Eye of the storm

Rarely does a person get high without using alcohol or the such. Fast guitars, fast cars, hitting sixes and getting examination results apart, I have found it hard to manage it. And suddenly, in one day, it strikes twice.

The first lava-lamp hallucination was between Mark Knofler's exquisite guitar solo and Stevie Ray Vaughn's House is Rockin' on my way back home. I must admit this was partly because of hunger. But what the hell. A high is a high. And the second was towards the final moments as Misbah was lofting Bajji. Rather I should say 'is'. What a match. I do rather feel bad about Misbah missing the last one. That guy thrashed India to within inches of its life twice. And India winning without its veterans was a brilliant outcome, perhaps the rejuvenation that international cricket needs now - a release from the glorious past - of ODIs and scandals and war heroes in fading armor.

But even at this point, in the middle of this euphoria, I feel that one veteran will still need to play a huge role for the next three years. Dravid is needed. The Master has come, inspired a billion Indians and left them proud of a legacy no one will surpass. Along with Sehwag and Ganguly, He has had His day and, as a guy who plays, lives and quits by His own terms, He must be relieved, looking forward to a long vacation in Khandala or Bermuda. But despite the talented Uthappa and Gambhir competing for the spot, there doesn't seem to be any one who can replace Dravid, not only for laying foundations on which other batsmen can prosper, but for the overall mental stability and freedom he brings to the team as an overall anchor through the game. Dravid is needed, if only for the reason that he needs to choose that one in a billion who can be a worthy successor.