Schumacher vs Hamilton : The final Verdict

It's been another amazing season of Formula 1 and as expected by many, Lewis Hamilton trumps every other driver to win a historic 6th World Drivers Championship. After Michael Schumacher, Hamilton is probably the most decorated driver statistically. Along with the great Ayrton Senna, he is also the fastest in a 1 lap dash as his qualifying record suggests. Having seen him for the past dozen years, none can argue of his brilliance. As Hamilton closes in on Michael's records, one question beckons us all : How well does he match up to Schumacher and is he really the better driver?

Comparison after the 248 races 

I believe for a fairer comparison we must take into account only Schumacher's first career till 2006.
His second career at Mercedes was when he was 41+ and way past his prime, still coming to terms with the new regulations. After the exact races, Schumacher leads Hamilton in wins, podiums, championships, only lagging behind in poles. This stat probably tells us that Schumacher perhaps was the better racer. To go along with 68 poles, he had 91 wins, thus having a win to pole ratio of about 1.3. Hamilton on the other hand has 83 wins of 87 poles which makes the win to poles ration even less than 1.

In the most dominant period of Ferrari from 2001-04 on an average they had 72% of the maximum points available with a peak of 82% in 2004. Mercedes, on the other hand, had an average of 82% of the maximum points with a peak of 86% in 2015. To conclude these dominant years, we can say that Mercedes were moredominating than Ferrari in their best years.

The Non-Dominant Years

To compare the years in which both Hamilton and Schumacher did not have the best cars we have to consider the years 1996-99 for Schumacher and 2009-13 for Hamilton. Schumacher had 3 wins in the 1996 season which did not make any sense because the car was third best at the very least. In 1997 and he battled the Williams of Jacques Villenueve till the very end losing in a controversial fashion. In 1998/99 he went toe to toe with Mika Hakkinen and came a close second.

Hamillton had to contend with a struggling Mclaren in 2009 and he did brilliant to secure 2 wins in what everyone called a 'dog' of a car. Where Hamilton lacks is though he never finished above the top 4 from 2010-12 in a very competitive Mclaren. His worst year in F1 during this time was 2011 when he and Felipe Massa had many incidents.


Comparison with Team Mates

Before 2010, Michael Schumacher was never beaten by a team mate in all his 15 years in Formula 1. This is one stat that probably defines the winning machine that he was. He always had the edge on the person in the sister car. Lewis made an incredible start to Formula 1 when he tied the 2 time  defending World Champion Fernando Alonso. To expect a rookie matching Alonso was the least expected thing fans have ever seen in F1. That alone confirms his status as a prized asset of this sport.
However, he did lose over a season to Jenson Button and even lost a Championship to Nico Rosberg, something Michael has never done, let alone with a World Championship at Stake.

Final Verdict 

Having watched his whole F1 career, this generation will agree that Hamilton is perhaps the single most dominant force when it comes to speed over a single lap. I do believe though, over a race and a season, Michael is the one who can extract more of the car. His record of most wins after 248 races came after developing Ferrari for 4 years while Hamilton made a very tactical choice of switching to Mercedes, which proved to be a master stroke. I feel that there's not much to separate between the two but Michael Schumacher is marginally better of the duo.

Magnificent Sindhu : On the new world champion

History has been made and what a wonderful way India's Pv Sindhu answered her doubters and the naysayers, who often brought up the point that she couldn't quite win the final matches of the big tournaments. The way Sindhu has worked on her fitness, skill, temperament and big match pressure handling is an inspiration to many other young girls making a mark on the International Arena. For a country obsessed with Cricket and which does not invest too much into other sports, this is a major break through. It should make the sports federation of India take notice and invest in the youth of other sports. The way Sindhu defeated Okuhara, another former world champion had even the commentators gasping for breath. Such was her domination that at no point did Okuhara seem comfortable, let alone dreaming of winning the world champion. A 21-7,21-7 is by no means a normal achievement considering it came at a tournament where only the best players in the world qualify. If 1983 inspired a whole generation of cricketing legends like Dravid , Tendulkar and the others, then this monumental victory will have the same affect in budding Badminton players. What we learnt from Sindhu was a lesson in persistence, perseverance , dedication and determination. She persisted with her game through her failures ( if you can really call them one after reaching the finals on numerous occasions ), she persevered through every obstacles and she was determined enough to not let the ghosts of the past become a hindrance in her path to glory.

Silencing her Critics!

