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By:

Waleed Hussain

4 March 2025 at 2:34:30 pm

When T20 Cricket Finally Admitted It Was Professional Wrestling with Pads

At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals committed the ultimate act of sporting arrogance. They racked up 264 for 2, patted themselves on the back, and presumably started drafting victory tweets. KL Rahul delivered a masterclass 152 not out, Nitish Rana chipped in with 91, and the Delhi dugout looked like they had just invented fire. The bowlers? They were already mentally booking spa appointments to recover from the trauma of watching the ball sail into the stands like it owed them money....

When T20 Cricket Finally Admitted It Was Professional Wrestling with Pads

At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals committed the ultimate act of sporting arrogance. They racked up 264 for 2, patted themselves on the back, and presumably started drafting victory tweets. KL Rahul delivered a masterclass 152 not out, Nitish Rana chipped in with 91, and the Delhi dugout looked like they had just invented fire. The bowlers? They were already mentally booking spa appointments to recover from the trauma of watching the ball sail into the stands like it owed them money. Enter Punjab Kings — the team that treats every run chase like a personal vendetta against bowlers’ self-esteem. What unfolded wasn’t cricket. It was a carefully orchestrated heist, a stand-up routine where the punchline was delivered in sixes, and the audience (Delhi’s bowling unit) was left questioning every life choice that led them to this moment. Prabhsimran Singh swaggered to the crease like a man who had already won the match in the parking lot. 76 off 26 balls. Nine fours, five sixes. The powerplay? A grotesque 100+ runs of pure, unadulterated violence. Bowlers weren’t just getting hit — they were being publicly shamed, their economy rates dragged through the mud and left there to dry under the Delhi sun. Priyansh Arya joined the carnage, and suddenly the target of 265 started looking as intimidating as a “Wet Floor” sign in a flooded bathroom. Shreyas Iyer, the dignified captain, played the role of “responsible adult” with 71 not out off 36 deliveries. In any other match, this would be carnage. Here, it passed for calm stewardship. While others swung like they were trying to chop down trees, Iyer collected runs with the serene expression of a man wondering if he should order paneer or butter chicken post-match. Punjab polished off the target in 18.5 overs, six wickets intact, seven balls to spare, and the sort of casual swagger usually reserved for people returning overdue library books without a fine. The broader satire writes itself. Modern T20 cricket has become an arms race where the only loser is the concept of a “respectable total.” Bowlers, once proud warriors, are now glorified ball-fetchers in a batting-dominated circus. Pitches are flatter than election promises, boundaries shorter than Gen Z attention spans, and rules so batter-friendly that even the umpires look sympathetic. Delhi built what should have been a monument — a glorious 264 on a road so true it could have doubled as a highway — only for Punjab to drive a monster truck through it while blasting horns and waving at spectators. Cricket purists are in full meltdown mode, huddled in dimly lit rooms, clutching faded copies of Wisden and muttering about “the good old days when maidens existed.” Commentators exhausted every superlative in the English language and resorted to incoherent screaming. Social media, naturally, lost its collective mind. One half celebrated Punjab as gods of the new era; the other half demanded a return to red-ball cricket, preferably with uncovered pitches and bowlers allowed to glare menacingly without fear of a demerit point. This result wasn’t merely a win. It was a cultural reset. Punjab Kings, long the lovable underachievers of the IPL, have now authored the top two highest successful chases in league history. They’re not just winning matches — they’re embarrassing the very idea of defending a total. At this rate, future IPL auctions will see teams bidding for “bowlers who can at least pretend to try” while batters demand appearance fees for showing up. Delhi Capitals deserve a special mention for their contribution to this farce. They provided the perfect setup: a record total, star performances, home advantage, and the quiet confidence that physics and common sense would finally prevail. Instead, they became the straight man in Punjab’s comedy routine. Rahul’s heroics? Reduced to a footnote. The match? Less a contest, more performance art. In the end, this is what we’ve come to love and loathe about T20 cricket. It’s loud, ridiculous, utterly devoid of restraint, and endlessly entertaining. Bowlers may demand hazard pay or form a union. Traditionalists may threaten to boycott. But the crowds will keep coming, the sixes will keep flying, and records will continue to fall like overpriced IPL franchise valuations. Punjab Kings didn’t just chase 265. They chased away any remaining illusion that this sport still resembles the gentleman’s game our grandparents watched. In its place stands a glittering, chaotic, six-hitting machine — and honestly? We’re all better for it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check the points table. Apparently, defending anything above 200 is now considered radical extremism.

