As a true Bengali, 82-plus old Mukherjee da has bravely stood up to Jharkhand's, which was once a southern part of Bihar (How many cricketers has it produced, by the way?), proud and arrogant MSD in the pitch preparation issue. One can see a frustrated MSD literally preparing the ground for India's showdown in the offing against England in the ongoing series. To recall an age-old Tamil saying: "It's only a poor danseuse that blames the dance floor". How true in MSD's case!

- Swaminathan.

I am a regular reader of Shobhaa De's Saturday’s column in Deccan Chronicle, and I relish her articles on various topics.

Though I am far from being an MCP, I’m tempted to say she is the only female fan among millions of Sachin’s to boldly ask him to retire.