The Luckiest Time to be a Sports Fan - well, for at least this one ;)

There’s something deeply irrational, yet incredibly moving, about being a sports fan. You pledge your loyalty to teams and athletes who don’t know you exist, ride the highs and lows of matches you can't control, and often end up with nothing but heartbreak for years. And still, you stay. You scream at your screen, wear the same lucky jersey, pray before penalties, and defend your heroes in every WhatsApp group war.

Sometimes, though, the universe repays your loyalty. And for me, these last few years have been nothing short of a golden age.

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Cricket: Eighteen Years of Waiting

Of course, we must start with what happened yesterady. After 18 years of heartache, banter, memes, and dashed hopes, Royal Challengers Bangalore finally lifted the IPL trophy. And at the center of it was Virat Kohli.

The only player to have played all 18 IPL seasons with the same franchise, Kohli has been the soul of RCB through highs and mostly lows. For over a decade, the chant of "Ee Saala Cup Namde" echoed every season, only to end in disappointment. But this year was different. RCB clawed their way back from the bottom half of the table, made it to the playoffs against the odds, and then stormed to victory.

It wasn’t just a win; it was poetry. The image of Kohli lifting that elusive trophy, after sticking with one franchise his entire career, is now etched in every cricket fan's mind.

While we celebrate the men's team achievement, it is important to also remember the stellar RCB Women’s Team, led by Smriti Mandhana, lifted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) trophy in 2024. So two trophies in two years in fact!

And that wasn't the only redemption arc. Let’s rewind to November 2023. India went unbeaten through the ODI World Cup only to lose the final to Australia in what felt like a national heartbreak. It came on the heels of losing the World Test Championship final to the same team earlier that year and not to mention the WTC final loss to New Zealand in 2021.

But just when it seemed the cricketing gods were cruel, the tide turned.

India went on to win the T20 World Cup, beating South Africa in a nail-biting final that went down to the last over. The team showed resilience, maturity, and magic. And then topped it with the Champions Trophy win — cementing this team as one of India’s greatest modern cricketing units.

As an Indian cricket fan, and additionally an RCB fan, there hasn’t been a better time to be alive. 

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Football: The Redemption of the Greatest

If Kohli’s journey is about national greatness and club heartbreak, Lionel Messi’s is the mirror opposite.

He won everything with FC Barcelona. League titles, Champions Leagues, Ballon d'Ors. But with Argentina? Just scars.

He lost three major finals in a row: the 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals—both to Chile, both on penalties. The pain led to a tearful retirement announcement from international football in 2016. The world mourned, but he returned. Quietly. Determinedly.

In 2021, Messi finally got his first international trophy, lifting the Copa América in Brazil’s own backyard. It was emotional, it was powerful, but critics dismissed it as just a Copa. A weak tournament.

Then came Qatar 2022.

The World Cup final against France was an epic. Goals, comebacks, penalties, drama — and finally, Messi holding the one trophy that had eluded him. A script too perfect to be fiction. It wasn't just about silencing doubters; it was about completing football.

As if to underline that his time wasn’t over, he went to Inter Miami in 2023 — a struggling MLS side at the bottom of the table. Within weeks, they won the Leagues Cup. By 2024, they claimed the Supporters' Shield with record points.

And yes, he added another Copa América in 2024. Three international trophies in three years. From zero to three. Destiny fulfilled. The world now waits and prays: will he return for World Cup 2026?

We can only hope.

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Chess: From One Legend to a Nation of Champions

Chess has been a constant in my life since childhood. For me, and for countless others, Viswanathan Anand wasn’t just a player. He was the reason Indians believed we could be the best in the world.

I still remember watching him beat Vladimir Kramnik in 2008 to retain his World Championship title. Since then, Anand has become a mentor, a guide, and an icon for generations of Indian chess prodigies.

And those prodigies have arrived.

