Chat Cricket
India is a nation of cricket enthusiasts. We eat, sleep and drink cricket. Cricket is our second life. It is rather we Indian’s tradition. We are united as a single entity irrespective of caste, language and region with this spirited sport. It is the ‘Dhakkan’ of India.
On Several occasions we have even bestowed Prasad to the Lord for winning of the Indian team. We portray cricketers as demigods and worship their photographs for seeing a delightful performance of theirs. Cricket is a religion here in our country. It is more than just a sport. It is an emotion. A sentiment we all vehemently enjoy and possess. At the Chaiwala’s Nukad where people take a sip of tea and chatter about Ganguly’s oust from the IPL to Harsha Bhogle commenting on Dhoni’s leadership brilliance, cricket brings and holds us together. Crossing all boundaries and barriers, this is an unrelenting and unparalleled remarkable connection in the diversified nation.
With so much energy, soppiness and craving, we all do not like just to sit back and enjoy every cricket match. What we all endeavour and connect with is playing the sport. Whether we are good at it or baffling, be it a 5 year old child or a 50 year old man, we all wish to get on the field and be right there in the middle to perform and win.
The field for us need not be a 70 yard pitch with green grass and spectators all around. A small even hoary gully or a house’s roof top suffices for us! What we strive for is not playing with pads on, an English willow and a red colour seasonal ball. Rather, all we want is a 4 rupee plastic ball and a bare wooden bat (our beloved ‘patta’). Cycles make the cut over stumps and we like to make judgements in the game independently without neutral umpires, since, we know “dusre ki bari bhi aaegi”.
The passion, drama and thrill of the game win over technically correct things. Who cares whether one slogs or plays a perfect straight drive? We just cater to winning. A narrow lane with bumps, a lovely sunny day and standing at the crease holding the patta – This is what every one of us can connect to. We all love to hear the “punch sound” of the patta punishing the bowler. The exhilaration, jubilation and rush in the heart – Is a moment we live for! The sensation, the charisma and excitement of the game matter the most to every one of us.
Maybe, Chat cricket might have existed as gully, garden or any other form of cricket for you. But, the essence remains the same – “to attempt for win and enjoy every bit of moment on the field!“
We all love to go gaga about even a single run we make or a wicket we pick. This is a typical taste of India – its tradition, its people and the sporting endowment we possess. Yes, we just love to win and wish to see men in blue do the same whenever we witness a match.
Cheers to all those chat/gully/maidan/garden cricket moments we lived and we relish. As you read through the post relive, rediscover and rejuvenate those great moments of delight, friendship and sporting brilliance!
Tags: Chat Cricket, Cricket, India, Sport
