Great to see cricketers like you and Sanjay (Bangar) taking up blogging and providing those insights into the dressing room that a non-cricketing writer just would not have access to. Heres hoping you get back to the Indian team soon. Good luck

Dear Aakash
I have been reading your blogs and I found your interview on how you are focusing on enjoying your game a very inspirational one.
I think it applies to all of us, irrespective of our profession. Even the most impeccable professionals go through a phase where the results do not justify the efforts. In such phases, enjoying the efforts itself is the best way to keep going.
Happiness, after all is a state of mind and is independent of the results.
I m sure you will be back in the National team. Despite all that is being talked about, India is yet to find a opening batsman who has good technique and can score runs. With your splendid scores last season, you should be in the team sooner. Meanwhile, your enjoyiment of the game is good for all of us, including the game itself.

Dhasaradhy J

hi Akash,
i read one of your articles in cricinfo print magazine long ago before this icl and ipl came into cricket.you were skeptical about 20-20 in county cricket and you were saying that you did not like that format if iam not wrong.so did u change ur opinion now about T20 or are u playing in T20 to earn more bucks or to gain exposure to force ur way back into indian side.i know u have turned down icl offer so please tell ur honest opinion about T20.Looking forward for ur new book

hello aakash
It was really disappointing to see such players with healthy averages bundled out so easily. You having all the experience of first class and even at test level, getting out to Zaheer on very first ball playing a loose shot was not really expected from you. I wonder why the likes of Rajat Bhatia and Mithun Manhas don't raise the bar when they are most expected to. Yourself and Virat Kohli scored heavily in the SNGPL game but were struggling when it mattered the most. Hope your leg is doing better. Good Luck in the future.

Nice work on the blog Aakash. I've really enjoyed your points of view, especially since I also play as an opener on my team. I closely follow the paths of opening batsmen that come in and out of the Indian team. Your journey has been most interesting. I sincerely hope you make it back to the Test team, your game has certainly evolved since the Australia tour. Best of luck for the 08-09 season. Cheers.

Hi Aakash,
It is good to read your articles, you have been doing a wonderful job!! Keep up the good work. Hope your ankle gets well soon. Good luck for the up coming season.
D.Joon

HI AKASH GREGG RAJATS FRIEND FROM UK WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE TOP PLAYERS IN INDIA NOW THEY ARE PLAYING 12 MONTHS A YEAR WITH LOTS OF TRAVEL .THERE MUST BE TIME FOR THESE PLAYERS TO REST AS SMALL NIGGLES ARE NEVER GOING TO CLEAR UP ,WITH THE DEMANDS PUT ON YOUNG PLAYERS MAINLY THE FAST BOWLER THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO BURN OUT AND BREAKDOWN (IE TYAGI STRESS FRACTURE OF THE BACK AT 21) WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS?

Aakash, it was a long time ago I played for Delhi. I was fortunate enough to captain and represent my adopted country (Hong Kong) at the Asia Cup, so my persoanl dream of playing at the highest level was complete. Just goes to prove, if you want and desire it enough you WILL get it..whether it is playing cricket at the top level for your country, as well as professional and personal success. You have been on the wrong end of selection, so what? Remember Arjun/Krishna at Mahabharat..you keep making the runs..a boat load of them..selection/success can be dealyed but not denied. You have already changed a lot in terms of playing style, learning to enjoy the game more, making every moment count with your family and friends and most importantly, continuing to work hard and make runs..and a lot of them. Robin Singh (he coached Hong Kong for three years) once told me, be selfish as a batsman, you will succeeed. As you succeed your team with succeed..a great win win. Wish you all the best.

dear akash, thanks for interacting, your chances are a bit bright now keeping in view that jaffar is not in form and gambhir technically will be wanting by the aussies. I wish you grab this chance, although i am not a fan of yours, but your fighting attitude to come to the national reckoning again should be a bench mark for the youngsters who perform and not getting selected. Luck also plays its part, as sans that catch by kaif, you would hv scored a century which could hv put gambhir in much pressure and maybe he had faltered which can eventually make you 1st choice. bye for now.

Aakash, I've read your interview and I really felt inspired. I have started to think a bit like that too and practice has become simpler and more enjoyable. I was obsessed with appearing for this team or that team but now I have left things that are out of my control. Now I want to control my cricket more than anything. I know you are VERY busy but it would be great if you find some time and correspond with me through e-mail.
Thank you.

Dear Aakash,i hope the ankle injury is not serious and you get back to 100% fitness when you play australia. i have been reading your blogs, ever since you started writing.i am impressed, would be an understatement for your blogs. i am a cricket purist, and love watching the longer format.i am very optimistic and firmly believe you will back playing test cricket in less than a year.Am sure, you would have thought about this.When Dravid leaves, i suppose you should be an automatic choice to fill the No3 position.i know you love opening the batting and facing the red cherry.But viru and Gambhir are doing it very well at he momment.Am not sure if you have to public in the press to anounce to the selectors that you are keen to play and opening the batting should not limit your chances of getting back.Till Then,keep enjoying your cricket and life in general and your chance would come.i look forward to many more blogs and seeing you soon in the longer format.Good luck!

