T20 World Cup and the Damage That Doesn’t Show Up on the Scoreboard

BCCI forced Mustafizur Rahman out of the IPL to appease a few “Indian spiritual and political leaders.” The demagogues beat their chests and claimed they had saved Hinduism, then went back to their lives, while India was left to gather the broken pieces. “No broken pieces,” people say but there are always broken pieces. No amount of kintsugi is going to fix that.

The immediate fallout, Bangladesh banned IPL, refused to play in the world cup, Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the World Cup, Mustafizur headed to the PSL and Pakistan refused to play India in the world cup. No big deal one might say, and frankly yes, none of the above change anything significant. India vs Pakistan though a media highlight isnt a contested cricket match anymore, Bangladesh is a nobody and Mustafizur still got paid. But the real damage doesn’t show up on the scoreboard.

Even if nothing dramatic happens on paper, these moments accumulate quietly. Trust erodes. Resentment builds. Soft power leaks away. That is how nations lose influence, not in one dramatic collapse, but in a thousand small, stupid decisions made to satisfy temporary outrage.   

India is beset with two unfriendly neighbours, Pakistan and China; now add Bangladesh to the mix. Agreed, Bangladesh was already headed there, but why nudge it further? The people of Bangladesh are bound to be incensed by how one of their own was treated by India, especially when emotions are already high. Now that Bangladesh is kicked out of the World Cup, they will be further incensed. Bangladesh by itself cannot challenge India, but with the help of China and Pakistan, it can become a real thorn, do we need that? The government should be thinking of the big picture; instead, we have short-sighted leaders looking for a quick buck.

India aspires to be a leader but behaves like a small-minded bully. A leader never shows their strength; it is simply acknowledged. This was one instance where the government should have intervened, allowed Mustafizur to play or changed venues for Bangladesh with a wry smile. It was not a time to flex muscle; that should have come later. The government lost the big picture (much like the “Trump ended the Indo-Pak war” claim) and will end up losing face on the world stage. As they say, the naive forgive and forget, the fools neither forgive nor forget, the wise forgive but do not forget.

We will not even deign to respond to claims of “saving Hindus” or “punishing Bangladesh.” All this drama stank like a fart in the wind; the only people who went back laughing were the “Indian spiritual and political leaders” who got a few minutes of fame for the next election.

The scariest part of this whole drama was the silence. No leaders calling for reason, no press questioning the collective conscience, no discussions on television, no trending hashtag for common sense — just silence. Was it tacit acceptance by the people of the country, or resignation? Did people agree, not care, or were they scared? Since when do we allow the outrage of a select few “Indian spiritual and political leaders” to dictate what our country should do?

I want to believe there were voices of reason in the government and the BCCI, but I also believe they were scared to take a rational path for fear of the outrage of “Indian spiritual and political leaders.” They were more afraid of the image they had created for themselves than of damaging the image of the country. They ended up capitulating to performative outrage for vote banks. Is that what our country deserves?

Politicians will do what they can get away with. If this passes without question, without discomfort, without consequence, then this is not just a failure of leadership, it is a failure of citizenship. A country is not defined by the noise of its loudest demagogues, but by the standards its people refuse to let go of.

Tirupati temple run

 Recently made a trip to Tirupati from Bangalore some musings from that endeavour

Need to book tickets for darshan 3 months in advance. Seva darshan tickets (500 rs) open usually on the 21 of September 10:00 am say for all darshan dates of December (1-31), Senior Citizen tickets (free) open the next day and Special Darshan tickets (300 rs) the day after. Check latest guidelines while booking. Need Aadhar numbers for everyone in the group, children 12 and below are free, but children are not allowed for some Sevas so check before booking. Download the app and register, tickets sell out in a matter of minutes. For Seva only 4 allowed per booking so keep multiple phones ready, for Special Darshan 8 per booking. Have all details in hand beforehand and multiple people on the phones to get desired dates.

