An innings of rare brilliance!

You might have already come across a bunch of notes and articles about Shikhar Dhawan and his debut innings in the print media and many more floating all over the internet. He was also trending on Twitter for quite some time while he was batting on Day 3 of the third Test between India and Australia. When you come to think of it, it does not really sound like exaggeration at all; such was the class of that innings which is yet to conclude. It kept me up all night (owing to the huge time difference between India and USA). So I won’t be unjustified in putting together my thoughts about it in a few lines.

Alright, it was a test hundred on debut, the fastest one at that. But what really makes it even more special is the manner in which those runs were scored. Shikhar Dhawan almost nonchalantly raced to his first test ton at more than run-a-ball (85 balls to be more accurate) and in the process, breaking the previous record of 105 balls for a debut test century. Hardly did he hit anything in the air till he was there. He did hit a couple of lofted shots once he had scored the 100, but no real signs of slogging yet. He stood unbeaten on 185 at the end of day’s play and there are already ominous signs that he might go on to make a big one.

Just before the start of Indian innings, I was speaking to a friend about the possible outcome of this match and had predicted a probable draw. I had also mentioned to him that I was very interested in watching Dhawan’s batting. Mind you, I’m not laying any claims that I had predicted him to become a revelation in the very first innings he would play. On the contrary, I had my doubts. I had told my friend that I have heard a lot about Shikhar and also seen him play many T-20 games and a couple of ODIs and that he looked good but not great. His domestic records point very much in the same direction (over 5500 runs at an average of approximately 46 in 81 first class matches). Neither am I contending that he has already achieved greatness by virtue of that innings. But that exemplary display of batting will surely go down in the annals of history as one of the best performances by any batsman on his debut.

Almost every scoring shot that came out of his blade was breathtaking, the ones played on the off-side cover boundary more so. So good did he look playing those shots that some have already crowned him the new ‘God of the off-side’. That, according to me, is going a step too far. Taking nothing away from Dhawan, it is just his first innings at this level after all – that too on a sub-continent pitch against a relatively depleted Australian attack. Remember, he is replacing a heavy-weight in Sehwag who owned that place for quite sometime and with great success. Once Dhawan comes out of that so called honeymoon period, he might have to come face-to-face with the cruel reality of fast and bouncy tracks in South Africa, England and Australia where the same Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc would look much more venomous.

His composure and steadiness at the crease is what stood out to me as the highlight of his batting apart from the glorious drives and cuts. A lot has always been said and written about attitude and not just talent being reasons behind the success of a player. Proponents of that theory could not have found a better day to emphasize their point. He batted like he belonged there and has owned the place for years before this. The anxiety and nervousness of a debutant were far from what he showed signs of. A couple of pull shots that he played had confidence written all over them.

That innings was, in every sense, a connoisseur’s delight. With that innings, Shikhar Dhawan would have pleased viewers and critics belonging to all school of thoughts. Perfect balance, precise foot movement, exquisite timing and supreme placement were some of the key features of his innings as far as the technicalities are concerned. At the same time, it was an extraordinary display of flare as he stepped out and lofted the spinners a couple of times en route his 185. To those who believe in the modern day style of test cricket, this innings would be the one to emulate – scoring at a strike rate of over 100 without taking any apparent risk, thanks to some lovely text book cricketing shots.

To sum up, I would refrain from making any extravagant predictions about India discovering a new star and a permanent solution to the opening slot. I would just like to conclude saying that Dhawan should draw a lot of confidence out of his wonderful start and look to capitalize on it. This should give him a lot of peace and satisfaction when he would look back on this performance once the test match is over and times after that – for this is truly an innings of rare brilliance!

One night at the Police Station!

In the meantime I thought I would take a nap. I climbed up on to the upper berth in an AC 2-Tier coach, only to wake up in the Railway Police Station of Anand Vihar Terminal in New Delhi. I found myself in semi-conscious state, sitting in a wooden chair, gargling with salt-water and water containing dissolved alum in quick succession. Right in front of me was the Sub-Inspector of the station sitting on his chair. He asked me to get up from the chair and walk. Hardly had I walked a couple of paces when I almost stumbled on to the floor before being held together by a Constable. The Sub-Inspector came up to me and shook me like a rag doll in an attempt to bring me into full consciousness which of course wasn’t my state then. Reader - I would not lie to you - I had absolutely no idea what was going on!

The inspector’s attempts to bring me back to my senses had started to pay off by now. He asked me to name someone from my family who he could speak to and asked for their contact number. I blabbered my elder brother’s phone number.

Rewind 16 hours. I boarded Seemanchal Express at Mughal Sarai Junction for Anand Vihar at about 9.30 am. My fellow passenger was a lady in her mid-thirties with her son who must have been around four years old. In due course of our conversation I learned that her husband was supposed to accompany her; but due to some business commitments he could not come along with her. Therefore, there was a berth that would go vacant till Kanpur - her destination.