Aakash, i thought i would add this.This man needs no introduction.Michael Hussey, opened the batting through out his career for his state and county.when his oppurtunity came, he had settle in the middle order.His numbers and average speaks for him now.With little bit of luck, am sure you can do the same. When your oppurtunity finally arrives. you should know that you always belonged to that stage. just go out ruthless and enjoy your game.

Two things i would like to say -
1. Your blog is extremely interesting and you are one of my favourite cricketers! loved watching your debut game against nz and was disappointed when you gave way to parthiv patel in pakistan - but on a good note - who cares! you've already touched me as a fan by playing your unique brand of cricket that is dying - it is the workman-like innings, the pleasure from that tuck behind short leg in a test match that gets you three runs... amazing - you are an idol!
2. Delhi is a special team for openers! you seem to churn them out by the minute - Theres yourself, sehwag and gambhir who have recently/still are playing for india, and then theres shikhar dhawan - who i think has a great future ahead of him. It must be a blessing to play with three greats! I sincerely hope he makes it to the Indian team one day on the back of his efforts ever since the U19 World Cup.
Concluding this long message - KEEP WRITING (EVEN ON THE BAD DAYS - ITS VERY INTERESTING)

dear aakash,
it's a real shame for the indian team that a quality batter n excellent bat-pad fielder is being wasted,while we continue to drop catches in that region for want of specialists.i can understand your frustration at not being picked,and can only sympathesise with u.i just hope u can be accomodated in the team for the australia series,specially in a scenario where sourav ganguly is not selected,coz more than badri,kaif & the others,it's u who deserves a chance,even if it means batting in the middle order.just hope some sense prevails in the minds of the new selectors headed by another opening batsman of yesteryear,srikkanth.til then,ROCK ON MATE...UR TIME WILL SURELY COME

You have said in your interview with Mr. Nagraj Gollapudi that” It doesn't really matter to anyone in the world except for yourself and your family whether you play for India or not, or if you ever play for India again.” If it is true then why thousands of your fans like me be bothered by your exclusion in the team?
Akash, I became your fan since the first test you have played in Ahmadabad. When you were dropped from the team, I did not feel bad. That time I had’t understood the roll of a opening batsman in the test match. As time went by I have witnessed your improved performance in domestic circuit and you have been ignored. It was really irritating and made me angry at selectors and their favoritism. You may not admit that there is politics in selection process because you don’t want to rub them on wrong side. You have become a victim at one point. Politics is everywhere. Even captain also protects his own players. Irani Trophy, in a ROI team Parthiv was selected for opening slot (Not as a stand by wicketkeeper) Kumble does not like this guy. He promoted Dravid with Jaffer and denied opportunity to showcase Parthiv his talent. Whoever win the Irani trophy, India A matches or President XI matches are not important to any one; these games really are for rising stars to showcase their ability, talent and fitness. It is acceptable to have hardcore politics at BCCI admin area because it is about power and money. BCCI management must be completely out of selection process.
Mr. Shrikanth, Mr. Yashpal Sharma, Mr. Bhave, Mr. Venkat and Mr. Hirwani all have arrived at selector’s level on their merits. We have complete faith in their ability. They have to be fair. Senior players made India proud at the time. They have to scale down their services slowly and give young players like Your self, Chawla, Kaif, Badrinath, Rohit, Virat, Yuvraj more opportunity. Administer rotation policy and select a team from the pool of 24 players.
If you fail in a second inning, in Irani trophy or President XI it is not supposed to be a measuring scale of ones talent. Consider whole year worth of performance, while last few games should be considered for mainly fitness only.
Opening pair must take the sign away from the ball and give a slow but steady strong start to the inning. Viru is a super great player but his style (similar to Mr. Shrikanth) is making it or breaking it! If he gets going that is good. How many times he broke it? He is not at all a wise choice as an opening batsman. He will do well in a middle order. How many top class genuine opening batsmen we have? Gambhir, You and Jaffer. Virat may be a future India captain but he is too young and inexperienced at this moment.
Looking at the whole picture, you are playing a first test between India and Australia. I hope and pray you will do well in this test and many more to come.
Cheers!

Thanks a lot for sharing your input. But i won't agree with most of responses. Howsoever good you may be, but at present i don't believe there's any slot for you in national xi. It's not that you don't deserve it, it's a case of others being more eligible. The only place you could be a contender of is the opening slot and someone please tell me how can you replace Sehwag and gambhir over there. I know it was hard for you to be left out of australian tour ( viru made it despite being out of the 25 probables), still sehwag averages in higher 50's and other than hayden he's most dreaded opener in cric today, and no matter how good were you technically and against fast bowlers down under..you still avergae 23 after 19 innings and at that too at a snail's pace( now a days we have tests aT 4RPO)it's your fault for not making the most of it;Gambhir did,so that's why he's there.not your or jaffer.Reagrding the catching..when was the last time a fielder won MOM ..we still need runs.
Peace