For anyone over 60 years, highly recommend taking tickets under senior citizens, it is very well organised without the hassle of crowds, pushing and waiting. The volunteers take very good care of the elderly, would have been very difficult for my parents if we hadn't booked under senior citizens for them. The drop off point for senior citizens is a little inside, you can take car till the very door step. They are supposed to enter at 1 PM, but will be taken for Darshan at 3 PM and will return by 4PM. They are given food and ave comfortable place to rest. 

We booked the Sahasra Deepalankara Seva, live music, god arrives in pallki and is swung in a cradle in front of 1000 lamps, very nice seva. After that the Special Darshan happens. No electronics allowed, there are places to drop and collect phones etc, if you can avoid taking electronics, things will be faster. The security checking at the base of the mountain takes a while so make allowance for that.

If you are only visiting Lord Venkateswara then staying at the top makes things very easy, we stayed at Hotel Pai Viceroy at the bottom as we also wanted to visit other temples, highly recommend this hotel as we had no problems, rooms were clean, service prompt and food was tasty.

If you want to visit Ammavari Padmavati temple you will have to book darshan tickets a month in advance on the same TTD app. 

Other temples to visit

Kanipakam, Lord Ganapathi, outskirts of Tirupati (on the way from Bangalore). Buy online ati sheegra darshan tickets beforehand.

Kalahasti, visit after TTD darshanam, One entrance has gigantic steps (difficult for old people) other side is more friendly and also has wheel chair access. There is wheel chair access for senior citizens. There is so much to see here, make sure to give it some time. There is more to see if you can climb higher up.

Kapila temple, this is near Pai hotel, its a real gem with waterfall, lots of deities and quick darshan. Do not miss this.  

Pudi Kalyana Venkateshwara temple, we couldnt go there but another famous temple.

Vardaraja temple

Govindaraju temple near Railway station, recommend using auto to get there.

Mangapura temple

At TTD Temple top, you can visit

Varahaswamy temple

Japali Hanuman temple, its a small trek but worth it.

The fitness portfolio

Life is all about investments not just financial ones. If you want to enjoy playing a musical instrument, you must invest time learning it. If you want strong friendships, you need to invest in people. If you want good health, you must invest in your fitness.

The moment we start earning, we begin investing. We diversify smartly: stocks for growth, bonds for safety, gold as a hedge, real estate for stability. Everything is planned for the future. But one question remains: who is investing in the body that’s supposed to live that future?

Just as there are four main pillars of investing stocks, real estate, gold, and bonds there are four essential pillars of fitness: strength, endurance, mobility, and flexibility.

Strength is Stocks

Stocks form the foundation of every long-term investment plan, and strength training is the foundation of fitness. Everything is built on strength. Strong muscles protect your joints, support your metabolism, stabilise movement, and help you handle physical and mental fatigue.

Strength is not just about lifting heavy weights. Everything that we take for granted, sitting upright, standing up without support, navigating uneven footpaths, carrying groceries, or even reaching for the top shelf (maybe pun intended) requires strength. Without it, endurance fades, mobility declines, and daily life becomes harder than it needs to be.

Just as you don’t build a strong stock portfolio overnight, strength is built gradually, preferably in baby steps. And just as you diversify across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, you must train the upper body, lower body, and core. Strength is a long-term SIP: age doesn’t matter. Whether you’re 15 or 75, some form of strength training is essential.

Endurance is Real Estate

Endurance is the ability to sustain effort over time, whether it’s walking to your destination, enduring a long commute, playing sports, or enjoying hobbies like gardening, hiking, dancing, or travelling. One must be able to do those activities for an extended time to truly enjoy it.

Real estate has remained a stabilising asset across generations. Endurance plays the same role in fitness, keeping the body resilient through stress, age, and changing demands. It isn’t flashy, but like real estate, it delivers dependable returns over decades.

Choose activities you enjoy, sports, walking, swimming, cycling, or running and stay consistent. Mixing things up, like residential and commercial real estate, builds a more resilient body.

Mobility is Gold

Mobility is the ability to move your joints freely, smoothly, and with control through their full range of motion. It’s often taken for granted and frequently neglected in favour of strength and endurance, but just as you would never ignore gold in an investment portfolio, ignore mobility at your own peril.

