It is common knowledge that Ms. Sunanda Pushkar, who is a friend of ex-Minister of State Mr. Shashi Tharoor, has let go of her sweat equity in the Kochi IPL team. In fact she is pursuing the matter legally in consultation with a Dubai based Indian Lawyer.

While all this storm is brewing in good old Dubai, there seems to be another one let loose by someone on Facebook posing as the Lady in the eye of the storm.

It seems the folks at The Times of India found it interesting to publish some of the updates from this Sunanda’s supposed Facebook profile without even trying to validate the profile!

From the status update excerpts that I read in the article, there are so many grammatical mistakes (this excludes the short hand net lingo that we all use). Since this is a lady working at some company called Dubai Holding at a senior consulting position, it is only fair to assume she understands the queen’s language (and even speaks it well).

Not to mention the fact that Sunanda Pushkar is very particular about her privacy.

Not responsible journalism at all. I hope the people with the pen behave more responsibly rather than reproducing some impersonator’s rants in their articles that only gives legitimacy to the wrong person and in a way defames the person in question.

It seems all the cricket’s mighty men belonging to the Indian Cricket Team are dreaming of T20 cricket even when they are all strapped up and facing those balls in a test match.

After SriLanka scored 600 runs and declared in a test match interrupted by frequent showers, India were tattering at 159/6 with VVS Laxman and night watchman captain Anil Kumble at the crease.

It is really shocking to see the mighty batsmen fall so quickly without any resistance. Kudos to the Lanka team for hounding the Indian team into submission. Then there’s a 90% chance of a follow on for India. A miraculous rescue by VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble is our only chance against the Lankans… Otherwise pray to God to let the rain fall down. It’s the only other way to save our faces.

Disappointing show by India, excellent work by the SriLankans.

Gary Kirsten (visit his profile on Cricinfo) has agreed to coach India. Good news. Well let’s hope he brings more enthusiasm into our team and leads the boys for a good period of time. India is without a coach since Greg Chappell stepped down. Although we do have a bowling coach in Venkatesh Prasad and a fielding coach in Robin Singh, India is still without a coach.

Well, my opinion is that India has improved while they were playing without one! I don’t know if you noticed this or not, but the media is at peace with the current situation (although the situation isn’t that good) where our team’s without a coach and has lost as well as won several matches. This time we didn’t get to hear the usual bashing from the media regarding the team’s performance.

Yes. This is the truth. Gary may be a very good player and turn out to be another Bob Woolmer (read: a great coach) for India (Inshallah), but the truth is that the media has got it’s knives ready. As soon as we land in Australia for the tour, all the media will be focusing on the series since by then India will be with a coach. And if, God Forbid, we loose, then you will see nice headlines in the newspapers telling you that it was all Gary’s fault.

As for the bowling coach and the fielding coach, I don’t know what to say. India’s fielding hasn’t been that good as far as I can think of. Bowling has improved but not what you would have expected say from a specialist bowling coach like Prasad.

Let’s hope for the best in the end, I guess. After all that’s what we all have been doing since long. Haven’t we guys and gals?

After a long wait, finally the Indian Cricket team has got a coach in Gary Kirsten. The former South African opener who retired in 2004 is expected to join the team on December 3. It is good to know that some one of his stature has agreed to coach our team which has been without a coach since Greg Chappell vacated the position after India’s humiliating exit from the ICC World Cup 2007 .

Anyway, all the best to Gary and our men in blue.

India vs. Australia 4th ODI at the Sector 16 Stadium, Chandigarh, India

India finally managed to get a face saving win against the Aussie juggernaut. Even though the victory margin was 8 runs (very narrow indeed), it did manage to bring back some confidence back into the side. This is the first taste of victory for the new ODI captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Boy, will he be relieved today!

This win brings India back into the picture (of possibly winning the series) and ensures that the Aussies did not whitewashed India in this series.

By all accounts this match was a real thriller. A cliffhanger. The match was full of excitement right from the start and the Aussies looked as if they were going to get the total within the stipulated 50 overs with a couple of overs to spare if it were not for the regular fall of wickets.

Click here for the scorecard of the 4th ODI India vs. Aus at Chandigarh

India Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has complained that Aussie Captain Ricky Ponting and a few other players used harsh and offensive words while he was batting. He has, however, refused to divulge what exactly was said to him. This story provides more details on this encounter, Dhoni accuses Ponting of using abusive words.

The world champs got the better of the T20 champs in the 3rd ODI at Hyderabad. Australia beat India comfortably to go 2 up in the seven match series.

Scorecard for the 3rd ODI: Aus vs. Ind at Hyderabad.

The second ODI in Kochi is set for a great fight. Australia have made 306/6, setting India a target of 307 for a victory. This is going to be one tough match for sure!

Click here for live scorecard of the Ind vs. Aus 2nd ODI at Kochi

Watch the Great Indian Victory Parade of the Indian Cricket Team from the Mumbai Airport to the Wankhede Stadium where the members of the winning team are to be felicitated by the BCCI!

The cricketers can be seen dressed in white and riding in an open air bus.

Yuvraj Singh got a Porsche 911 which was gifted to him personally by the BCCI vice president who said Yuvraj used to tell him all the time that it was his favorite call.

Yuvraj got the car as well as a special cash price of INR 1  Crore from the BCCI for his record making 6 sixes off an over in the match against England.

Congrats to him and congrats to the whole team from me.