faded blue Indian Test Cap. The crown of your achievement, the testimony of your hard-work.

Thank you Dravid,

The long hours on the crease, the defiant batting stance, the look of concentration, the sweat pouring off your face in rivulets, the sweet sound of bat hitting ball, the sheer beauty of textbook technique.

Thank you Dravid,

For the 16 years that you played, the 16 years that you wore the India jersey, the 16 years that you used your bat to create magic.

For all the times that you made us happy, sad, proud, angry, bored, buoyed, heartened, humbled.

For the sweat, the tears, the blood.

Thank you Dravid,

Thank you for the memories.