Cricket, Cricket, Cricket, these were the only words that ran in my mind throughout my childhood, till I started became a pessimist.
My interest in Cricket developed
during my early childhood at MDI Gurgaon. I was one among the youngest kid in
the neighborhood and could occasionally see many others play something called “Bat-Ball”
back then. Those days, I found it very hard to write the letter ‘B’. It looked
too complicated to me. I feared if I could ever in my life write that letter.
Thinking about all that, I feel
how stupid and foolish I was then worrying for things that I shouldn’t be. I
was hardly five or six. Probably even younger, but the letter B threatened me
like anything. Coming back to the point of bat and ball, my father noticed that
I had more interest for cricket than football. He then bought a bat and a ball
for me with which I learnt to play cricket inside my home in Gurgaon.
There was a large hall and the
exit door was known to be the wicket, I would only bat and I had the option to
get out five times whereas my parents had only one. I could never connect the
bat with ball, and my parents held me and taught me the art to hit the ball.
I loved it to the core, probably
I still love it. The sense of joy I got after I hit the ball was immeasurable.
I used to hit it hard and break all possible things inside the house. My mom
kept quiet, she never shouted.
As I started going to school, we
started talking about what we do at home. One of the major topics of discussion
on those days was about the film ‘Mr. India’. I always wished I had a watch
like that which could make me disappear from the class whenever I wanted. I
slowly got in to the act of watching television and cricket matches which was
one of the best things I loved. Unlike many other children who loved to watch
their favorite Cartoons such as Flinstones etc, I was only interested in
Cricket.
Why was it? Was there some sort
of emotional attachment to it? I still remember India’s Tour of Canada and the
five matches India played against Pakistan where Saurav Chandi Ganguly played
exquisitely well. He even bowled well during the tournament, if I am not wrong,
I think his best bowling figure still stands that. He had taken 5 wickets for
just 15 or 16 runs. I could see Ganguly hitting century almost every alternate
match.
Ganguly’s style of playing
cricket inspired me a lot. He would bend completely and stretch his legs as the
fast bowler put the ball outside the off stump. Most of those shots were timed
perfectly and would surpass all the fielders and slice away for a boundary. No
wonder he was called the ‘King of OFF-Side’.
I still remember the day in Lord’s
when India had a terrific win against England. I also remember the day when
India lost against Australia in the 2003 world cup final. I remember how
Ganguly was slowly thrown out of the Indian team, and I also remember how he
never gave up on himself.
To this man, who has not only
been an aggressive, straight-forward captain, but also a great leader with grit
and determination. Someone who has captured my emotion with the word ‘Cricket’.
Today, on his 44th
birthday, my tribute to the best-ever captain of the Indian Cricket Team.
