Wednesday, February 24, 2010

I have to confess today to having had a short fling with ...

the game of cricket long, long ago ...

My infatuation with the game was triggered by one very close India-Australia match in the Reliance Cricket World Cup ...it was the match in which India needed two runs to win off the last two balls of the game...we were down to the last wicket...Maninder Singh was batting...Kiran More was at the non-striker's end...Steve Waugh was the bowler, if I remember correct...we were all at home, our eyes glued to the TV set, all of us being our absolute 'cricket' superstitious selves...mom, who had absolutley no idea about cricket was forced to sit with us and watch the game, whole day long, just because her being around the tv had brought India luck in one of the earlier games, or so we liked to believe :-)...you know how crazy Indians tend to become when talking and watching cricket...the 5th ball of the last over of the match was bowled by Waugh...the ball briskly spun over the pitch knocking the bails off the wickets...Singh was back to the pavilion...India lost the match by one run with one ball to spare...but at the end of it all, I was hooked to cricket...

Thereafter I passionately followed every one day international and test match played across the globe...cheered and celebrated India's wins...mourned India's losses...and was absolutely in love with the game,or so I thought...but perhaps it was just an illusion, after all...cause my infatuation with cricket ended just as abruptly, as it had started ...

It was the Wills Trophy final between India and Pakistan in Sharjah...Aaquib Javed's hatrick...Sachin Tendulkar sent back to the pavilion for a golden duck...Pakistan going on to win the trophy...I was absolutely devastated...so much so that it spelled the beginning of the end of my love for the game ...of course, not to deny being further disillusioned by all the controversies and charges surrounding some of the players I had hero worshipped , Azhar and Cronje to name a few, in the years that followed...

That was then, more than a decade back...since then there have been a lot of players who have entered and left the cricketing arena...some have left in glory...some in shame...records have been set and broken...one day internationals have given way to the more exciting and adrenaline pumping 20-20 form of the game and to add to it is the almost inexplicable IPL frenzy...honestly speaking. I haven't really put an effort to keep myself up to date with what's happening in this sport, that I once loved... all that I have been keeping myself updated with is silly gossip that keeps doing the media rounds...who the new handsome hunks in the game are...which cricketer is dating whom...which cricketer has ditched whom and all such BS...sad and shameful, but true nevertheles...

Today though, as I read the headlines about Sachin Tendulkar's record setting double century in Gwalior and subsequently watched the highlights of the game, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of euphoria,hope,admiration, inspiration and pride...22 years of life dedicated to a sport and through all the ups and downs, still going strong ,more or less untainted by major controversies...a historical moment in world cricket...a moment of glory for the Indian sports world...a moment that managed to momentarily rekindle a small flame of the love and passion for the game of cricket that I had once nurtured...a moment that made me bow down in respect and admiration for the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar...the messiah of the only 'true' religion in the country of my birth !!! Here's a toast to 22 years of his glorious cricketing career ...

4 comments:

Garima said...

'True' relegion...so aptly put.. So correct!
Sachin is Sachin... when he was recently facilitated, i read baout his nurturing wife, his simple lifestyle.. and how his favorite food is simple maharashtrian curry. An Epitome of Simplicity and dignity for sure.
For me.. cricket is far away. I only know what SD and my brother, and friends discuss.. but oh yes, Page 3 gossip on these 'hunky' stars is something i enjoy.. will not confess how much.. but yes i do! There i said it!

Suku said...

i am so out of touch when it comes to the game...did nt know about Sachin's feat-he is truly a legend.
see you on sunday?

Priyanka Rajkhowa said...

@Garima : Yep...he's legend indeed...and you really don't have to be scared of confessing to enjoying the Page 3 gossip about those hunky cricket stars...that's what keeps me going as well...

@Rimjhim ba : :-) Look forward to seeing you on Sunday !!

NetworkedBlogsViaFacebok said...

Saumya Kaushal and Mukti Soni Gambhir like this

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Lakshmi Swaminathan:

I totally relate to this post. I went through the exact same phases - extreme love n passion for the game, totally lost interest and stopped following after all the controversies....but today found a renewed passion towards the game!!
What a day to celebrate!

February 25 at 12:26am

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Preeti Iyer:

Very nice blog. Cheers to Sashin Tenduulkaa in Geoffrey Boycott style :)

February 25 at 12:40am
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Suchitra Subramanyan:

Very good blog, could totally relate to it :)..enjoyed reading it
Thu at 10:17amPreetam Rajkhowa well written...........

February 25 at 11:16am
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Venkateswaran Krishnamoorthy nice post PR!

February 25 at 11:53am
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Priyanka Rajkhowa:

Thanks so much folks and cheers indeed to Tenduulkaa!

February 25 at 8:32pm
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