Thanks a lot for sharing your input. But i won't agree with most of responses. Howsoever good you may be, but at present i don't believe there's any slot for you in national xi. It's not that you don't deserve it, it's a case of others being more eligible. The only place you could be a contender of is the opening slot and someone please tell me how can you replace Sehwag and gambhir over there. I know it was hard for you to be left out of australian tour ( viru made it despite being out of the 25 probables), still sehwag averages in higher 50's and other than hayden he's most dreaded opener in cric today, and no matter how good were you technically and against fast bowlers down under..you still avergae 23 after 19 innings and at that too at a snail's pace( now a days we have tests aT 4RPO)it's your fault for not making the most of it;Gambhir did,so that's why he's there.not your or jaffer.Reagrding the catching..when was the last time a fielder won MOM ..we still need runs.
Peace

Hi Akash, i'm addicted to ur blog now, appreciate that u took time out to answer some queries as well. Let me ask u a controversial quest first up... DO u think Dada shud be in the squad against the aussies? Pls dont answer diplomatically

HELLO Aakash,
My question to u…
Before the irani trophy their were speculations that the new selection panel will take up the performance of the players in the irani trophy as the basis for pickIng up the squad for the upcoming Australian series but that did,not turn out to be like… rather I think it has created more confusions as far as the middle order is concern….now as we all know that 14-member Indian team for the first two Tests against Australia will be selected on October 1 by the newly-instituted senior selection panel…but the question is on what basis? …I think they should have waited for antother 2-3 days to have a look at performance of the players in the board XI vs Australian match…can u tel me how it is goin to be done & what if the team combination didn’t turn out to be as good ..AS THE SAYING GOES
“ WHEN YOUR GOALS ARE MORE FOCUSED AS COMPARE TO UR DOUBTS , THAT LEADS TO SUCCCESS… IF UR DOUBTS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR GOALS.WATCH OUT!
Best of luck for d match
regards

I regret not to see you in the list of first and second test. Please don’t be discourage and continue doing good work. They can not ignore you for very long time. Mr. Sambit Bal says it all “Aakash Chopra has done everything possible in the last season to win back his place in the team. He has stacked up the runs, and got them big (1339 runs at 60.86, with five centuries). It always seemed a bit abrupt when he was dropped after three failures, and he was a little unfortunate not to be picked for the last tour to Australia. He has started the season well, and in the Irani Cup batted confidently and positively till a good ball from Munaf Patal accounted for him. If a call were to be made on who the six batsmen most likely to succeed against Australia are, Chopra can't be far away. “
Keep your natural style; there is no flaw in your technique. Try your best in president XI game. Be selfish on every game like all other senior players! Don’t burn out, you have lot to offered to India; spend some quality time with family.
Where can I find your book in Toronto, Canada? Amezon.com?
Always wish you well.

Hi Akash. I saw you bowling (at the side nets) to one of the India batsman during a victoria v/s The Indians match in Melbourne 2003. But, at that time I was wishing for S.Ramesh to make a comeback into the team, but I didn't know much about you and didn't realise that you were such a great team player and steady and level headed opener and missed the possible opportunity to talk to you. I only knew after watching the test matches. Your contributions were almost as important as Dravid's, Sehwag's and Laxman's in that tour. Your close-in fieldings were better than what Australians could manage. I hope you still keep up with that close-in catches and your reflexes. That alone could get you back into the team. From your interviews, I realise that you have became more of a stroke maker lately. That also is encouraging and hopefully, we will see you in the test side soon. Good luck.

Akash,

I always feel sorry for the way they cut short your test career.... the only blame that could be laid was that you batted slowly, which is actually an advantage in tests given the syndrome of "premature eviction" that most batsmen dislpay these days, thanks to the ODI/20-20 culture.... the added plus is your exceptional catch-taking ability, almost Solkaresque.....Dada, in his enthusiasm to accommodate Yuvi, sacrificed you.... patently unfair it was...... a great chance to forge a formidable opening pair was lost.... hope you make a come back some day

dear, akash,you are a great cricketer with lots of knowledge of the game and the way you play cricket now is enough for the selectors to pick you for indian team. i wish you all the best and i appreciate youre blogs which is really FANTASTIC.

Dear Akash,
I have been playing cricket for more than 3.5 decades. After leaving India in 1981, I never though I will be playing cricket. Little did I know what life had in store for me? I just completed my 26th season in Northern California Cricket, also called San Francisco Bay Area (Silicon Valley). When in the Final year of Engineering in 1983, I saw an Ad for “Wanted cricket players for United Cricket club”. My life has never been the same.
I have since been involved in NCCA cricket. I have been coaching cricket for kids and youth. When I played in 80’s there were 10 teams in NCCA. Now we have grown to 40 teams in four divisions A-D. Also new leagues have sprung up with their own associations. We have about 100 teams playing through out the year, some cricket or other. We are part of USACA under ICC. Anyway, it will be good to get some tips from you. Please drop me a line when you get a chance.

Regards,
Bhavani.