She had often been questioned about her ability to perform in the finals of big tournaments. Be it the loss to Carolina Marin in the Olympic Final or be it the loss to Okuhara in the 2017 championship final or be it the loss in the championship final again last year to Marin, she was criticised for not bringing her best to the fore. While that's definitely not true, her 3rd consecutive world championship final coupled with her glorious performance in the Rio Olympics proves her consistency and desire to stay at the top. This victory should silence the critics and ignite a new fire in her to keep going. Let's hope 2020 is another special year for India's wonder woman and she stands on the top of the podium at the Olympics once again to become the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal. More glory to you, Pv Sindhu !!

Incomplete end of a Billion Dreams : Thank you Dhoni!

I don't believe a call on his career is too far away and when it comes, it will be the most emotional one. Over the years we have had great Batsmen, great Bowlers to watch but before MS Dhoni came we had never had a captain-keeper-batsman as capable as him. That there was still hope when India's top order was blown away at 5/3 is the biggest testimony to the faith 1.25 Billion fans across the country have in their ultimate leader. The intent that has been talked about from the start of this tournament was there, just that the timing was perhaps not there. He tried his best but couldn't save our campaign yesterday. We should not rue the fact that he was not able to close out the game for us like he's done so many times in the past but celebrate his distinguished career. He's been India's best captain, wicket-keeper and the most street smart one we've ever had the privilege to watch. In his heydays, Dhoni was undoubtedly the greatest finisher this generation has seen and won India every possible trophy. From the World T-20 of 2007 where no one gave us a chance to championing the side in the 2011 World Cup and 2013  Champions Trophy to leading Csk like a true leader in the Ipl, I don't think there's a player to whom captaincy comes so naturally. At the fag end of his career, he still remained the only hope for the Nation. A true hero and a competitor who always made India win, I believe the following are the two main reasons why he is incredible in so many ways !

1. Captain Cool 

Captaincy is something that is very instinctive and players who have backed their gut feeling to the hilt have aced the mantra of being a leader. MSD has always backed himself and his players to come good in crunch situations. His wicket keeping and intuitive skills always stood out. The very first tournament he led showed his immense belief when he gave the last over to the not so known Joginder Sharma and he ultimately won us the tournament. The biggest example of his boldness was the move when he came above the in-form Yuvraj and promoted himself against the likes of Murali and Malinga. Dhoni had not done well the entire tournament and yet when it mattered , he produced an innings of a lifetime when he and Gambhir led India to the most historic win. He made the whole country exult into a euphoria never experienced before. It gives the fans chills thinking about the day. It was the finest moment of glory and he capped it off with a thunderous six that remains enshrined in the minds of people till date. Brilliant players like Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja became permanent mainstays because of the backing Dhoni gave them. Kohli revelled and became one of the greats and Rohit became a mighty white ball player as well. Dhoni inspired a generation of young players and as Virat says time and again,"he will always be their captain."

2. The Greatest Finisher ever

Some of his finishes are on everyone's fingers, such is his frequency and preciseness of the finish. Even when the bowler is defending 15 in the last over , the bowler is the one under the pump, not MSD. His 112m six off Mckay to make us win at Adelaide, his 16 runs in the final against Eranga, his final 2 sixes against Axar Patel in the IPL and his career defining 91 not out when India were battling to win the world cup were played under immense pressure and anyone who has achieved one of these innings can be a very proud man. Yes, the last 2-3 years, he's not been able to hit them as clean as he used to but age does take its toll. Even then, his mere presence guided youngsters like Hardik and Jadeja to go for the calculated risks. If Bevan was the 1990's ultimate finisher, then Dhoni is the greatest finisher of the last decade. During a run chase, no one knew what went in his mind and when he planned to attack yet he was the one who came out on top 9 out of 10 times. As his career comes to dusk let's celebrate India's favourite sons. Players like him come in a millenium. Players who dedicate themselves to the team and are humble enough to take the blame when things go 

wrong. 

THANK YOU DHONI !!

Boy to a Man : On Virat's incredible journey!

As we see the Indian Cricket Team rack a victory one after another, the captaincy of Virat Kohli has really come to the fore. It seems like yesterday that a 19 year old young chubby cricketer was leading the Under 19 team to the glory of the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia. That chubby cricketer is now a relentless machine. Probably the most hardworking athlete India has ever produced, he goes from strength to strength while leading the side as an example. That burst of true energy has rubbed onto everyone else in the team and India look serious contenders with very little concerns. Virat has been the most fiery, charismatic character this generation has come across and yet for the past 2 years , there seems to be something that tells me he wants to be remembered not just as a great cricketer but also a very fine person. Here are a few reasons why I think so!

