Welcoming our World Champions!

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Cricket, Glory and a Memory Worth Keeping

Let me begin this piece by saying that I am no sports enthusiast. That just isn't my default setting nor is it something that has rubbed off on me over the years. The only reason I watch any sports at all is because of the influence (read: constant background commentary) of my husband who is one of the biggest fan of sports that I know. 

So, naturally, you may wonder, why I've written this. Simple. To preserve a precious memory 😊 

As you may be aware, cricket is not merely a sport in India - it is a religion! We take our cricket very seriously. Probably every little boy (and the occasional girl) in India acquires a plastic bat and ball by the age of three. Drive through any Indian city on a weekend and you will most likely see groups of kids and adults of all ages playing cricket in empty fields, streets, backyards and narrow gullies. The pitch is wherever there is space 😆

The sport of cricket was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the British. It is now deeply ingrained in our Indian culture and a major part of our national identity. The world has witnessed a historic takeover of an international sport by a once colonised nation. I dare say that when it comes to cricket, we have been more successful and dominating in the sport than the English have 😛

I reiterate folks - cricket reigns supreme in India. It is the only sport we care passionately (sometimes obsessively) about and in front of which, all other sports take a backseat. Sure, we have an International football and hockey team, tennis greats like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati, chess grandmaster and world champion Viswanathan Anand, Olympic medal holding athletes, promising badminton players and our own Formula One racing team, yet, when it comes to popularity, media attention, and emotional investment, all the other sports pale in comparison to cricket. It does seem rather unfair since the domination of one sport takes away credit from all the other sporting heroes who have time and again brought glory to our country. 

Cricketers in India often enjoy celebrity status on par with, if not exceeding film stars. They are always in the news, be it their on-field performance or off-field antics. Having said that, being a cricketer in India is not an easy job for as much praise and honour they are lavished with after winning a tournament, the same intensity of scrutiny and judgement comes their way after experiencing defeat. They can be worshiped and placed on a pedestal and the very next day their homes may be stoned and effigies burnt. The highs are dizzying, but the lows are brutal.

Major cricket tournaments are nothing short of national events. Offices go quiet, streets clear out, movie releases are postponed, and prayer rituals are conducted in living rooms and places of worship alike. We can be sure of no power cuts because that would definitely draw the ire of people! During crucial World Cup matches, schools and workplaces often declare half-days 😆

And that brings me to the day I’ll probably never forget - 2nd April 2011, when India won the Cricket World Cup, after a long 28-year wait. The last time India had lifted the cup was back in 1983 under Kapil Dev’s captaincy. I was just a year old then, living in England, blissfully unaware of cricket or much else for that matter. But this time, I was glued to the television in my cozy living room in Singapore, fully present and watching the match in the company of my husband and a group of friends, soaking in every tense, heart-stopping moment. When the victory came, our living room erupted into a collective roar of jubilation, tears of joy, fist bumping and group hugs. It was truly an unforgettable moment of national pride and joy.

India entered the tournament as favourites, partly because we were one of the host nations. The journey wasn’t without its bumps - a shaky match against England and a disheartening loss to South Africa stirred some doubts. But the team bounced back spectacularly, beating defending champions Australia and long-term rivals Pakistan to reach the finals with heads held high and spirits soaring.

Still, I wasn’t entirely confident. Our opponents, Sri Lanka, were a capable and determined side. The grand finale was every bit as dramatic as expected with plenty of nerve-racking, emotional, and electric moments. In the end, the men in blue, led by captain MS Dhoni, delivered under pressure. Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Dhoni himself were the stars of the day and won over a billion hearts with their stellar performance. The 'Man of the Series', Yuvraj in particular must have felt vindicated after constantly having had people cast aspersions on his ability and passion for the game. He redeemed himself and how! And the moment that melted the nation's beating heart? Watching the younger players carry Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders during the victory lap. It was the one title that had eluded the cricketing legend across six World Cups. Indian cricket, and perhaps all of us, owed him that.

There is something curious about the way cricket brings out the best and sometimes the worst in people. On the bright side, it unites the country like little else can. You see patriotism, collective joy, and an overwhelming sense of community. On the flip side, defeat often invites pettiness, blame games, unfair criticism, and occasionally poor sportsmanship. In the spirit of national pride, it is wonderful to support your team, but there is a line between cheering for your team and needlessly bashing the opposition. It isn't just the players who need to exhibit good sportsmanship on the field; cricket fans need to do it too. Sportsmanship in cricket means respecting the rules, the opponents, and the game itself. It includes healthy rivalry, mutual respect, accepting losses gracefully and celebrating victories with humility. In the end, it is a game and just like life, you win some, you lose some. 

And so, I write this - not as a sports fan, but as someone who witnessed something truly special. Congratulations, Team India, on a historic victory. May there be many more moments like these in the future for all of us to celebrate.

Jai Ho! 

Cheers,

Megha