Cricket as a Religion

India – 2nd in population behind china. We have large amount of human resources which mostly utilized by MNC’s. Cricket- It’s not our National game but it has huge following than Hockey. Cricket gained the popularity when Kapil’s devils won the Prudential Cup, 1983. They beat run away leaders West Indies in finals and Kapil phaji held the cup in his hands. That moment marked the cricket autonomy in India.

Hockey lost its glory as it began to decline as the cricket rose up. India won the 1980 Olympic gold medal and it was last recognized win for our national game. Cricket on the other rose from strength to strength from 1983.

In 1985, India won the world championship of cricket and was crowned as undisputed champs. From Gavaskars to Tendukars, Tendukars to Dhonis cricket was over leaping all boundaries in the Indian sub continent. India Has been the traditional powerhouse of cricket and BCCI, Controller for cricket is the richest club of all the lot. Every new born in an Indian family dreams to become a cricketer. That is the real storm that has been done by cricket in our society.

Nowadays cricket is being followed as a religion. We find the boards like “Cricket is a religion, Sachin is God”. Indian Players are worshipped like god if they win, But in the other hand if they lose they are impatient and burning their effigies. Why this sentimental things happening? Are these players who played well deserved to gods and not played well are deserved to be devils? Why is this happening in our country?

India came out in the first round itself in World cup 2007 (50 over). Then people became unrest. Effigies were burnt, Houses were rattled by stones. Then in the same year we won the T20 world cup and cricketers were hailed as heroes. Why this discrimination? The bunch of players was the same. The difference is the form they shown. The exuberance of the youth was visible. Now 3 years down the line they are facing the same fiasco as they had in 2007.

The Indian people expect the best out of their players all the time which can’t happen at all times. But almost 100 crores people expectation will be acting upon the players mind too. All the effigy incident and stone throwing incident will be running at the minds. I accept they played badly and are circumspect against the short pitch bowling but it’s because of the pitches in India. Here they won’t get a ball cutting across the throat but in overseas you will get that reception which currently they are unable to cope with.

Let’s remember, Ponting one of the finest Batsmen averages only 12 in India. So give some time for this young parade to work on their defects. Then we can come to conclusion. They haven’t done anything substantial in the world tournaments for the past 3-5 years. But let us give some time to prove. I can remember Sachin Tendukar took 79 ODI’s to record his 1st Century. But now, Can anyone say it’s wrong to give time to the little master. Just show the patience to them. Even diamond takes time to transform from carbon. We can make wine in a single day. So wait and watch. One day we can see the transformation in these fringe players.

But I need to quote some ill happenings in Indian Cricket. The loss in T20 World cup was due to:

1. Why the hell they took Ravindra Jadeja to World cup? I am not saying he is a bad cricketer. But we have better cricketers than him in our ranks. He is very young and has to learn many things.

2. Why not Irfan Pathan and Robin Uthappa? Why Dhoni didn’t go for this two people. Only he can answer this. Both were in some good form and none were selected which came as rude shock to all. Both can win the matches on their own. They both were in good form and really I was astonished not to see their names in final squad. I know Irfan was bit down but Uthappa has been in sublime form in the IPL3.

3. Why they took bowling in 2 Matches in Barbados? India had only 2 seamers and after winning the toss, Dhoni opted to field which was the major blunder they did. Dhoni had some answers for it and none were really proven him right. He is a gifted captain but he needs to accept the truth that he had made a blunder.

4. When Hussey can bat at 33 like this, why can’t Dravid or any other good bet when sehwag was not there? India went for youngsters who were good but we need to blend youth with experience in order to get the results in our favour. This went against India as they were unable to play the short pitch stuff which bombarded against them.

5. Sehwag’s Absence made a huge difference as other teams will be happy that the Nawab of Najafgarh was not there to haunt them.

6. Indian Youngsters inability to Short Pitch stuff. Surely they are trying to overcome but so far it hasn’t come off yet

So my sincere thought to our countrymates are:
1. Please watch Cricket as a game, Not as a religion
2. Love the game, don’t be a predictor or some hardliner
3. Wait for the fruit to reap. Youngsters will take time and wait for them to grow up and deliver the goods.
4. Please don’t burn effigies. Don’t break the houses of cricketers.
5. Take the things easy as it comes. Be professional rather than sentimental.

So wait for the 2011 World cup in sub continent and hope for an Indian Upsurge and let us bring back the glory of 1983!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!