In 2024, India dominated the Chess Olympiad, winning double gold in both the Open and Women’s categories. It wasn't just a win — it was a rout. India proved that it wasn't a one-man show anymore. We are now a chess powerhouse.

Then came the moment that took it all to another level: D. Gukesh, aged just 18, qualified for the World Chess Championship by winning the Candidates Tournament in style. I flew to Singapore to witness history as Gukesh faced reigning world champion Ding Liren.

And he delivered.

Gukesh became the youngest ever World Chess Champion, a moment so surreal and emotional that it felt like fiction. It was a generational shift, a moment of glory not just for Gukesh, but for Indian chess as a whole.

Oh, and let’s not forget Koneru Humpy, who won the Women’s World Rapid Championship in 2024, reminding us that Indian excellence in chess isn’t just about the men.

We are no longer just participating. We are dominating.

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The Golden Age of Fandom

As I look back, I realize how blessed I’ve been as a sports fan. These weren’t just wins. These were redemptions. Long-awaited closures. Destiny fulfilled.

And sure, I would have still been a fan without the trophies. I would have cheered for Messi even if he hadn’t lifted the World Cup. I would have stood by Kohli and RCB even without the IPL title. I would have flown to Singapore for Gukesh even if he didn’t win.

But when they do win? When history unfolds the way you always imagined it?

That feeling is something else. It validates the years of loyalty, the pain, the belief.

Truly, there hasn’t been a better time to be a sports fan.

Or maybe, just maybe, this one.

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#Messi #Kohli #RCB #IndiaCricket #Gukesh #Chess #Anand #SportsFan #Fandom #Redemption #GOATs #GoldenEra

      Talvar: sharp or rusty?

It was supposed to be just another movie on just another day, but it was more. It could have been a yet another movie which touched a chord and left a fleeting inspiration, but it was much more. It was special, and very disturbing. I distinctly remember feeling angry, helpless, very angry, very helpless. Both directly and vicariously. I wished for a magic wand to be able to bring out the real truth once and for all. I wished to be in a country where truth could prevail without magic wands!

The whole country was shocked by the Aarushi Talwar – Hemraj double murder case. It has been 7 years and we still don’t know for sure who the real killers are. What we know is that Aarushi’s parents are deemed guilty and are put behind bars for life. Even if you knew some of the case facts, could you put your hand on your heart and say that they killed their only daughter? It’s for you to answer. I know what my heart feels.

I know what my brain feels too! Since watching the movie, I have done my own research – read several articles, interviews, read the book, went through the 210 page judgement. There are many open questions, I am asking only 5.

1. Can we so easily discard the narco tests of three separate individuals bringing out more or less the same story independently? And what about those of the parents indicating they had no knowledge of the crime?

2. Can we imagine a criminal contesting a closure report which says that it does not have enough evidence to charge them and requesting for investigation to continue?

3. Can we imagine a criminal finding and handing over the murder weapon themselves to CBI?

4. Can we be so sure that a 14 year old girl was found in a compromising position with her 45 year old servant when there is no evidence of him being present in her room that night?

5. Can we imagine that parents would kill their only daughter out of rage, first by hitting her with a golf club and then slitting her throat just to be extra sure?

I am not sure who is guilty and who is not, my opinions and feelings do not have a legal standing. But I am sure that there is enough fuzziness for a “reasonable doubt”. The logic and evidence provided is far away from being able to overcome the presumption “innocent until proven guilty”. And if they were actually innocent, just imagine what they have been going through for the last 7 years!

Some friends ask me why this affects me so much, surely there are hundreds of more burning issues is the country – corruption, crime, religious intolerance, quota, dowry, etc. I don’t know for sure. One, I can’t help but think what if this happened to me. I would not have the courage to bear it. Two, in all other cases I can attribute the injustice to politics, somebody’s greed or lust for power. Who do I attribute this one to? To our incompetent investigations or to our society’s inherent desire for a spicy story or to our irresponsible media for pandering to such society? You tell me.