If you struggle to reach overhead, bend down, squat, or walk steadily, mobility may be limiting you. When mobility is poor, the body compensates, placing unnatural stress on other joints and muscles. Mobility, like gold, may not be the largest allocation, but it is essential protection.

Simple exercises like controlled joint circles, hip and ankle mobility drills, spinal rotations, and shoulder movements help maintain healthy range of motion and reduce stiffness. Just as gold protects a portfolio during uncertainty, mobility protects the body by absorbing stress, preventing breakdown, and keeping movement resilient when demands change.

Flexibility is Bonds

Flexibility allows the body to move safely through its full range of motion. Without adequate flexibility, even strength training risks injury, for example, a deadlift performed with tight hamstrings can strain the lower back.

Fixed deposits and bonds serve a similar purpose in investing. They provide stability and predictability, allowing investors to take calculated risks elsewhere. In fitness, flexibility creates that same buffer, supporting safe movement and long-term durability.

The well-known 80–20 rule higher equity exposure when young and higher bond allocation closer to retirement applies equally well to fitness. Earlier years may prioritise strength, while later years require greater emphasis on flexibility to maintain movement, safety, and longevity.

Yoga, which is far more than just stretching, is one of the most effective ways to build and maintain flexibility. Like bonds in a portfolio, it should be an intentional and consistent part of any long-term fitness plan.

A well-balanced portfolio weathers market cycles and the demands of life; similarly, a well-trained body adapts to stress, age, and change. The returns are simple but priceless. The most encouraging truth is this: it’s never too early, nor too late, to start investing in yourself. With consistent, thoughtful effort, the returns quietly compound, until one day, you realise you are stronger, more capable, and better prepared for life. Now close this page, take that first step, and start moving.

CWG, Olympics and Ahmedabad

India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and is bidding for the Olympics to be held in the very same city.

Dear Modiji, India is not just Gujarat. Please spread the love around. From the first Bullet Train to GIFT City to the largest cricket stadium in the country, Ahmedabad has been the chosen location for multiple marquee projects. Now, yet again, the biggest sporting spectacle in India’s history is being planned for the same city. It is hard not to ask: are you the Prime Minister of India or only of Gujarat? Do Gujaratis have the first claim on every major national project?

With full respect to the athletes of Gujarat, should India’s most ambitious sports infrastructure not be built where it benefits the maximum number of athletes? We are preparing to build shooting ranges, hockey turfs, aquatic centres, badminton halls, and tennis complexes in a state that has one of the lowest sporting footprints in India. At the 2023 Asian Games, India sent 655 athletes—only nine were from Gujarat. Meanwhile, Haryana, Manipur, Punjab, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala consistently produce India’s medal-winners. Yet the world-class facilities they need will be constructed far away from the centres that actually nurture athletes. How does this make sense?

States like Odisha have already built exceptional sports ecosystems and proven their capability to host international events. Why were they not even in contention? Hosting mega-events is enormously expensive, most recent Olympics have become financial “white elephants.” India already has pockets of excellent infrastructure. Why ignore them and build everything from scratch in one place?

Why this obsession with concentrating everything in one city? Let the opening ceremony be in Ahmedabad. But, let badminton be in Hyderabad, swimming in Bengaluru, hockey in Rourkela, tennis in Delhi. Let the Olympics be experienced not by one city but by an entire nation. This approach reduces waste, uses existing capacity, and turns the Games into a festival of all of India.

October to March brings some of the worst pollution levels in Ahmedabad not as catastrophic as Delhi, but still harmful for athletes, so we intend to hold the Common Wealth Games in the worst possible environment for athletes? Is high smog training going to be India’s new competitive secret?

India deserves a truly national sporting vision, not a concentrated display of infrastructure in one geography. Let sport unite India, not centralise it.

Capital with a D problem

Delhi became the capital of India during the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughals later adopted it as theirs. Even though the British initially ruled from Calcutta, they shifted to Delhi for political and symbolic reasons. After independence, Delhi naturally continued as the capital.

But Delhi is a legacy of the Mughals and the British. Why should a modern, independent India remain bound by its colonial and imperial past? Delhi today is an increasingly unliveable city. Should we continue investing in a place that struggles to sustain life? Delhi had its time, it served its purpose, its time to move on.

