“Any sort of governing body limiting the spectrum of acceptable opinion is to keep groups passive and obedient at the same time.” This  quote is loosely based on an excerpt from the book – How the World Works We see this at varying levels in all aspects of our life – corporations, families, social, political and religious groups. This governance could turn harmful and toxic if individuals crave identity. It is human nature to feel a sense of accomplishment when there is a strong endorsement of one’s identity.  When this identity is belittled, it hurts the ego. How one reacts to this negative emotion varies based on the individual’s social…

Australia in their prime could not win a test series in India. New Zealand won 3-0 against arguably the best bowling attack. It made no sense. Glenn Philips was their second spinner. Shami’s absence might have provided that small let-up for NZ to score those extra runs before conditions evened out for both teams. The conditions progressively worsened in every test and lower-order rearguard never happened. Rachin Ravindra would be their next superstar if he is not already Test 1: Even though India lost, it felt like a win. India almost shut NZ out of the game after conceding a lead of 350. KL and Pant took the shine off the second…

Many things had to go against, for India to not win the 2023 ODI World Cup. They lost to Head’s luck and conditions. Such was India’s dominance that it made Australia’s World Cup-winning campaigns look ordinary. India just did not have the title to show for it. In terms of sporting brilliance, it sits below 2021 Gabba test and is comfortably way above 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI world titles In T20’s though, there were too many vulnerable areas that could impact a one-off knockout game In this World Cup, no one had a dream run, like Yuvraj in 2011 or Shami in 2023. There were several small impactful performances…

Review India fielded well. Special mention to KL’s keeping and Kuldeep’s ground fielding. Batted relatively better than opponents. Standouts are KL against Zampa, Rohit against Matt Henry and Kohli against Santner. There are no words to describe bowling.  Bumrah’s wickets of Rizwan and Shadab, Stokes’s meltdown against Shami and Kuldeep’s wickets of Maxwell and Butler are just out of the world. A wrist spinner should not be able to demonstrate the zip and consistency that Kuldeep is showcasing. We will likely not witness this level of bowling skill and intensity again in our lifetime  NZ is the second best team irrespective of what the table says. Australia might not have…

India was in euphoria over the recent successful moon landing and there was a joyful display of collective pride. Rightly so, for the achievement and its possible impact on subsequent scientific advancements. However, do we see collective concern and ownership over failures though? Does not feel so welcoming, is it? For, the shame too could stimulate progress and development. In corporate circles, every group attempts to stake claim on major accomplishments but skillfully deflect away from failures and would always find a fall guy. It is the easier way out. Environment for excellence though could be fostered only if teams lack fear of failure. We tend to have strong opinions…

Reliving the emotion of joy and disbelief in the words of noted sports columnists. India wins the second test in Melbourne. With a depleted bowling attack competing against the best attack in the world, there was no expectation but a hope to compete well in the upcoming tests. Heist while it might be, the thing with heists is they are not repeatable so easily. In the longer run and over a four-test series, you would expect a bowling unit drawing the larger amount of indecision from the batsmen to prevail – Sidharth Monga Ashwin with a bad back and Vihari on one leg battling the final session in Sydney. We…

Feel that many of us during our initial years in US have some of these ingrained financial instincts like directing all savings to fixed & recurring deposits, buying a home, using insurance policies as investments and being risk averse to market investments. Based on my experience, just wanted to share some quantifiable inputs. Priorities, necessities and understanding differ and below is just a personal perspective. Some mistakes, which I made. Transferring Dollars to India to fund fixed deposits for better returns. Returns offered by banks are proportional to inflation. If the return offered in India is 7%, inflation would be around 5%. Similarly, if the return offered in US is…

What are odds of two people compatible in their sexual, emotional, financial and social – sensibilities/intelligence/perspectives. Could not think of a more apt sarcasm (as phrased in Hunger Games) – May the odds be ever in your favor. Issue however is not in the differences but lack of intelligence and awareness in accepting the differences. It is interesting to observe that this acceptance is more natural and willing in mother, father, son, daughter, brother and sister relations, which is why institution of family is relatively stable compared to marriage in every society, culture and religion. Our social marketing on marriages (read as in – Marriages are made in heaven; Your…

Thoughts on Ball tampering controversy Hypothetically assume a student gets caught using calculator in an exam and the examination board debars him for that subject, as per board regulations. His parents then drop him from school for one year, for the act. If this is foolish parenting, Cricket Australia CEO, James Sutherland did exactly the same. Nietzsche said, Morality is the herd instinct in individuals. I`ll expand this a little – Herd imposes the morality on individuals and individuals are always amoral with circumstantial obligations being their justification. If the motive is to prevent these from happening again, a simple change in ICC regulation imposing harsh sanctions, would have just…

Perception is that feminism is an ideology to counter unfair male superiority to promote gender equality. I have developed a contrasting view on our thoughts and actions out of above stated perception. My friend and I were walking out of a restaurant and a lady who was about to enter snapped at us saying – After you ladies. Courtesy should be by intent and is meaningless if it is by habit and expectation. All the “After you madam” acts are out of unconscious belief that women are weaker (or) a mundane habit, just like brushing in the morning. How is it empowering to demand courtesy as if it is a…