After having an early lunch at about 11.30 am, I got up to the overhead berth and went to sleep. I have very hazy memory of events that took place thereafter.  I vaguely remember waking up partially a couple of times. The first time, I recall seeing that lady, my co-passenger, on her berth, which makes me believe that the train had not reached Kanpur by then. The second time, as far as I can recall, there were a couple of young guys, probably in their late twenties or early thirties, sitting on the same place previously occupied by that lady and her son. And the next thing that I remember is being woken up by the Police Sub-Inspector and his assistants.

I was apparently sedated at some point of time in the train itself and the people who did that (no points for guessing who they could have been), robbed me of almost everything that was worth some money. The list of things taken away includes a laptop, an iPhone, a Kindle, two pairs of shoes, a pair of sunglasses and spectacles, a couple of wrist watches, a couple of Debit Cards and Credit Cards from Indian Banks, all the cash in three different currencies in my wallet and a lot of other things including but not limited to the toiletries. All that was left on me was a strolley bag with a couple of clothes and a flip-flop or slipper in it. Thankfully enough, they had left behind my passport and other travel and visa related documents that I was carrying.

Fast forward to a couple of hours past midnight, the inspector had already called my brother’s number.  I had spoken to him semi-consciously and assured him that I was in a position to board my flight to the United States a couple of hours later from Delhi International Airport, although the inspector insisted on not letting me go considering the state was in. Given the fact that I had already stayed back for over a month and half and had managed to get the tickets with great difficulty, my brother did not think it was a great idea for me to delay my stay any further unless that was absolutely necessary and fortunately enough I was getting better every minute. Therefore, after an honest conversation with my brother and assessing my condition again, the inspector agreed to let me go to the airport. In the meantime, my brother had asked one of his friends to arrange for a cab to take me to the airport. While on my way to the airport, my brother’s friend caught up with me at some place and paid the cab-driver his due and also informed people back home that I was out of all sorts of dangers. All that time, I was constantly speaking (or mumbling so to say) to someone or the other from my family on the cab-driver’s mobile phone. I do not remember how I managed to check-in and board the flight. All I recollect is a girl, who might have been some official at the airlines, shouting instructions at me on top of her voice to follow her and asking me to walk a little faster as I was well beyond the boarding time and the flight gates were about to be closed. Once boarded, I think I slept well for the next three to four hours before the flight landed in Qatar at the Doha International Airport where I had a layover of another three hours before boarding the next flight to Washington DC. I only have hazy memories of all the incidents that I have recounted thus far. It was precisely upon being woken up by the flight attendant at Doha when I came back into complete senses, fully aware of myself!

A couple of cups of fresh coffee and a few minutes of severe headache later, I called up my family back in India to let them know of my well-being and my current whereabouts (remember they had taken only cards from Indian banks? I still had my cards from US on me!). I got to know a lot of things when I spoke to my brother. He told me that the Railway policemen had discovered me lying in the train compartment in Anand Vihar railway yard – obviously hours after the train had arrived at the station and had gone into the yard for maintenance. The train was scheduled to arrive there roughly at 9 pm and it did so. I was sedated so heavily that I did not wake up on my own even 4 hours after that. The police had located me at around 1 am that night and it was around 2 am that they had called my brother. Everyone back home was trying to reach my phone since 7 pm in the evening; but they were unable to, since it had been stolen and switched off, and consequently were panic-stricken – quite understandably so!

My brother also asked me for information about all the Debit and Credit cards that were stolen and assured me that they would be taken care of at the earliest. By then, it was time for me to board the next flight, most of which was spent either sleeping or eating before it finally touched down at the Dulles International Airport in Washington DC at about 8 pm in the night.

After going through the immigration process, I managed to reach the gate from where I would get my connecting flight to St. Louis, I found, to my utter dismay, that the aircraft was already on its way out of Washington. The immigration apparently had taken a lot of time owing to the huge incoming traffic. I was informed by the officials that the earliest I could get the next flight was next morning. I had no choice but to wait. Since I did not have a mobile phone or any other medium of electronic communication left on me, the best I could do to find a hotel was to talk to the same officials and have them arrange something for me. They tried calling up a few hotels they had listed on their records, but with no success. So I had to spend the whole night at the airport before boarding the flight next morning. Thankfully, this time I did get the flight and arrived at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis.

I breathed a deep sigh of relief upon reaching my apartment. That journey of over 48 hours had started to feel like eternity. On checking my jeans pocket, I found a small note that had the name and number of the Police Sub-Inspector at Anand Vihar Railway Police Station. That evening (effectively the next morning in India), I called to thank him and found out that I was not the only victim that night. There was another guy, sitting on the side berth of the same coupe as me, who had gone through the same ordeal. On listening to that I could immediately recollect from whatever little memory I had of the night before, that I had seen this guy sitting next to me on another chair in the Police Station in a state similar to mine! Anyway, the Sub-Inspector informed me that this other guy had given a detailed account of whatever he recalled and the investigation was in progress. I got absolved in catching up with work after a very long break and never pursued the case further or followed up with him. Let me admit – to be honest, I was happy that they had not taken away my passport and other travel documents and I could successfully fly out of Delhi that night. Nonetheless, what a night that was!

Amidst all that high-intensity drama, the only silver lining was that I turned 25 the next day. Although not surrounded by family and friends, I felt quite good to be in the safe haven of my apartment considering the turn of events in the couple of days leading up to it.