1. Captain Courageous 

The way Virat has backed some of his players, be it KL Rahul or Vijay Shankar has stood out. He has preferred a winning combination over axing a player marred in bad form. This shows his belief in his players. The result? Kl Rahul shifted to the opening slot after India got a huge setback in form of Shikhar Dhawan's injury and he has provided good stability at the top of the order. He has played the new ball well which has given the extra cushion to the middle order. Moreover, Kohli's bowling changes at critical junctures in the games have played their part. The move to bring Bumrah back for another spell when the match seemed to spill out of India's hands was a master stroke that paved the way towards a close win. The way Virat has shuffled the middle order and his optimum use of Hardik Pandya as a finisher has also been outstanding. Virat, the batsman has been a superstar from the time of his arrival in International Cricket, but it is Virat, the captain, who has been a delight to watch.

2. The Run Machine

By his standards, Virat has not really lit up the tournament the way he does. He is averaging close to 60 with 300+ runs and yet he desires more. This is a true testimony of his hunger and greatness. Teams in the competition would be wary of the fact that Virat has 4 consecutive 50+ scores ( a dream run for any batsman ) and yet a 100 has eluded him. His best is still to come. His best is scary. Virat has always had 100s in run chases for dinner. Maybe another one waits in the corner. Like any other captain, he too does not care about personal milestones when the team wins. So, while he may not lose any sleep over those missed opportunities, he is an ominous threat to every opposition India face.

3. Measured and Calm

Off late, MS Dhoni has been copping a lot of criticism for his Batting approach. Virat stuck his neck out for him and explained why he believes MS is such an important player to this team. This reflected maturity on his part and would have given MS immense confidence to become the force he has been for the Indian Team. Virat's behaviour has always been a talking point for everyone. Be it his fans, or the media or the opposition he's always been in the limelight for his aggression and win at all costs mentality. His dignity and calmness when facing the post games interviews or engaging with the opposition has been heartening. His gesture towards Steve Smith in one of the earlier games set an excellent example on how the game should be played. With respect, with dignity and chivalry. His aggression has always been his strength and I believe the day he tries to tone it down, he would not cast that same brilliance we have all been used to. While that aggression has been a part of his batting, it is his attitude, his beliefs and his respect towards the game which has impressed everyone. Let's hope he carries this persona forward and only let his batting do the talking to carry India towards his biggest dream, the World Cup !

Disappointment is an understatement : On rain winning this year's world cup!

As millions of fans geared themselves  for what seemed to be a very open world cup for a long time, no one saw the preparation of Cricket's apex body , The International Cricket Council. To say that the first two weeks have been catastrophic would be apt. It's been a rain marred world cup and the ICC have been found wanting when it came to solutions. They have had the weather predictions for months leading up to the World Cup and yet, they never bothered to pay heed to the shifting of the venues. There have been 4 abandoned matches till now with the Marquee India- Pakistan match also in grave danger of being washed out. I can't begin to remember the last time I once saw a World Cup match without worrying a bit about the weather (Yes, there was such a time). The questions to ponder are many and I will delve into two of the most frequent ones.

Height of mismanagement?

I can't recall the last time an ICC event was so unprofessionally managed. Is it a Cricket World Cup or a World Cup full of Rains? The ICC never had any plans in place. From the drainage system of the grounds to the covering of only 3/4th's of the ground, the writing seemed to be on the wall every single time there was even a hint of a drizzle. Wet outfields, the hesitancy to curtail the match to a T-20 just for the fans who came all the way from different parts of the world was mind boggling. 1 match in 4 days is a poor showing and it is expected to rain on the 16th of June as well (for cricket lovers, another mood dampener). The decision not to have reserve days is starting to look worse and worse with each passing day. Imagine your favourite team missing out on the Semi-Finals of a Cricket World Cup just because of two washed out games. The teams are not here to chance their luck but to display their wide range of skills. To see a tournament come in once every 4 years and get flushed down the drain is disheartening for everyone.

Love for the broadcasters?

