For long as I can remember, playing cricket during my growing years has been my greatest sport. Thinking about it, its interesting because this is the only sport that I did not play competitively although cumulatively I have spent more hours with this sport than any other. I played it almost everyday when I got home from school on our gully (roads) in good ol' Bangalore. During summer, I played all day literally - those days we split ourselves into 2 teams and played best of 7 games on a single day starting at 9 in the morning and finishing at 7 in the evening. The losing team would then treat the winners with king size bottles of coke and snacks for the evening. My friends in my gully were lads who deeply enjoyed the game and had a certain feverishness for the game. We played till we dropped, we shared in our wins and losses and we backed each other during fights(physical) that we got into when we were challenged by teams from the neighboring gully or local school [I remember some of them vividly]
We played different games during different seasons including badminton, football, volleyball, hockey but nothing like cricket. We belonged to a generation which was cranking out super heroes in the sport and we lived it up quite well. We were alright with our skills in cricket but we did not believe we could play on the big stage but somewhere around the same time, there were others in the country who thought they could. I write this post on the same day these very same guys lived up their dream to bring home to India the coveted title for the cricket world champions. Yes, India is the new home to the CRICKET WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!! - a title that they will hold for the next 4 years.
Yes, we friends did not enter the sport but we supported those few guys who did follow their passion into the sport. We did it at every stage of the sport for the last 25+ years. We did it year after year and from one series to the next. As challenging as the journey might be for a sportsman to make it big in the fiercely competitive world, it is equally unusual for people to love the sport and hold it up on the mantle for years together. It requires certain amount of perseverance, certain unwavering faith, certain passion and all of it beautifully blended with patriotism. On the eve of this World Cup, I had written about why India had a great chance to win this cup and am delighted to see it happen. As India erupts today on India's Victory and celebrates its new heroes, it should also remind itself to be grateful to all those who have been alongside this sport and its warriors in its highs and lows. I feel deeply content today and I cannot explain this in any other way but to think that there was an element of personal victory for me as well as India lifted the trophy.
Oh Yes!
Here are a few snapshots to recapture the magic of the day
INDIA - Cricket World Champions 2011
It is only fitting to see the man who sculpted this world conquering team for over 2 years finish this personal campaign of his with a glorious six over long-on. The look in this eyes revealed the deep intent in his eyes- almost like he was single handedly answering all doubts of India ruling the world
He has built this team with grit, spirit and a resolve to put the team right up there. He did it by transforming himself from a carefree middle order batsmen-keeper to the most down to earth and gritty yet composed world cup winning captain.
He has been the commander of an army that had to be reminded that it can win this battle - any battle!
If cricket was a religion then this man would be its GOD!
If anybody said this to you, he was not kidding.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has been the ever improving, unmoving pillar of Indian Cricket for 21 years now. He has inspired a whole nation with his talent, humbleness, and impeccable behavior on and off the field. Kids and adults will remember him for his great knocks and learn from him for years to come.
We played different games during different seasons including badminton, football, volleyball, hockey but nothing like cricket. We belonged to a generation which was cranking out super heroes in the sport and we lived it up quite well. We were alright with our skills in cricket but we did not believe we could play on the big stage but somewhere around the same time, there were others in the country who thought they could. I write this post on the same day these very same guys lived up their dream to bring home to India the coveted title for the cricket world champions. Yes, India is the new home to the CRICKET WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!! - a title that they will hold for the next 4 years.
Yes, we friends did not enter the sport but we supported those few guys who did follow their passion into the sport. We did it at every stage of the sport for the last 25+ years. We did it year after year and from one series to the next. As challenging as the journey might be for a sportsman to make it big in the fiercely competitive world, it is equally unusual for people to love the sport and hold it up on the mantle for years together. It requires certain amount of perseverance, certain unwavering faith, certain passion and all of it beautifully blended with patriotism. On the eve of this World Cup, I had written about why India had a great chance to win this cup and am delighted to see it happen. As India erupts today on India's Victory and celebrates its new heroes, it should also remind itself to be grateful to all those who have been alongside this sport and its warriors in its highs and lows. I feel deeply content today and I cannot explain this in any other way but to think that there was an element of personal victory for me as well as India lifted the trophy.
Oh Yes!
Here are a few snapshots to recapture the magic of the day
INDIA - Cricket World Champions 2011
He has built this team with grit, spirit and a resolve to put the team right up there. He did it by transforming himself from a carefree middle order batsmen-keeper to the most down to earth and gritty yet composed world cup winning captain.
He has been the commander of an army that had to be reminded that it can win this battle - any battle!
If anybody said this to you, he was not kidding.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has been the ever improving, unmoving pillar of Indian Cricket for 21 years now. He has inspired a whole nation with his talent, humbleness, and impeccable behavior on and off the field. Kids and adults will remember him for his great knocks and learn from him for years to come.
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