Anand Gautam

16^th October 2015

Doosri duniya (Scroll below for Hindi)

Tum sab ki aankhein nam dekhta hoon,

Accha lagta hai.

Mujhe yaad karte rota dekhta hoon,

Accha lagta hai.

Eksaas hota hai ki main bhi Duch mayane rakhta tha,

Bahut accha lagta hai.

Maloom padta hai ki tum mujhe kitna chahte the,

Bahut accha lagta hai.

Achanak apni aankhein bhi paata hoon num,

Bura lagta hai.

Ab bhool bhi jao mujhko kahte hain ye aansoo,

Bura lagta hai.

Tum sabko rota dekhti hain ye asahay aankhein,

Bahut bura lagta hai.

Ab to ye aalam hai ki tumhara yaad karma bhi,

Bahut bura lagta hai.

Main tumhare beech nahi hoon ab, yaad to aati hogi,

Isi gum mein rote ho, itna to hain hum samajh sakte.

Par yahan is doosri duniya mein main jitna khush hoon,

Kya tum is baat ko samajh meri khushi mein shaamil nahi ho sakte?

Us zaalim, papi, bhrasht duniya se kai guna acchi hai ye duniya,

Kya meri is khushi ke liye tum apne thode se gum bhula nahi sakte?

Aisa nahi hai ki mujhe gum nahi hai,

Gum to bahut hai tum sab se bichadne ka.

Par gum ke saath saath khushi bhi to hai,

Na jaane kitne bichudon se milne ki.

Aur saath mein hai sada yah ehsaas,

Maut sabko aani hai – yah atal vishwaas.

Mujhe pata hai ki wo waqt bhi hai paas,

Jab tum bhi us maaya ki duniya ko tyag,

Hamesha ke liye aa jaoge mere paas.

Us din meri khushi kai guna badh jaayegi,

Aur tum khud dekhoge ki main yahan kitna khush hoon.

- Anand Gautam

24^th June 2005

दूसरी दुनिया

तुम सब की आँखें नम देखता हूँ,

अच्‍छा लगता है.

मुझे याद करते रोता देखता हूँ,

अच्‍छा लगता है.

एहसास होता है की मैं भी कुछ मायने रखता था,

बहुत अच्‍छा लगता है.

मालूम पड़ता है की तुम मुझे कितना चाहते थे,

बहुत अच्‍छा लगता है.

अचानक अपनी आँखें भी पाता हूँ नम,

बुरा लगता है.

अब भूल भी जाओ मुझको कहते हैं ये आँसू,

बुरा लगता है.

तुम सबको रोता देखती हैं ये असहाय आँखें,

बहुत बुरा लगता है.

अब तो ये आलम है की तुम्हारा याद करना भी,

बहुत बुरा लगता है.

मैं तुम्हारे बीच नही हूँ अब, याद तो आती होगी,

इसी गुम में रोते हो, इतना तो हैं हम समझ सकते.

पर यहाँ इस दूसरी दुनिया में मैं जितना खुश हूँ,

क्या तुम इस बात को समझ मेरी खुशी में शामिल नही हो सकते?

उस ज़ालिम, पापी, भ्रष्ट दुनिया से कई गुना अच्‍छी है ये दुनिया,

क्या मेरी इस खुशी के लिए तुम अपने थोड़े से गुम भुला नही सकते?

ऐसा नही है की मुझे गम नही है,

गम तो बहुत है तुम सब से बिछड़ने का.

पर गम के साथ साथ खुशी भी तो है,

ना जाने कितने बिछड़ों से मिलने की.

और साथ में है सदा यह एहसास,

मौत सबको आनी है – यह अटल विश्वास.

मुझे पता है की वो वक़्त भी है पास,

जब तुम भी उस माया की दुनिया को त्याग,

हमेशा के लिए आ जाओगे मेरे पास.

उस दिन मेरी खुशी कई गुना बढ़ जाएगी,

और तुम खुद देखोगे की मैं यहाँ कितना खुश हूँ.