Coming to the India-New Zealand match, the ECB and the ICC officials knew it had been pelting for the last three days and the likelihood of the match even beginning was as good as USA featuring in a Cricket World Cup. Yet, they kept holding the inevitable announcement to assist the broadcasters generate their Ad Revenue. Keeping the fans waiting for what was not a possibility defied logic, tested the fan's patience and left them discontented. After a mind numbing 6 hours of delay, finally, the match was called off. To a certain extent, a part of me was gratified to know that the officials in the ICC must be livid to watch the tournament go out of the window, but then we all wanted to see a bit of action on the Cricket Field. I have been following this game for a good 15 years now and I have never seen a tournament as mismanaged and heartbreaking as this one.  The players, the fans, the commentators and the umpires, every single one of them deserved the best version of the World Cup. As ICC's negligence would have it, the winner of the tournament would be less remembered than the spoil sport rain and the inability of the ECB to conduct an error free 7 weeks for the ardent fans of this great game.

Specious Talks? On this year's Cricket World Cup.

Not so 'flat' after all!!

We are into the second week of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and if early signs are anything to go by, this isn't half what it was purported to be. Before the World Cup began, we were made to believe that this World Cup would see a slew of large scores never witnessed before. We were shown the number of times England easily crossed the 300 barrier and their bowling still struggling to defend those scores. If anything, this has been a bowler's tournament so far. With the average scores being round about 250-260 and pitches assisting the spinners so far, this World Cup promises to be a low scoring affair. Not that it's anything bad for the game ( unless you're only a fan of the Bat smacking the leather ). As we slowly get towards the big India Vs Australia game this weekend, let's look at some of the things that have worked for teams till now.

1. Making the new ball count

Every good bowling performance this year has included a fiery spell upfront. Be it Bumrah, Rabada or the mighty Mitchell Starc, they have all made the new ball talk. Taking wickets early on is the key. There are no two ways about it. Take two or more wickets in the first 10 overs and you make sure your spinners have an easier job to do. Starc's spell against Gayle was an absolute thriller to watch. He made the ball go both ways, troubled him with the bouncers and the surprise yorkers. At that pace, when your feet is not moving early on, it can be very difficult to judge the movement of the ball relying on the hand-eye coordination alone. With a little bit of spice in the wicket , we all saw Bumrah rip through Amla and De Kock in no time. Rabada was unplayable with the steep bounce he generated against Dhawan and Rohit. The common thing in all these instances was the presence of a bowler who could exploit these ripe conditions to his maximum advantage.

2. Sustaining the pressure in the middle overs

Every good start requires bowlers who can back it up with good control and accuracy. A clear plan is needed to make sure that the good work uptill now is not undone in a few losse overs. This is where I feel India have the biggest weapons. In Kulcha (as Kuldeep and Chahal are often called) they have the most potent spin duo capable of taking wickets at regular intervals, thereby, ensuring that the opposition is always facing relentless pressure. In Kedar and Hardik, they have two bowlers who can at will bowl 10 overs. Kedar's lower round arm trajectory is an added bonus. In the pursuit of targeting him, people end up losing their wickets. All of these factors combined together make the Indian Team the best bowling attack in this competition.

3. Reverse Swing is still the King!

Bowlers who can make the ball reverse at the death with optimal precision are the ones who will be the most successful in this World Cup. For me , Starc should lead this race just like the 2015 World Cup. He's already shown us a great spectacle of Death Bowling in the group match against the Windies. Picking up 3 wickets in his last two overs, he displayed a wide range of skills in executing those Yorkers, Bouncers and slower balls. Bumrah is close but what makes Starc effective is the left arm angle coupled with the speed at which he reverses the ball. For someone as quick as him, his 'you miss, I hit' accuracy is baffling to say the least. He's always a threat to any opposition. And they better watch out because this man can run through the order alone!

As this World Cup progresses, I hope we can watch more of this even contest between Bat and Ball. After all, is there a better sight than a tall sturdy fast bowler bullying the opposition with Pace and Bounce? Being an ardent fan of fast bowling , I hope this tryst between the Bat and Ball continues till the epilogue reveals itself :)

Midweek Madness : On this Year's UCL semi-finals

What the football world witnessed this week was nothing short of two absolutely sensational comebacks. On Tuesday night, Liverpool did the unthinkable at Anfield beating a very formidable Barcelona. A day later, Tottenham went a step further at Ajax to change the two legged tie within a half. What is amazing about these comebacks is not even the ardent fans of these two clubs expected something quite like this. To cap off an amazing UCL this year is an all England final between teams who just don't know how to give up, no matter the odds stacked against them. That this feat came without the presence of  Mohammed Salah and Kane just adds another feather to their glorious runs. To reign supreme against adversity is something both these clubs have made a habit of. Let's try to recapture the madness that took place this week!

