Chak De India!

An enthralling series comes to an end, and both the Indian and Australian public will remember it for a long long time to come!
Mahi and his boys played perfect Cricket in the finals to defeat the World-Champion of world cricket!
I was following the series quite closely, right since the day, India set their foot on Australian soil! Boxing Day test at the MCG gave me an impression that it will be very similar to the 1999 tour, when Mr. Jaywant Lele (remember ??) had predicted a 3-0 whitewash! But Sydney changed it all!!
And how our boys fought!
Australia showed very poor sportsmanship and Indian lower order showed absolutely no-spine on the last day, at SCG! But you can't blame them when the illustrious top order had crumbled in just one session!
Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson were appaling on the field. The result combined with Andrew Symonds' charge that Harbhajan had called him a "Monkey" got the Indian Team together! And they fought back superbly in Perth, where they were supposed to be blown away by Aussie pacers, Shaun Tait in particular!
Unfortunately, Tait was the one to be blown out of International cricket!
Adelaide was enthralling not minding the draw. Both teams were not ready to concede an inch.
Then it was time for the seniors to leave and arrived Young India, full of energy, ready to take any one, ready to give it back, punch for puch, knock for knock!
20-20 at MCG again, was a disaster. It gave an impression that they were trying to go, too soon, too hard at the Aussies!
However, as the One Dayers progressed, they grew in confidence and were sensing an opportunity!
Final of the VB Series, got "Maximus" out of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar! Stung by the criticism he had to face (no century in Australia, scores poorly in second innings etc.), he responded magnificently to help India chase the 1st final, and took India to a competitive total in the 2nd Final! But he was not alone! Bhajji, MSD, Yuvi, Utthapa, Pathan, Kumar, all played like one team! Bhajji had the final laugh and the biggest laugh when he ran Hayden out and got Symonds soon after and lead India to victory!
It was Bliss!!
If i recollect the series, some moments stand out!
At MCG, India capitulating!
At SCG, Symonds not leaving the crease after edging behind, Sachin scoring a century and Ponting's celebration after the win!
WACA Perth, who can forget Ishant Sharma's spell to Ponting, and destruction of Shaun Tait!
Adelaide, Ponting back in form!

20-20 at MCG : Young Team surrendering meekly!
Finals : Sachin's century and Praveen Kumar's opening spell!
Top of the list: Symonds giving the Male streaker a "cold" shoulder!
Way to go India... Bring on the next World Champions in ranking.... South Africa!!

Budget 2008! Thanks Mr. Chidambaram!

Finally, the budget for 2008 is out and in my personal opinion, what a budget it is!
Without doing anything spectacular, Mr. P Chidambaram has managed to gladden everyone's heart! While i was reading today's ToI, did not read any comments from the Opposition! Very strange... considering that each and every move by the Government is vociferously opposed by the Opposition! I guess the FM did a good job.
Coming back to the perks that the FM has provided to a salaried person like me, this year, i will be able to save close to a month's salary which i paid as tax last year! Isn't that great??
Hats off to Mr. Chidambaram for writing off the loans of the small farmers! Every morning, Reading reports of farmers committing suicides in parts of India was shameful, to say the least. With this provision in the budget, they will be able to start afresh! However, i am not very convinced about this step. It would have been better, if we are able to provide the needy farmers with modern technology, high quality seeds, better irrigation system and a loan at very low interest rate! We need to introspect as to what we have done for their benefit after independence.
Overall, the budget was very good! Only disappointing thing was that my ciggy would cost me more. (which happens after every budget) But its ok! I will try to quit!
Signing off.....