The Kolkata Knightriders play Mumbai Indians in Mumbai tonight.
All sort of plays are involved in Mumbai, the most cosmopolitan of Indian cities. So you have Delhiite SRK, who made his fortune in Mumbai, now owning the Kolkata team. You have ex Kolkatan and current Mumbaikar, Maity, off to Brabourne where the match will be played. Any guesses who he’ll cheer for? Ten years plus in Mumbai but my loyalties lie with Kolkata, or Calcutta as it is to me. Is there a Canterbury team anywhere?
But it is tough to be a Ganguly and Knightriders supporter. Especially when his repeated blinking doesn’t give him clarity of vision. When he strides ahead as he did in his glory days, wields the mighty willow and when the ball then drops gently three feet in front instead of sailing to the boundary. But one will still stick by this mercurial man who introduced spunk to Indian cricket. There is nothing more painful than seeing an aged and wounded tiger hounded in the jungles he once lorded in. But then this is a man who never dropped his gaze. A man who was legendary for standing up for team. A man who loved a challenge. Who knew how to give it back.
The truth is that he doesn’t evoke much faith today. He might flicker in the odd match but the flame is almost gone. Sure there are ten other players. But to me KKR is all about Dada. So I don’t view the match with much hope. If we win, I’ll be happy. If we lose, I’ll know that there are some battles which we will win. For example ….
- Phoochka vs Paani Puri
- Muri alur Chop vs Vada pao
- Shiraz vs Lucky
- Malai Curry vs Koliwada
- Bar-B-Q vs 5 Spice (Scarlett, I am willing to trade places)
- Hot Kathi Roll Vs Tibb’s Franky
- Mishti Doi vs Shrikhand
- Kookie Jar Vs Theobroma
- Flurys Vs Gaylords
- Mocambo’s Bhetki a la Diana Vs Out of The Blue Penne Pesto (a very narrow margin)
- Paturi vs Patrani
- Jhal Mudi vs Bhel
- Mukhorochok Jhal Paapri Dalmut Vs Garlic Sev
- New Friends Vs Shiv Sagar
- Ilish vs Pomfret
- Luchi alur dom vs poori bhaji
- Kosha Mangsho Vs Mutton Kolhapuri
- Oh Calcutta vs Viva Maharashtra
As my friend, Mota, says, IPL’s not about cricket after all.
What are your Kolkata Vs Mumbai Prize Fights?
Post match update:
- The man they call God Vs Dada