Magnificent Liverpool!

As I have written in one of my previous blogs, Klopp has made sure that last season's UCL success for Liverpool was not a one off success. He has sustained that form for Liverpool for so long that they are genuinely considered one of the best teams in the world specially at home. Turning a 3-0 drubbing against a Leo Messi masterclass to a 4-0 rout is not a mean task. That it came against high quality La Liga champions and in the absence of Salah, Firminho and Keita shows the mettle this Liverpool team possess. Going toe to toe with Manchester City in the league, they might finish as the second best in EPL this Sunday, but they still have had an incredibly successful season. A large part of that success is owed to Klopp's tactical genius. While his counterpart Valverde took out Coutinho and brought on another defender with the Leg tied at 3-0 , Klopp brought on another attacker and the move paid dividends. Week after week, match after match, Klopp has proved himself to be a great tactician and his record at Anfield will only get better. He's here to stay and might well be coined the Premier League's 'Special One'.

Counter Attacking Spurs!

If the quarter finals against Manchester City were any indication then Spurs were not expected to be beaten without a fight. However, all of that resilience came int question at half time. With Ajax leading the home leg 2-0 and effectively 3-0, any sound football follower would not have dreamt of the drama that would ensue on that night in Amsterdam. A team devoid of the services of one of the best strikers of this generation in Harry Kane were not expected to counter attack in the manner they did. Lucas Moura scored a hat trick, with the last one coming with virtually the last kick of the match. If there were any doubts on Spurs's ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages of the competition, then they were all put to rest. Spurs have not signed a player in an year and the emotions that Pochettino showed on the field shows how much this club has grown from being an underdog to everyone's favorite. They may or may not win the Champions League but they've shown everyone what belief can do to a set of players willing to put a fight till the end. Spurs are the common man's hero and Pochettino a very admirable figure. 

It promises to be an aboslute thriller of a final. One every football fan is waiting for. Two pretty evenly matched teams with a great flair for counter attacks. With the availability of Kane and Salah, make no mistake, this promises to be the best final in decades of UCL history!

Revival of the kings of comebacks : On Manchester United

Ole Ole Ole!!!

Yup, that's the name doing the rounds in the streets of Manchester after the amazing comeback win at the home of PSG. Every Manchester United fan felt a nostalgia about the famous 'Fergie' time when Rashford scored that penalty in injury time yesterday. This was a team, which 3 months ago, was a mid table team lying at the 7th position and way off the champions league contention for the next season. They had sacked the 'special one' in Jose Mourinho and were looking to rebuild. Then came the mercurial Ole Solskjaer, the same man who helped United win the 1999 Uefa Champions League in injury time. The way he has turned United's fortunes can be gauged by the fact that United have now won 8 straight away games since he came on as interim coach. 17 games, 14 wins, 2 draws and just a single defeat makes United the team to fear under his stroke of genius. Top teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and now PSG have come up short against this rejuvenated side.

Back to the glory days!

The key essence of the Manchester United teams from the past was their ability to bounce back and win games when they conceded early. Unfortunately for their fans, after Sir Alex retired in 2013, Manchester United had lost the art of comeback. Teams earlier used to fear the late goals from United but until now United had a very defensive approach every time they used to get a lead or concede early. Ole's arrival has brought a sense of purpose and attacking demeanour in all the players. They are not satisfied with 1-0 wins or draws away from home. They want more. United's goal difference when Mourinho left was 0. In 10 league games ever since, this has now gone up to 20. That's an average of 2 goals victory every game! Surely an amazing feat considering the drab draws and the defeats in the early part of the season.

Motivated Players

Under the reign of Mourinho, there used to be some sort of mutiny among the players. For 2 years players of the calibre of Lukaku, Herrera and Pogba never really played upto their potential. They performed amazingly well at the 2018 World Cup. So it seemed all was not well with the management of Manchester United. Mourinho has had problems with players in the past. Despite of being a very shrewd tactician, he seems to lack management of his players. This was where the best decision came from the board of this club. In hiring Ole as the coach, they not only instilled a sense of belief in the team but also kept someone who knew the ideology of the club and who has achieved plenty of success with this team. Ole knows how to keep a team United and firing. He knows what to expect from the 20 time champions and its players are more motivated than ever to stomp their mark on European territory again after a decade of failures and frustrations. Let's hope United return the favours and give the permanent job that he so thoroughly deserves!