Political power in India has long been concentrated in the North, while the South and Northeast have remained underrepresented in national decision-making. Moreover, having a single seat of governance makes us vulnerable, what happens if Delhi is incapacitated in war or disaster? Should all governance grind to a halt?

It is ironic that the BJP despite its rhetoric, continues to rule from Delhi following the footsteps of the Mughals and British. If asked Mr. Modi, he will gladly move the capital to Ahmedabad, after all, it already hosts the first bullet train, the biggest stadium, GIFT City, biggest mall, and perhaps one day, even the Olympics. Dear PM, India is more than just Ahmedabad or Delhi. It is time to look beyond our Colonial and Mughal past, its time to build a new capital.

Geographically, the heart of India lies around Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh or Nagpur in Maharashtra. But perhaps we no longer need a single capital at all. In an age of digital connectivity, why not distribute power across the nation? Move the Supreme Court to Tamil Nadu, the Army HQ to Bihar, the Air Force HQ to Madhya Pradesh, the Navy HQ to Gujarat. Place the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Telangana, Education in Bihar, Finance in Maharashtra, Home ministry in Kashmir and the Environment Ministry in the Northeast. Let every region share the responsibility of governance.

And if symbolism matters, make Ayodhya the ceremonial capital truly beginning the Ram Rajya that so many dream of.

It’s time to reimagine the capital of India, to bring government closer to the people, to develop all regions equally, and to acknowledge that India is not just Delhi or Ahmedabad. India stretches from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Kibithu and power should, too.

BMWs for the Lokpal

Lokpal members aren’t asking for just any car, they want BMWs, each costing 60 lakhs. Why? To show off. To raise a German middle finger at the people of India, and at our dear Prime Minister Modi too. Just last week, Modi said, “Mitron, buy India, save India.” Lokpal members heard it and said, “No thanks! We want German cars.”

Where does this entitlement come from? It runs through every politician and bureaucrat in this country cars, bungalows, personal assistants, drivers, and more. These greedy officials aren’t satisfied with salaries, allowances, and pensions they want more!

And we, the people, just bend down and take it. We foot all their bills. Too used to it? Too distracted? Or just don’t care?

Our tax money should go to schools, hospitals and infrastructure. But no. It goes to fuel the egos of the people ruling us.

Thats not cricket!

India won the Asia Cup. Everyone is jubilant players, fans, sponsors, politicians, the BCCI, even our honourable Prime Minister. Yet behind the fireworks and hashtags, I can’t help but say it: the emperor is naked. What we witnessed was not sport. It was a metaphor for war.

Should India even play Pakistan? some asked, we just went to war, terrorists attacked, people died, is this how one respects our martyrs. Others countered: How can we gift Pakistan a walkover, and thus the trophy? Is this how one respects our armed forces. But this was always the wrong question. Because there was no “play” to begin with. None of the attributes for something to be considered a sport were met, fair play, joy, respect. Runs were scored and wickets fell, but the sport itself was forced out of the boundary. 

The Prime Minister’s tweet summed it up: “Operation Sindoor on the games field.” Stirring words after a victory. But imagine if India had lost would he have admitted that the soldiers in cricket whites had “lost a war”? When the symbolism of war is draped on the shoulders of sportsmen, there is no joy of sport, every misfield or mistimed shot becomes treason. Is that how we want to view sports?

Spare a thought for the players. Soldiers are trained to kill and, if needed, to die. Cricketers are trained to bat, bowl, and field. Should they also be asked to carry the burden of national loyalty every time they walk onto the ground? Should every action on the sports field be viewed through the lens of war? What message are we giving the children picking up a bat in their gullies? 

Not long ago, after India lost to Pakistan, certain players’ loyalties were openly questioned. That is the tragic cost of blurring the line between sport and politics. Sport should be a space for joy, competition, and mutual respect. When it is reduced to theatre for nationalism, both the game and the players lose.

Frankly, neither the people of India nor Pakistan deserve a cricket match, not until they can see it for what it truly is, a game, not a proxy for war.