An ode to Cricket

It’s been a year full of permutations and combinations. Festivities, gatherings, parties, IPL making its debut in India, and again the comeback season of cricket with fast pace, all in all a treat for people like me who can die to watch the game where emotions are there and yet you are clear of the technicalities of the game.
Somehow for me a cricket match was something to be always present for, it’s a passion I have carried with me since quite some time now. Growing up as a girl, you rarely see inclination in a game which has a domination of men. I might not have registered the number of times I stayed up late for a match, I might not recall the number of times, I was upset when India lost the game, and I might not remember how happy I was from the bottom of my heart, when India was victorious, but the joy I “achieved” not “got” was always, is always and will always be precious to me for the rest of my life.
Cricket has evolved as a sport like the evolution of the human species. First it was the Test cricket then one day cricket and then came the latest format the T20. Though I like test and one day cricket, but T20 format has a special place in my heart. Although IPL, a mixture of talents from all over the world, where surprisingly you cheer for the team members of the other team, whom you hate being in the spirit of true “fanship”, I personally wait for the World Cup, be it the one day or the coming season of T20, where India comes together again as a team.
Long back, from the time I can recall, my memories of “watching cricket”, one name stands out, no matter how hard I try to forget, that’s “Rahul Dravid”. It’s not just the name with which I associate myself with, but the name comes with a great lot of joy, appreciation, comfort, dedication, responsibility, trust, energy, truth and last but not the least leadership. Even though Gen X of cricket has arrived, I will always treasure the strength and respect I received, while Dravid displayed the skills he is best occupied with. Although I have not yet gained the privilege to meet him, or display my support before him, I would like to believe for one day I will meet him and narrate him the faith I had and have in him for the love of the game and honesty and integrity I saw in him since the time I have seen him play the game.
I may be exaggerating, but I will not think twice, if given an option, to go for a holiday with my husband and to watch a cricket match live, (by the way, the winner, live match all the way) though I won’t mind if the two options merge for the better (smile).
History is truly fascinating, rolling back to the last year, when I could smell the grass, hear the excitement, join in the roar, live in the stadium, today, I, at the same time this year missed it altogether. Even though so it happened out of our own country, I did manage to grab on to the momentum with me. I made sure to not to miss even a single out burst on the field where every single moment was new and refreshing. Thanks to Mr. Lalit Modi, who last year brought in a new dimension to cricket and no thanks to our government for not having it here again, I had a very mixed kind of feelings to sum it all. But none the less I still love it and will continue to do so passionately.
For the honor of the game and the curious child within me, who is truly happy for the plight of cricket, combined with the power India has, I pledge I will always be loyal to the game for the sheer satisfaction it has given me. Watching my own happiness has given me a new meaning to life, and still hoping for the best.