A word which already has moved our country, the word which is familiar to every literate and illiterate people, the word which can bring the communal harmony in a vast democracy. Yes , the word is ‘cricket’. It stimulates the young blood. It keeps youth in the utopian world. If Rabindrnath Tagore was alive a masterpiece might have come from his pen for cricket. But we don’t have any regret for that. Thanks to famous cricket journalists who depicts the colour cricket in newspaper.
Though I’m not so famous sports journalist but I’m trying to write something for cricket for the first time in my writing career because I’m the eye witness of cricket world cup, 2011 where my nation has grabbed the top position. About 28 years ago when India’s all time greatest all rounder Kapil Dev lifted the world cup in British soil I was only a just born kid. That world cup was the biggest upset for the cricket playing nations as a perennial underdog beat Clive Lloyd’s mighty West Indies in final.
But this time whole world became the witness of the youth power of a nation from the beginning. I won’t describe the highlights of the matches because now a days you enjoy each and every moment of the match due to plenty of channels and their amazing technology to present the matches. Umpteenth numbers of time you can see this in your television screen.
This game can delete the boundaries like religion and cust . Cricket is the part of every Indian’s life. Now it transferred to a basic human behavior. Today every parent wants to see their child as a cricketer. Every kid wants to play like Sachin or Dhoni. A baby is not able to crawl or walk perfectly but he will be introduced the bat and ball as his toys.
Do you know the reason behind this immense interest in cricket than football or other games? Let me explain.
Not only Kapil Ddev and Dhoni responsible for this, the society is hugely responsible for it. At the earlier days like sixties, seventies or eighties a family used to have at least three children. So parent used to allow their one child to play football. Remember, soccer is a body contact game any time anyone can injure. But now a day the percentage of nuclear families are high. Do you want your only child to play football? Off course not. On the other hand cricket accessories are also getting cheaper day by day. And last but not least the limited over cricket like 20/20 has crossed all the barriers. A player can earn enough money for playing hard only one and half month. So why don’t we go for cricket?
In the eighties when Mr. Cary Packer from Autralia introduced whole world with the color of cricket no one can imagine 20/20 or IPL will bring revolution in cricket. This form of game has rejuvenated the cricket. The milky white floodlight, colorful attires and full house stadium, do you have any substitute for this entertainment? After all the hustle- bustle of your daily life when you get this entertainment and see your favorite players in the field you will definitely feel relax.
As the modern hurry killed the art of letter writing the limited over cricket entertainment killed the interest of other games. Today few people know about Leander Pase, Saina Nehwal and Bhaichung Bhutia. But I don’t have any regret for that. They are the best at their own domain.
At last we are a great cricket playing nation in the world and we deserve it today. My request will be future generation play cricket, live cricket, dream cricket and love your nation.