Unstoppable Novak : Australian Open 2019

The first grand slam of the season got over yesterday and fans wouldn't be disappointed with what they saw over the last two weeks in Melbourne Park. The ladies singles and the men's singles saw a repeat winner of the US Open. The ladies singles final was a close affair between Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova. The match went the distance but the 21 year old Osaka prevailed and established herself as the best women's singles player in the world. She's also the youngest World No.1 after Caroline Wozniacki in 2009 and became the first player since Serena Williams to win back to back Grand Slam tournaments. The men's singles saw Novak Djokovic establish his greatness once again and move into the record books. More than his win on one of the greats of all time, Rafael Nadal, it was the manner in which he pulverized the Spaniard. The scoreline 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 aptly describes the dominance of Djokovic. He hammered 35 winners and committed only 9 errors in the whole match. He never let Rafa settle down and dictated play according to his own terms. He now has more Australian Open championships than any other male player in the history of game and is now third on the list of all time Grand Slam wins with 15, just 2 behind Rafael Nadal and 5 behind Roger Federer. He now stakes the claim to be the greatest player of all time along with Nadal and Federer. The following points go in his favour:

1. Winning the Career Golden Masters

Ever Since the creation of the "Masters 1000" in 2009, Novak Djokovic is the only player to claim all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.This fact alone shows his versatility and the ability to adjust his game on every surface. He's also the holder of most masters singles titles in a season and boasts of an incredible 32 masters titles. After the 4 Grand Slams and the ATP finals, the Masters 1000 series is the toughest competition in Tennis and he has performed at an optimal level in this series. The masters 1000 tests a player's endurance and fitness. To excel in that after a gruelling schedule is a testimony to his mental toughness and all roundedness.

2. Holding all 4 Grand Slams together

Since Rod Laver won all the 4 Grand Slams in 1969, no male player ever won 4 consecutive tournaments until Djokovic, in 2015-16 won 4 consecutively, although in a non calendar year. Winning 4 Grand Slams is without doubt the toughest achievement in Tennis and at no point Novak was challenged. He appeared invincible at times, just like he demolished Nadal, a 17 time Grand Slam winner, last night at the Melbourne Park. When Djokovic is in form, he's unbeatable. He chases every ball, is perhaps, the best returner the game has ever seen and has an impeccable sense of all the angles and possesses a deadly backhand down the line. 

3. Rejuvenated Champion

Sports is cruel and even someone as tenacious as Djokovic found it after his 2016 French open success. His performances were marred by injuries and he found it tough to compete at the highest level. He was fighting multiple injuries. His elbow needed several surgeries. He had doubts if he could ever compete at the top level and challenge the likes of Federer, Nadal and Murray. 2017 saw Federer and Nadal win all 4 Grand Slams. However, he fought all the odds and emerged a champion again. He won Wimbledon, the US Open and now the Australian Open. He's the best player in the world again. He has done all this when his main rivals include two of the greatest players of all time in Federer and Nadal. It's time to give Djokovic the respect and admiration he deserves. He is relentless and every bit as good as the other two. Against both Federer and Nadal, he has an advantage head to head (25-22 against Federer & 28-25 against Nadal). He's 31, in his prime, hungry for me and looks good to win for another couple of years. If he goes past Federer's Grand Slam records, there's no reason why Novak Djokovic should not be considered as the greatest of all times!

Unfinished Player : The Resurrection of MSD

India completed their Australian tour on a high with a 2-1 victory in the ODI's, the same margin as the tests and in the process, there's a definite answer to the question on who India should play at the all important no. 4 position in the upcoming world cup. For so long, MS Dhoni has been criticized for taking too many dot balls at the start and failing to make up for it later, leaving the team with a lot to do. His match finishing innings in the second and the third match should put all doubts to rest. In the second match, he played the role of a perfect sheet anchor who took his time and then attacked after Kohli's dismissal. His strike rate was above 100 which shows he made up for his slow start. In the series deciding 3rd match, he again played his role to perfection. Chasing a modest total of 230, he took a lot of balls to get in and made sure India get over the line in the last over. It is very evident that Dhoni now needs some time to settle before he can unleash his big shots, which is precisely the reason he should bat at no. 4. With him batting at no.4 , there'll be a sense of calmness in the team. Dhoni can hold one end till the final overs while the likes of Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik can hit the big shots around him. It also gives Dhoni enough time to settle and prepare him for the final onslaught.

