Tweets, TRPs and a tourney
Clashes, cameos and cheerleaders crying wolf — all these saved IPL 4 from being a cheerless carnival, writes Jaideep Ghosh

I have a confession to make. I am still not quite sure what Twitter does, and what tweets are. Also, since this invariably reads like a catfight, I’m not sure why the medium is not Spitter, which sends out oodles of 'speets' at targets.

But a stinker by any name would still smell as awful and from a reader’s point of view, the best thing that possibly happened to IPL 4 was the tweet nothings that Shane Warne, Lalit Modi and Sanjay Dixit sprayed at each other. Way, way better than the smooching contest in the Royal Challengers box, Shah Rukh Khan’s Lhasa apso hairdo, or the Preity pep talk.

The IPL was getting boring, let’s face it. Ten teams playing 14 matches each (at least) for four slots, out of which one team would go to the final, winning just one match, while the other three would have chances to play two to get to the final and then there are three teams which will go to the Champions League or whatever.

One never thought that India would ever see too much of cricket, but there is indeed such a thing. This event has been going on for so long that the forms of players have gone up, down and sideways and they, as of today, don’t know where they stand.

This whole Warne-Modi-Dixit business, however, comes as a bit of a boost for the organisers and TV rights holders though, since it injects a little interest into what was largely becoming an exercise in too much, too long and too confusing.

That fair cheerleader lass should also be congratulated, since her blog also added some masala to a waning concoction.

When the IPL began, the deal was that while each side would have foreign players, the local talent would be showcased and promoted to create a database for the Indian team. All of this was in theory a good concept, but when it came to the business end of things, the people who were selected for the Indian contingent for the T20 and ODI series in the West Indies were pretty much the same chaps who would have been selected anyway, give or take a few. So essentially, all the youngsters who busted their guts over the past two months are still doing the same — being termed great discoveries, but not great enough to make it to the Blue Team.

But let’s not talk about the morose stuff, shall we? Let’s talk of the ‘fun’ that the IPL is.

There is no doubt that watching some of this stuff is indeed fun. Take a look at Chris Gayle, the slumbering West Indian, who hits sixes in his dreams and dreams all the time. That surely is fun, unless of course you are the bowler. Also fun were the ever-increasing instances of catches being dropped and run-outs being missed from ridiculous distances like six inches. All part of the losing and regaining form, this.

Now, for some of the other big names in the business. It is indeed a shame to have V. V. S. Laxman warming the Kochi Tuskers benches. The man is an absolute artiste with the bat, but face it, T20 is not his cup of tea.

Then we have Sourav Ganguly, who suddenly appeared in the Pune Warriors ranks and was out, once again, to prove that Dada, like Gabbar Singh and Rajnikant, can only be beaten by Dada. Rahul Dravid is trying hard, but like me and Twitter, trips up frequently.

Then there is Andrew Symonds. His best act is reserved for Harbhajan Singh, at whom he smiles like a wincing tiger. I am tempted to name another animal, but will refrain.

In all, IPL isn’t to be taken too seriously. The ego clashes between Warne and Dixit (with Modi playing Narad from the open seas somewhere) is also part of the same fun and games and with Warney promising to spill it all, post the tournament, the fun should continue. Does little for cricket, or young cricketers. But you, I and sundry spectators can have fun, go back home and forget. Perfect concoction for the present day.

Gen New

Gen Adieu

Summer workouts are not without their share of misconceptions. Here’s busting some myths . . .
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Sachin Kalra

Summer months are the perfect time for opting and actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle. The longer hours of daylight can encourage more physical activity. In addition, our appetite often decreases when the temperature rises, so we should take advantage of this and eat smaller and lighter meals. However, before you begin, you should take a look at these myths and the actual truth.

Well, they certainly are good to have at hand if you are into extreme sports. Deciding to replenish with water or a sports drink depends largely on the sport or exercise, the duration, the intensity and how quickly you dehydrate. After an intense workout, that lasts more than one hour, or after you have exercised in extreme heat, you may need to replace electrolytes with a sports drink. However they are not a must. There are various alternatives to them. Electrolyte sachets are a good cheap option. Plain water with a dash of salt and sugar also works.
Regardless of activity level, everyone must replenish fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration and ensure the body functions properly. For a more active child or adult, who loses more fluids through sweating, replacing them is crucial. Since sports drinks typically contain very high levels of sugar, they are not recommended for children for regular use. Rather, specially formulated paediatric electrolyte solutions are recommended. Glucose D is a very good option.

This one is a bit controversial but I feel that fruit does not combine well with other foods. The reason is that fruit contains simple sugars that require no digestion. Thus, they will not stay for a long time in the stomach. Other foods, such as foods rich in fat, protein and starch, will stay in the stomach for a longer period because they require more digestion. So if you eat fruit after a meal, the fruit sugar will stay for too long in the stomach and ferment. And this will lead to digestive troubles like bloating and gas. A better way to eat fruit is before a meal. Eating fruit before a meal reduces your appetite and makes you consume less calories overall!

It's a common feeling that you need to join some fitness classes or go to gym to lose weight but practically, speaking any physical activity can be effective for losing weight. To lose weight you need to burn calories, which can result from any physical activity whether done at a gym or at home. What matters is your consistency. Summer is a perfect time to go swimming. Swimming is an ideal summer fitness activity. It provides you with a rigorous and effective workout. It is great fun and a great heat buster.

Often people believe that sweating is related to hard work and believe that no sweat leads to zero gains. Hence, they hesitate to workout in an air-conditioned environment. However, sweating is just a body's thermoregulatory mechanism to cool it and does not necessarily indicate signs of exertion. It may be wrong to judge your workout’s effectiveness by your degree of sweating. During extreme heat conditions, it is advised to work out in an air-conditioned environment. If working out outdoors, try to do so during early mornings or late evenings to avoid extreme heat conditions.

MYTH 5: Fruit juice is better for dieters than soda

Fruit juice (pure) certainly has a higher nutritional value with vitamins and mineral content than soda drinks. However, fruit juices, even pure, are high in a sugar called fructose. They are very similar calorie-wise to sodas. A glass of orange juice is equivalent to about four to five oranges and that is a lot of sugar. You will be better off having the fruit instead and will benefit from the fibre.
The best drinks for dieters during summer months are nimbu pani, jal jeera, buttermilk and water. Vegetable juices are also a healthy option though it might take some time to develop a taste for them.