What Cricket is to India and what I owe to Cricket...

Cricket has been something, out of which, every contemporary sports editor in India tends to draw the most. From those in their teens to those who have got their beards whitened, find cricket a topic for epic discussions. From the metro coaches, to the roadways, from the corporate offices to the chaywala’s shop (no political deductions should be made from the word ‘chaywala’!), cricket has always been the hottest genre to boast yourself in India.

Cricket in India has been flowing in the veins of every second countryman. In which country can you expect a sportsman to be designated as the almighty? In which nation can you expect the entire population to literally weep when a sports person retires? In which part of the globe can you expect the small kids to call their mates by the name of cricketers or in which country can you expect a cross road that is traffic-jammed the whole day to resemble a curfew when the country’s cricket team is in action? Indeed the old saying goes true here… "It happens only in India!”

the terrific trio that changed Indian cricket...

A country where the national team has to stop playing cricket with its arch-rival because of certain political issues, a country where they shower floods and floods of money upon the cricket men, a country where a fiancée leaves her male companion on the pretext of him devoting more time to a cricket match than her, a country where even a man with negligible penny can afford a T.V. set just to watch a cricketing encounter, wouldn't it be wrong to call that country a cricket maniac?

The news channels devote their 24 hour coverage to cricket when India outshines others in world cricket, the newspapers add up extra pages to incorporate cricketing headliners whenever India is on a role, the parliament echoes with the table-tapping sound whenever something remarkable happens on the cricket field! Not only the aam aadmi but the authorities are also crazy about the sport in our country.

Cricketers are the ones who challenge the filmstars neck-to-neck in terms of glamour and fame and perhaps some even surpass them. A child dreams to be a Sachin, Dhoni, or a bombarding Sehwag right since he learns to talk and think! The beautiful ladies go full-on crazy when Virat raises his bat for a tonne or when Yuvi poses after a hitting a hammering pull over deep mid on! The older generation showers its endless blessings when the likes of Bhuvi strike. The social media gets flooded with updates when Sir Jadeja makes his presence felt on the field. Perhaps they sound true…"Cricket is not only a sport here in India, it’s a religion, it’s India itself!”

Cricket to me has always been an integral aspect. I have never been more of a player. I have not held the cricket bat from ages (though occasionally hockey sticks have been put to use…!). But, editing and commentary have been my hardcore desires. After writing a lot on politics and entertainment domains on my other venture http://www.filmyscoop.in/ , I had a deep urge to showcase my love for cricket as well. Whatever minnow in writing or speaking I could become, it’s all because of cricket. Even today I am ready to quit all other professional commitments and adopt cricket commentary for 24*7!!! This blog of mine shall be full of cricketing talks and reviews! Hope the viewers love it.