Random Thoughts May 2016

• You know Narendra Modi led BJP Government has done a stellar job during the past 2 years when the anti modi English Press becomes very silent. The 'presstitudes', who hardly lose a chance to criticize Modi (has anyone in our memory been criticized for so little as Modi?) has totally ignored the anniversary, which is a good sign. There has been few sounds from the totally discredited Congress, but that is to be expected. In any case, no one listens to them any more.
• What is it about Hillary Clinton and American Presidency? During the 2008 election, she was the front runner for Democratic nomination, and by virtue of it US Presidency, when Obama raised the pitch, and won an unlikely nomination. Come 2016, Hillary was way ahead of other Democrats, and Republicans were in shambles with Trump being let loose amongst other pigeons. It was expected that Hillary will sew up the nomination much earlier than Trump, who many thought had a fight in his hand in the Republican Convention to get the nomination. But it was Trump who closed his nomination first, while Hillary has to face a stiff resistance from Benie Sanders. It is likely that she will still scrape through, but with Trump leading her marginally in opinion polls, and with his street smart ways, I wouldn't bet against a Trump Presidency, with Hillary again getting the wooden spoon.
• Age finally is catching up with two great tennis players. Federer withdrew at the last minute from French open with a back injury, and Nadal followed suit with a wrist injury in the first week. Though I wont miss Nadal much, I certainly will miss Federer. There are few better sights in sports than a Federer in full flow. It looks like the end is near for his playing career. Though I have been preparing myself for this the last few years, it still leaves me with profound sadness. And the next set of exciting young talent is nowhere in the horizon, to carry the baton of Borg, McEnroe, Samprass, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal....
• Talking of carrying the baton, Virat Kohli has started catching our imagination with his passion,drive, fitness and classical cricket strokes. A worthy successor to Gavaskar, Vishwanath, Sachin, Dravid and Laxman. He is such a consummate team man, and his energy levels are astounding. Not for him to stodginess of Dravid. He is passionate, wears his emotions up his sleeve and shows it. And he is so pleasing to watch while batting. And unlike the worthies mentioned above, he is a superb out fielder. He has also taken an uncompromising stand on player fitness. A classic example is him giving the boot to the unfit, overweight Sarfaraz Khan, the talented RCB/Mumbai batsmen who played a gem of an innovative cameo earlier in the IPL. Kohli leads by example, and his running between the wickets shows the hours he has put on the gym.