Whats is in my mind on the last day of this decade.

Life is a game, very typically, a game where you neither have a save option nor have more than one life(lives in a life). And memories are the only things that we like to cherish, can't reach there, but still heart rate increases, goosebumps spike up everytime you remember the best periods of your life.

And like everyone(high school to college to work to marriage) , the last decade has been the most eventful with respect to how much I can remember, how much I have learnt, how much good I have done and how much bad I have done. When I am alone, I sometimes try to sit back and think of the all these events, how childish I was on Dec 31st 2000, where I did not even want to think of all these. Time runs faster with age but your memories pause at so many places. In some places, you get happy and excited, in some places you heart becomes heavy and you want to press the undo button and redo it the better way so that your heart gets excited again.

Specific events I would always try to remember from this decade would include my DAV school life where I was transforming from a kid to something more than that, my rather phenomenal college life which comprises of the way I got in to the college, the fact that the first person I met and spoke to when I went for my college interview is my wife now, the relationships I share now with the close group of my college friends, the hostel life and many other numerous leaves I could pluck from my college life tree. I wil also remember the days I happyly spent with my cousin and Chennai friends. Life in a corporate needs no huge mentions, its been 4 years, its good, monotonous, cash ful and slightly independent. I would obviously remember this decade for my marriage which is one of the greatest things that has happened in my life.

Some incidents, people are never out of memories. The worst thing that happened to me this decade was the passing away of my two grandfathers. Its eventual to everyone, but when someone so dear to you is no more with you, it hurts a lot. I dream about them even today and I immediately wake up and then am never able to sleep for the night. It feels bitter to even think of the fact that the list will be additive, but do we have a choice?

Happy New Year 2011. Thank you 2000-2010 for giving me so much in life. You will always be remembered by me, always.

Who thinks he should be dropped?

I am highly irritated with some of the comments in cricinfo asking Rahul Dravid to step down or asking team management to drop him after the second test in Durban. And from the comments, I can definitely say the people who commented do not enjoy or appreciate test cricket. I agree he is not in his best form, and has been short of runs in the last 4 innings. But, he has looked solid throughout. Except for the second innings dismissal where he got out playing a bad shot, he perished to gems of deliveries by Steyn and Morkel, something that we could definitely call the balls of the match. Even on the seaming and very quick track on the first day of the first test, he was the one who looked solid and was able to stay there without fear whereas the other batsmen like Gambhir and even Laxman were all over the place.

And not to forget, his match winning innings of 190+ against Kiwis just weeks before. Some could argue that they were not such a great team, but to be fair to them, they being ranked number 8 in the world drew twice against the number one team. And as a bowling unit, they were very good. Rahul Dravid played an innings of patience and with the great performance of our bowlers, we clinched the series.

In the third test, I hope he shuts the vocal chords and pen swords of ridiculous people who are suggesting him to be dropped and Laxman to move to number 3. I am rather amused with their lack of knowledge that they are talking about the best number 3 test batsman in the world along with Ponting. He may have been patchy from 2007 but he is not yet done. Most importantly, he is fitter than Raina, Gambhir or even Unadhkat for that matter and there could be no arguments with respect to this even for non supporters of him.

And yes, a huge congratulations to Rahul Dravid for reaching 12000 runs in test cricket and reaching it faster than Sachin and Ponting. And of course, congrats again for becoming the first man in history to take 200 catches in test cricket. And for the record, if some of you think he has reached this because he used to do wicket keeping, you are wrong again. He has taken all his catches as a non wicket keeper. Click here to check for yourselves.

The Wall has a point to prove in the third test and I hope he makes people realize again that Technique is Gold and Patience is King.