Despite all his brilliance, Virat Kohli needs someone who can guide the spinners on what lengths to bowl or how to vary their pace. Most of the time he's fielding at long on and can't dictate the terms. This is where Dhoni with all his experience of captaincy, field placings and wicket-keeping is a real asset to the team. Moreover, his presence on the field has a calming effect on the players around him. He is still the fastest runner in between the wickets and has a lightning hands when it comes to wicket keeping. For India to win the world cup, Ms Dhoni holds a vital place and he must bat at no. 4 to provide the stability to the team and allow the finishers to do their job. Dhoni might be at the fag end of his career in 2019, but when the match situation is tense and you require 15 runs of an over, he's still your best bet to achieve the target. His ability to pierce the gaps and make the bowlers bowl as he wants him to stands apart. He has made India win numerous games with this instinct and I believe, bowling to Dhoni, the pressure on the bowler is more than on Dhoni. Let's hope he can replicate his form in the upcoming series against New Zealand and maintain his form and fitness till the world cup. A firing Dhoni will be the biggest tick in the checkbox and take the pressure of Virat and the openers. 

In the fast lane : 2019 season of Formula 1

As the new year of Formula 1 beckons, fans have every reason to be excited about the new season of  youth and experience of two of the top teams in the past decade. With Kimi Raikkonen now at Sauber having completed his second stint at Ferrari, the time is ripe for young Charles Leclerc to show the world what he is made of. A blend of youth and experience in the form of Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel bodes well for the sport as it will ensure Vettel will find the internal competition that has been lacking at Ferrari. Leclerc had an incredible season at Sauber and came to F1 last year on the back of an impressive championship reign in Formula 2 in 2017. Add to that Pierre Gasly's move at redbull and we have 3 young drivers in Max Verstappen, Gasly and Leclerc in two of the top teams of the sport. Lewis Hamilton will again be Mercedes's main driver with Valtteri Bottas playing the supporting role. The midfield battle looks better with Daniel Ricciardo, hugely frustrated by engine failures at Redbull, now at Renault and the return of Robert Kubica, after a gap of 8 years to Williams. However, the ultimate battle would still be at the front with Hamilton, now a 5 time world champion competing against Vettel, the youngest quadruple champion of the sport. Expecting Leclerc to compete from the word go would be a massive mistake and Vettel should remain Ferrari's best hope to win their first drivers title since 2007. Beating Hamilton with him being on his A-game is nearly impossible if Ferrari keep repeating the mistakes of the last 2 seasons. Here's a few things they might want to do to reign supreme again!

Make Vettel the outright number 1

Even though Vettel was the better performer for most of the last 2 seasons, he never officially was recognized as the number 1 driver at Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen was sometimes asked to move over for  his team mate but during crunch times of the title race, Vettel was often left behind his own team mate. The prime examples of these things are the Singapore Grand Prix in 2017 and the Monza Grand Prix in 2018. In both of these races Vettel went into the race competing with Hamilton and at the end of both, he had the feeling of missing out on the title. In both of these races, had Raikkonen taken a back seat and allowed Vettel to storm to a win just like Bottas does with Hamilton, Vettel would have been able to extend his advantage and maybe even win the championship. For Ferrari to land a title this season, it's imperative that Vettel enjoys the number 1 status and Leclerc holds off Bottas. This will bode well for them in the World Contructors Championship too. Anything less than that and we can be pretty sure of seeing Hamilton being crowned as the second 6 time Drivers Champion of the sport after the legendary Michael Schumacher.

Consistency for Vettel

Despite the internal advantage being more of an issue at Ferrari than Mercedes, Vettel certainly has not converted the opportunities he has been presented with. The most notable one being the German Gp of 2018, where he squandered the opportunity to go 20 points clear at the top of the standings. He led for 3/4th of the race distance only to spin in the rain and let Hamilton win the race. That was a race to consolidate the standings since Hamilton started 14th and Vettel started on pole. Then came the failed overtaking manoeuvres on Verstappen and Ricciardo which led to him spinning and fighting to get to the top 5 while Hamilton slowly increased his lead. Vettel needs to not let the fact that he has a faster car to his disposal get to his head and needs to be more consistent while overtaking marginally slower cars like that of Redbull. This is where Leclerc's arrival at the team will keep him on his toes. He now has a team mate who can challenge him more and perhaps, even win a few Grand Prixs himself, thus, serving as a motivation for Vettel to maintain his position in the team.