- आनंद गौतम

24 जून 2005

How there is a 99.8% chance that Champions Trophy is fixed?

Three matches into the Champion’s Trophy, I got a message with bookie predictions of all the matches. It made following the tournament so much more fun. Each and every prediction has come true till now, except a couple of rain affected matches. I am really not excited about today’s big final, do not feel like watching it also!

Here are the predictions and against that the actual results.

      1.       India – SA, India wins              India won

      2.       Pak – WI, WI wins                   WI won

      3.       Eng – Aus, Eng wins                 Eng won

      4.       SL – NZ, NZ wins                     NZ won

      5.       Pak – SA, SA wins                    SA won

      6.       India – WI, India wins              India won

      7.       Aus – NZ, Aus wins                  Washout, rain

      8.       Eng – SL, Eng wins                   SL won, forced due to match 7

      9.       WI – SA, WI wins                     Match tied, rain

      10.   India – Pak, India wins              India won

      11.   Eng – NZ, Eng wins                    Eng won

      12.   SL – Aus, SL wins                      SL won

      13.   Eng – WI semis, Eng wins          Eng won, but against SA

      14.   India – SL semis, India wins       India won

      15.   India – Eng finals, India wins      ???

• Prediction was for India to win all their matches, it happened. 
• Prediction was for Pakistan to lose all their matches, it happened.
• Prediction was for India and England to top their groups and meet in final, it happened.
• Game 7 & 8 discrepancy – Game 7 was a washout, but made SL’s position tricky. Now they would not have qualified winning only one game as predicted (based on NRR). So the result of Game 8 had to be reversed so as to have an India – SL final as predicted
• Game 9 & 13 discrepancy – Game 9 was severely rain affected. We all know how the match got tied, Pollard getting out and rain coming immediately after with the teams tied on D/L score. As a result SA qualified for the semis instead of WI ahead on NRR. However, that did not deter an England victory in the semis.

Is it all a coincidence you tell me? Let us do some math in that case. Forget the first three matches as I got the message only before the fourth match. Forget matches 7, 8 and 9 as explained above. Still 8 match results were predicted correctly. If we assign 0.5 as the probability for any team winning, the probability of 8 predictions coming true would be 0.5^8 = 0.004 or 0.4%! If India win today, the number will become 0.2%. Would I be able to make a statement like “The entire champion’s trophy was fixed with 99.8% probability” and get away with it? J

(For all the skeptics, please do watch the “Fallen Heroes” series on youtube. It will be an eye opener. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBI4figu67c)

A short short post after a long long time!

For some reason, I suddenly remembered that I had a blog as well! I don't even remember when I visited this page last time. It was pretty amusing to see that the last post was regarding IPL-4! Its IPL-6 going on right now. So two years and no posts! I guess marriage can have some side effects :P

For the last few days I have been itching to write. Have been going over stuff which I wrote and it takes me back to that amazing feeling of having created something. I miss that feeling a lot. I wish I were a little less lazy so that I could write more often.

It is interesting to see that despite being inactive for so long, the blog still keeps getting one or two visitors every once in a while. Probably one of those old faithfuls reminded me of my long lost blog. Thank you :)

I hope to write something more substantial soon. Till then I would like to sign off with a few lines I recently wrote. Around Jan 26th, my company had a short slogan contest (less than 50 words) where we had to write towards the republic day reflecting the current mood in the country. Below is my entry which won the 2nd prize (A DVD of patriotic songs :P)

Women disrespected, while men have a laugh.
Superpower we may become, but only a half.
So raise your voices and have your say,
Women of India - Happy Republic day.

- Anand Gautam

IPL 4 - Nobody's in, nobody's out.....yet!

Please note that after the MI-DD game on 8th May:

No team has yet qualified for the next round in IPL 4.

All teams still have a chance of making it to the next round in IPL4.

