Passion for Indian Cricket

Born in a country where the entire popluation plays "Cricket" (If you are thinking that I am talking about the insect - cricket you should hit the little "X" on the top right of browser - NOW! Ignorance for Cricket is not acceptable ;-)) Although cricket no longer shows on my resume under the pronounced "Hobbies" section [Wonder people still write resumes with such crap], a deliberate attempt to distinguish myself from the other 95%, there is no denial that this is the only sport that could keep me awake watching it entire night. Most of the desi junta, do know cricket and only that but there is this weird reluctance to admit it or so what I noticed.

How often have you seen Indians talking about cricket with their colleagues in US? I mean a loser from Nebraska or whatever who needs a de-education and then a re-education in English from some decent school in India, would talk about some friggin baseball team in some university in Kansas and you would bear him despite of the fact that you hardly know anything about the game. I don' t know man, baseball psyches the Jesus out of me. I nearly fell asleep the last time I saw Red Sox game at Fenway park in Boston.

Despite staying for some 8 years in the US now, still every time Team India in Blue plays for any trophy or coveted Indo-Pak series, there is intense desire to see them win. Love for country and her sport never fades, no matter where you are. I thoroughly enjoy playing Tennis, doing roller blading (haven't done this summer!) and swimming. However insanity strikes when it comes to cricket.

I reminisce and memories take me back to 3rd or 4th grade when India was playing Australia in Australia. I would be insomniac and the tiny mind in the dim night-light, when all the family members are sleeping, would draw a circle on a paper and plan how our fielding should be placed for next morning's game. I would jot down the 11 expected plays who would make it into the next game, their batting and bowling orders and what not. I would get up at 5 am, slowly and silently open the latch of the front door, to make sure I don;t wake up my Mom - (who and only who had the potential to stop me from not watching the game. ) and run to neighbor's house to watch the match.

Next incident was during Sharjah cup finals. Oh boy! Who in right minds would forget that - Pakistan needing 5 runs to win and 4 to equalize. Chetan Sharma was chosen for the last over had his inexperience displaying as nervousness - so vivid. Javed Miandad hypnotizing himself into hitting the big shot and Chetan Sharma bowling a full toss - unsuccessfully trying to york. Miandad hits the ball out the ground for a six and boy boy Chetan Sharma would have pee-ied in his pants. I remember crying so hard that evening and almost vouched never to watch India play cricket again. WTF, didn't last even till next game ;-)

With cricket being played so much these days that as much you enjoy seeing India win, the pain when they lose is hardly any. It's like a routine, like there is always a next time. Over past few years there has been numerous sleepless nights watching cricket and next day showing up with red eyes to work and low spirits as India would have inadvertently lost another sitter. Every time you think you will not repeat the silliness, it does not matter the next time. Passion for Indian cricket will always remain, in fact that keeps me going. Thank God Cricket is not like Pro-Basketball where players get traded and the atmosphere is so "professional". It loses the charm of supporting as a die-hard fan for one's nation, when players are from another.

My top 3 contemporary batsmen in descending order are:

1. Ricky Ponting
2. Rahul Dravid
3. Inzamam Ul-Haque

Top 3 bowlers -

1. Wasim Akram
2. Muttiah Muralitharan
3. Glenn McGrath

-Pankya