Strategy the key for Ferrari

The past two seasons have proved beyond doubt that Ferrari have a better straight line speed, something which has eluded them for well over a decade and is the best car on tracks which require greater downforce and street circuits like Monaco and Singapore. They have the best race pace and their tyres hold well at most tracks. All they now need is a good strategy when it comes to tyre choices and timing of the pitstops. They need to give Vettel a clean run and ensure he does not waste his tyre life overtaking the back markers. If Ferrari and Vettel can finally get their act together after two seasons of disappointment against Hamilton and Mercedes, the F1 fans are in for a treat this season!

Worthy winners Down Under

India scripted history as they beat Australia 2-1 in the series down under to become the first Asian side to achieve this feat. This win will undoubtedly go down as the finest hour of Indian Cricket. Led thoroughly by a very animated Virat Kohli, gone are the days when Indian Teams used to be sitting ducks for the opposition in foreign conditions. Boasting of perhaps the most lethal fast bowling attack, bolstered by a good backup fielding unit and a resilient middle order and a rookie in Mayank Aggarwal, the Indian Team has come of age this series. Often criticized for their selection policies, head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Kohli both made bold changes after the failure in Perth. And how the team reaped the rewards is for everyone to see. The roping in of an inexperienced but hugely talented Mayank Aggarwal and the introduction of Ravindra Jadeja were moves that paid dividends and invigorated a struggling top and lower middle order.
As we celebrate this monumental win on Australian soil for the first time, let's look at a few highlights of the tour and moments that sealed the series for India.

1.  Resilient Pujara
     
For Indian fans who have for long wondered if we were ever going to find someone as dependable at the number 3 spot as Rahul Dravid, this series was a real treat. Cheteshwar Pujara has always had the virtues of a proper Test Batsman. His technique, patience, and the ability to grind the opposition down with tireless hours of batting has never been in question but he had failed to perform big outside the subcontinent till now. Since that first test in England this year when he was dropped, citing bad form and low confidence, he has faced more balls in Test Cricket than any other player in that time. He has also scored more hundreds than anyone else and has been a vital cog in the wheel for Team India. In the era of flamboyance and batting innovations of the T20, Pujara thrives in the classical old form of cricket. He only plays the red ball cricket and plays county cricket during the IPL. He was the defining factor for a fragile top order and had more than 500 runs at an average of above 70 combined with 3 big hundreds. In Adelaide, it was deja vu for the Indian fans once again when they woke up to see India reeling at 41-4 in the series opener. Pujara helped us get through and reach a respectable total. The win in Adelaide set the tone and Pujara, the Test Batsman rose a notch higher. The message has been sent. Never Drop Pujara. 

2.  Attacking Fast Bowling 

While the Batting has always been India's forte, India's Bowling has generally struggled in overseas conditions. This year though, every time they came out, they bowled with a lot of intent and purpose. As a result, the opposition batters were always under the hammer. Be it South Africa, England or Australia the fast bowlers for India performed at an unprecedented level. The consistency of Ishant Sharma, the reverse swing of Mohammed Shami and the pace and variations of Jasprit Bumrah stood out. The trio was so good that they picked up a scarcely believable 130+ wickets, thus outperforming the great trio of Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall. The stat itself is a testimony to the brilliance of this triplet. For an Indian Cricket fan, it was a sight to behold. Indian bowlers bouncing out the opposition in alien conditions was a thing we could not have imagined a few years back. This has also served as a warning to every other team in the world that they could not get away with preparing green bouncy tracks anymore.

3.  Daring Captain

While Kohli the batsman has been the best batsman bar none in the away tours this season, his captaincy has copped a fair bit of criticism for being too defensive or the perceived selection errors. He indeed, has faltered a bit but one has to remember this is a very young team which heavily depends on his brilliance and looks upto him for inspiration. In the process, he has become the only Asian captain ever to win a test in South Africa, England and Australia in a single year. His field placings and bowling changes in both Melbourne and Sydney were spot on. His decision to not enforce the follow on in Melbourne gave his bowlers the extra rest they needed to bowl out the opposition twice. As a viewer, things only look bright when he does all this backing it up with his flamboyance with the Bat. It's time to applaud the team efforts and the captain for his bold and fearless leadership. He has instilled an obsession in this team to win overseas and it's only fitting that he became the first Asian captain to win the series Down Under.