Tuesday, April 5, 2011

If Cricket was Life

This last week was a fantasy re-lived.

I was in the final years of my school when the Cup last came to India. The Devils of Kapil were on a rampage ... mowing down opposition with absolute finesse. The same has happened again. This time Dhoni and his brigade made that happen ... and we are all ecstatic again. The Cup is ours!!

Almost three decades of an endless wait suddenly got over. Sitting at my colleague's house in front of the gigantic screen (yeah, we played the matches from Quarter finals in a giant screen), history seemed to haunt me. Last time, my dad and me were glued to the radio commentary as India made history. Television was definitely in, but not so popular. Not anymore, now radio is history and Cricket Live is the most happening thing.

Next best to being inside the park!

Don't know the technology that will be prevalent when India wins again. May be the hi-definition, tablet ... iMotion ... I keep thinking of so many possibilities. Let us see it on 3D the next time we play the finals ... it will be another milestone in technology. Celebrations are natural when such a momentous occasion arrives in the history of a sport.

I am not an avid fan of cricket anymore, just happen to enjoy these moments. There was a time when I breathed cricket ... it is now a wonderful memory. The sport has definitely improved, but with the emergence of a strong Team India, I have almost reclined to some complacency.

Loved those times when India struggled to make it big. There was nothing, no academy, no sponsors ... nothing. Yet we came from behind to lift the Cup. I still cherish those moments of cricket history. Most of it was unexpected, and we were definitely not even underdogs.

In this land for 121 crores (latest from the Census), such an event will last in the memories of those who strive for the battle of the bat and the ball. The state heads give a reception, the board presents a bounty and the city mayors hand over replicas are so grand in their recognition of the honour our team brings to the nation.

Now cricket is an euphoria, and the lives of so many hapless Indians energized by this game. Standing in front of the giant screen, I kept thinking of the strides that we made in technology and sports that makes us feel proud. We have moved on ... and with dignity.

Cricket is now diplomacy, cricket innovates technology ... cricket is life. We have started to announce cricket as the next best thing that can happen in life. The entire nation stands still to watch a match which changes history. Cricket brings them the cup of joy!

How I wish if Cricket can share. With cricket being so popular, it can help us in encouraging philanthropy, in development of infrastructure and in the realms of education where we still struggle to unite. Cricketing bodies can organize money-spinning events that can garner enough revenues to help the residents of chawls and slums live with some dignity ... and not just survive.

Schools and colleges of the nation can entertain much more so that entire population grows to be educated. Cricket can share some to encourage the growth of academics, it can also help us develop the system that is so decadent all around.

If there was an Indian Premier League which did not fill the pockets of the few, I would have been very happy. If such an international tournament can be used to earn money for bridges, highways and good living conditions for millions, that would be super. I wish cricket grows big, much bigger than the needs of this nation which wants to develop. The cricket loving population can encourage the administrators to use the riches and the popularity to help India grow bigger and better. With every passing World Cup, I wish to see India grow.

The lovely population that watches cricket with utmost admiration must use this sport to fulfill the aspirations of the countless Indians who still survive amidst abject poverty. As the car company keeps showing in their ads, we must open up cricket to 'new thinking and new possibilities'.

11 comments:

santosh said...

Cricket does help raise consumerism. Helps sell 2 Lac liters of alcohol in a single night. It helps build a brand and brand Ambassadors. It adds value to a tube of toothpaste which is manufactured at Rs 5 but sells at Rs 50!! It makes the state government poorer and the cricketers richer!!It throws up Icons who are made candidates for the Bharat Ratna by over enthusiastic patrons. Cricket is not just a mega event it is a way of life!!

IdleMind said...

@ santosh: I agree with you 100%. If cricket can do things that you mentioned, it should be able to deliver some constructive development as well. That's all I wanted to suggest. Thanks for your honest response.

Eon Heath said...

Hey, Hi
if cricket would do all those things, India would be a superpower much earlier than speculated...but alas, the word "IF" prevails in it...

Regards,
The Silhouette...

IdleMind said...

@ The Silhoutte: Thanks for stopping by ... and your thoughts do mean a lot to me.

itsyvitsy said...

I return yet again. I do not know how long the cadence will last though. I wish it does forever I breath.

I hear you loud and clear, my friend. Though the game of cricket has now gravitated towards the theme of education, I do not see a sincere effort to really help. Like you have mentioned, with every passing world cup, with every passing accomplishment, with the 100th century of Sachin in International Cricket, I too wish to see cricket bring revolution of a different sort, something different from the sport itself.

Spending tax-payers money on people who have been given the bounty by their board is definitely not how it must start. I hope they'll learn and we'll learn to stand for our rights.

Hoping to read the other posts that I missed here.

IdleMind said...

@ Vittal: cheers! to see you around is so much fun.

Unknown said...

:) . chokhh pray ghume bandhyo hoye gachhe. kintu hathat check korte ase notun blog dekhe atto anondo holo j antoto aktaa comment naa rekhe jete parlaam naa... 1st thing tomorrow morning... thank you...

Unknown said...

dada. greetings at 1st.... shubhonabobarso..... read ur thoughts and tried to find my views. recently i told a friend when asked whther am following ipl or not that - nop.am a test cricket person . so ipl is seriously way different and dont fit into my plate of serving.... dada, i think cricket has changed a lot, for better !!!! i dont know. but, it seems way beyond majority indian dreams.... i found it hillerious to know that the victory is equaled with INDIAN FREEDOM FIGHTING.....for me it has blown purposefully out of proportion ....and day after day it turninginto a grt indian movie... we buy tkt,we love the experience and enjoy... do we feel part of it??? sports turning into a game of cricket..... yes. am proud of the moment for sure ...no doubt about that. but also agree with u IM, TO BE BIG BROTHER IT'S TIME TO PLAY BIG BROTHER...

IdleMind said...

@ zahaan: I agree, and let us all demand a pie out of cricket. It just can't be a game in the park, it has to serve the people if it has to stay with the people.

I am Alive said...

It would be a revolution if cricket can make so many constructive things to take place.. Wishful thinking !

Santosh Kumar said...

I appreciate your affection for the Cricket.

People says that Cricket is the religion in India and Tendulkar is the God and so much ...blah..blah.

But Cricket is the only game being played in India? Do you feel happy knowing the status and ranking of Indian Team belonging to other sports as like Hockey, Football and Athletics?

We can motivate Cricket Board and players to do something to encourage and invest for other games also.

By the way, India cricket Team has just lost the series at England (4-0), you must be in shock. Take care and motivate our cricket teams, they are bearing so much criticism all around country.