In JJ, now every bed will have oxygen

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

In JJ, now every bed will have oxygen

Ensuring adherence to medical ethics and standards in Maharashtra, Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean of 180-year-old Sir Jamshedji Jejeebhoy Hospital, has been instrumental in shaping the hospital’s vision and direction. In 2019, she made history by becoming the youngest dean of the state-run hospital since Independence. She oversees the J.J. campus, which spans over 48 acres. She has been appointed as one of the members of the National Taskforce constituted by the Supreme Court to look after safety measures at hospitals. In an exclusive conversation with ‘The Perfect Voice’s Special Correspondent Swapnil R. Mishra Dr. Saple discussed the government’s plans to enhance safety measures on the J.J. Hospital campus, especially amid recent strikes by resident doctors. The hospital, which has not experienced major violent incidents in recent years, faces security challenges due to its large campus and multiple entry points. Excepts…


SC has appointed you as one of the members of the National Task Force constituted for the safety of doctors. What measures or guidelines will be made, and has the National Task Force held any meetings?

I am glad to be one of the members of the National Task Force constituted by the Supreme Court after the Kolkata incident. A preliminary meeting was conducted with the Cabinet Secretary, and they have formed four sub-committees. I have been responsible for looking after security-related issues. The first meeting of the sub-committee has also been in which we decided that if any stakeholders want to give suggestions or input, they should upload it on the web portal. In the next meeting, we will discuss the inputs provided by stakeholders and the input will be submitted to the authorities. Moreover, we will submit a report in the next few days as the period given is three weeks, which has not been completed.


What are the government’s plans to enhance safety measures on the J.J. Hospital campus and other state-run hospitals?

Coincidentally, two days before the Kolkata incident, a regular meeting was held with the security committee of J.J. Hospital, which looked after the hospital’s safety measures, inputs, and CCTV. We also called a senior inspector from the local police station officer, who pointed out the vantage points or loopholes and gave his suggestions for improving the safety of the hospital. Moreover, police and Nirbhaya Pathak keep patrolling places that were pinpointed from our side. We are also revamping our panic alarm, which will be set up across the hospital. Currently, the hospital employs 179 security guards and operates 667 CCTV cameras. We plan to increase these numbers by adding 150 guards and 600 cameras.


What modern technology or equipment is likely to be introduced in J.J Hospital? How will the new cutting-edge virtual anatomy dissection table and modern technology that the hospital has introduced help in medical studies?

Sir J.J. Hospital is one of the country’s premier and first medical colleges. We will also start robotic surgery in orthopaedic and general surgery, as the first laparoscopy in India was done in this hospital. Our students are getting laparoscopy exposure, but there is a need for robotic surgery exposure. We also offer hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which is particularly beneficial for neurosurgery and gangrene patients. Moreover, our super speciality hospital building, which will be primarily ready by next year, will have more advanced facilities, including oncology, rheumatology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology departments will be started. The current batch of medical students couldn’t get the experience of virtual anatomy dissection as it had come three weeks ago, and all had gone for exams. However, the new batch, which will start on October 14, will get the machines exposed.


How is J.J Hospital planning to revamp its infrastructure, especially after the strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for better infrastructure, but J.J. Hospital’s redevelopment is long overdue. We are building a new super-speciality centre and upgrading the old building, including ICUs and operation theatres, to enhance patient care and reduce infection risks. Every bed will now be an oxygen bed, and some wards are being converted into high-dependency units to provide better care for patients who need CPAP.


As J.J. Hospital is a 180-year-old state-run hospital, what changes have you seen?

The introduction of new specialisations has significantly expanded our MD and MS programs.

In 2017, we had 127 annual admissions; now, we have 309. Courses in Geriatrics, Immunohematology, Interventional Cardiology, and Emergency Medicine reflect the evolving demands of healthcare. Our decades-old facility is being updated to support four new specialised courses: MD in Geriatrics,MDin Immunohematology,DM in Interventional Cardiology, and MD in Emergency Medicine


How will the antimicrobial paint adopted by J.J. Hospital help to fight infection, and what protective layer will it provide to patients?

Already a success within Israel’s healthcare system, the Israel embassy approached J.J. Hospital to introduce this technology. The QUACTIV technology integrated into the paint offers continuous protection against harmful microorganisms as long as the paint remains on the walls. This technology provides an additional layer of protection for our patients, which is essential for preventing infections and maintaining a safe environment.

Additionally, our microbiologists will inspect the efficacy of the paint both before and after its application to ensure its effectiveness.

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