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What Cricket Means To Us? A journey of Hope

Ah, cricket. What cricket means to us? Us being the generation of 80s born kids who grew up in an India where cricket had recently become more than just being popular. India had tasted the World Cup success. Growing up everyone seemed to talk about it. Past players, the current ones, and the upcoming ones. Cricket had upgraded from being a sport to becoming a part of every normal person’s daily life.

Old context for cricket in India

Why and how suddenly this had happened? India even today is not a sporting nation in the truest way. Back then, it was definitely not. In fact, the 80s, 90s and early 2000s were not at all a time of pride, success and global recognition in anything for India. The after effects for colonial subjugation still lingered in the common psyche. For almost everything, one had to only hustle and struggle and just inch through the days. There was nothing to be proud of in general let alone on a world stage. We were the poor, destitute third world backward country and its citizens still being treated as such.

Our parents had to use all their might and intelligence to make ends meet. Long before the introduction of Agile/Scrum methodology (software folks will know about this), Indian middle class parents were doing this. Every requirement which required money to fulfill was an item to be put in a backlog for next month budgeting. Even things like a new pencil box, water bottle, shoes, had to be backlogged first and were not entertained in the middle of the month.

At the start of the month, the backlog was prioritized and the really important ones were addressed and bought and the cycle repeated. All we heard was, that there was no money. All we heard was how poor India was and how prosperous the US and UK were.

We heard that India was once a golden bird but that was some other age. Everything overseas was prestigious whereas we were the backward laggards wo were just chugging along in all walks of life with no presence at the world stage.

Then came along a group of 14 players who, ball by ball, run by run became world beaters. Before the mighty Australians, before our colonial masters (who invented the game), we stood tall, in England holding the trophy. It was not just Kapil Dev who lifted the trophy.

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Every Indian that lifted that trophy. We can only imagine what a booster shot that would have been for the whole country. Every Indian, in India and abroad, would have held their chins up the next day, strode more confidently outside with chest swelling with confidence and pride. Every Indian could start believing that they could win their battles as well, that, they were not inferior to anyone.

It takes one to show. And that is why breaking barriers is far far more significant than improving the previously achieved. It makes people Believe.

That is why, when the 80s born were growing up, all they heard was how India was great at cricket. And hence the transition from sport to something bigger. And is with any sport, once you start following it, there is no going back. They mimic real life. The ups and downs the wins and loses.

90s was a time where this generation had not seen the high of 83 win but wanted to experience that. 90s too were a tough time. Country was probably at its lowest. India was close to bankruptcy in 1991.

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Cricket was something which kept everyone hopeful. We were still not absolute great in the game we had hope. We hoped. We believed that it was possible.

Through the tough days at work, people found respite when India did well in cricket. Children forgot the frugality in their lives through cricket. Waiting for next month for the pencil box was forgotten when Sachin smashed the best of the best stamping an authority that here is an Indian who is an absolute best. We did not win so much but we still knew the best of the best was from our country. That’s what cricket did. It got us through the tough times.

Even TVs were rare let alone the barrage of devices we now have to distract ourselves and feel better. For this generation, cricket was an antidote for everything in a way which nothing else could be. Today, cricket is one among the many things the current generation have at their disposal. And even the current middle class generation is not deprived of anything. There is instant gratification. They do not have to wait for any desire to be fulfilled. In that context, cricket cannot be the same to them what it was to us (80s born).

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For us, cricket was a journey of hope. Slowly, match by match, we believed, we will achieve greatness. Not instantly, but by perseverance, diligence and brilliance. That hope and elation kept us going through our daily struggles, whatever they may be. And that is why for us, the players were the warriors behind whom we rallied. And boy how lucky we were to have quite a few we could pin our hopes on.

So then why in today’s social media and distraction deluge, we still watch cricket? Contrary to what people portray on social media which seems as if everyone is winning everyday in life, people’s lives are lot more grey and nuanced. Majority of us do not win everyday. Majority of us life just keeps happening and time just keeps rolling on. We do not experience the highs and rush of winning battles and coming out on top very often. Such occasions are far and few for most people.

Acing board exams, clearing any competitive exams, getting a yes when you propose your love, birth of one’s child, getting your startup funded for the first time ever and so on. Winning moments which overwhelm you like no other in your life. For most, these can be counted on fingers in one hand. But, these are feelings which everyone wants and in fact needs once in a while to have something in the tank to tackle life again. But yes, that is why our losses also feel more personal and more tragic. Especially some of the more heartbreaking ones.

That is what cricket gives us vicariously. We win a close match fighting, we feel we were part of the fight and we won. We get the high and the shot to feel rejuvenated again. It becomes a day where we overcome and win. We collectively become champions. We become the fan and the warrior at the same time for each other.

This collective energy has great power. It does miraculous things. It lifts spirits. It blows away the gloom. It infuses the heart with pride. It makes everyone feel stronger and confident. And then, it inspires generations. It changes people and the nation in how we look at ourselves in the mirror. That is why cricket is an emotion in India and not just a sport. And anytime someone tries to drive it without emotion and purely like a professional endeavor, it is bound to fail in an Indian context.

Cricket is an emotion that makes us winning warriors. And that, is why we watch cricket.

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