A year goes by so fast! Seems like only yesterday when I was ridiculing TOI for qualifying MI to next round two games before they actually did!

http://window-anand.blogspot.com/2010/04/ipl-and-how-wrong-can-one-be-times-of.html

And here I am again, saying almost the same thing again!

After the match today, our learned commentators were shouting at the top of their voice that MI is through to next round and Delhi is out. Bull shit. Both are technically incorrect. MI is still not through and DD is still not out. In fact, like my last year's post, MI might still not be 100% sure of moving to next round even if we assume that they win their next game! Lets take things case by case.

Mumbai are not through yet!

There are 10 teams and four teams will qualify. Par score would be 7 wins, 14 points if 5 teams were to qualify. It doesn't take a genius to doubt if somebody claims that 8 wins will assure you a top 4 finish. In a not so very improbable scenario, the points tally can look like this:
RCB - 19, KKR - 18, CSK - 18, RR - 17, MI - 16, KXIP - 16, DC - 12, KTK - 10, DD - 10, PWI - 4

We don't even have to go to net run rates to knock my favourite team out :)

What is worse that assume MI has already won its next game against Punjab. Still the points table can look like this:

RCB - 18, KKR - 18, CSK - 18, RR - 18, MI - 18, DC - 12, KTK - 12, DD - 12, KXIP - 8, PWI - 6

This is very improbable as it requires RR and RCB match to be washed out again. But the point is that 18 points also do not guarantee a next round qualification since 5 teams can get 18 points easily.

DD can still make it!

Delhi is most probably out, agreed. But please don't say that they are knocked out. If they win all there remaining matches, there still is finite probability that they go through. In one of the scenarios in which DD goes through, the points table would look like:
MI - 24, CSK - 18, KKR -16, DD - 14, KTK - 14, RCB - 13, PWI - 12, RR - 11, KXIP - 10, DC - 8

So can Deccan and even Pune!

Same is the story for the other two teams with 7 losses. If they win all the remaining matches and end up on 14 points, they can still qualify. For example, in one of the scenarios in which Deccan qualifies, the points table would look like:

MI - 22, RCB - 19, DC - 14, KKR - 14, CSK - 14, RR - 13, KTK - 12, KXIP - 12, DD - 10, PWI - 10

And another scenario in which Pune qualifies, the points table would look like:
MI - 24, RCB - 19, PWI - 14, KKR - 14, CSK - 14, RR - 13, KTK - 12, KXIP - 12, DD - 10, PWI - 8

Doing this was fun. But I am surprised with so many intelligent people around, how can nobody else notice this! Don't the commentators think before they make such huge statemetns? Hmmmmmmm.....!

- Anand Gautam

8th May 2011

What a decade...!

A little late, but never too late...

What a decade it has been!

From school, to Physics Olympiads, to amazing 4 years at IITB (H8 H8!) , to first job at ZS, then to MS, then another two roller coaster (sinusoidal :P) years at IIMB (Sports Council!) and now in BCG - arguably the best firm in the world!

First relationship, several breakups, and a lot more ;)

Amazing friends all along. The childhood ones (Chandan, Nikhil), IITBians (Varoon, Vams, Laddha, Pooji, Shikha, Guddu.....), the ZSers (Girish, Kaveri, Mattu......), the MSers (Mittal, Neeraj, Neharika....), the IIMBians (Sparks!, Neha, Vicks....), the BCGers (Partha, Nishant, Rohit, Ankush.....) and a lot many more (Zeta, AP, SS, Pulkit, Nikki, Geetika, Reema....)!

(Surely have missed many names, and there are several that cannot be taken here:P)

First trips abroad: Europe (Euro trip!), Bali, Beijing.

Growing old, growing silly! Thinking you have become mature, but in reality still being a kid.

And my one and only bhatiju - Aadvik Gautam :) :) :)

I repeat: What a decade!

A few other things would have made it even better even more perfect, but what the hell, lets leave something for 2011-2020!

- ANAND GAUTAM

January 8th 2011

[P.S. - I am sure lot of us would echo my sentiments :)]