ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

 ICC CWC 2023

I was ardent fan of cricket 🏏 during my childhood days. I still remember watching India-England early morning matches at 4 AM. When it used to wake up for studies, we could hardly get up and keep our turns to hide under blankets in the guise of studying while brother kept watch on Dad's surprise inspection. 

Surprisingly, enthusiasm was not limited to us (brothers) only rather we used to involve everyone in the event. Discuss each and every incident during the match as if this is going to be our Board exam question paper. 

Post match analysis these days are result of that only. TV networks pick up few retired cricketers and let them discuss the full match again. 

Hardly matches had total of 200+ in one day matches. T20 was yet to born.... 

Recently when news broke of nominating V V S Lakshman as Head Coach of ICT, I was pushed back in memory lane when he used to slog for full 50 overs and team used to post only 213 !! But I don't know want kept us glued to the TV when it came to watching cricket. 

It was a fever, passion and shared phenomenon in India. When it's cricket match, everyone would be talking about it and if you miss it you would be misfit!! 

I still remember my school friend once comically telling me how Venkatesh Prasad had hit 6 sixes to which I just LOL 🤣🤣 knowing that he can hardly connect bat with ball. 

Later in life, suddenly cricket vanished from my life post 2011 CWC win. 

I got out of touch of this passion of watching cricket matches due to uncertainty, heart break due to ill-prepared Indian team most of the time and some other personal preoccupations. Players who play well start thinking of their individual scores and career. Selfless cricket was not there to watch. 

Lately, I caught glimpse of young players like Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, SKY etc just to realize that it's not fair to not watch them in action when India is having such bright cricketers on our side. 

After proper analysis, I realized these days Indian team is quite different. Quite strong and determined. 

So, Me and my Wife decided to follow CWC 2023. Of course just like me my wife was also used to be a huge fan of cricket. So we had a great company and watched all matches of India and enjoyed the euphoria of India winning all matches including Semis with thumping margins!! 

This actually attached us with the matches so much that we almost felt India like winning World Cup this year. 

In 2011, me and my wife had watched Finals against SL in Guwahati. A truly different culture there.. Huge India 🇮🇳 flag was tied on both sides of MG Marg. What a moment that was and great stuff... We won that one.. !! 

So having that vision and expectations we sat down to watch Finals of 2023. We realized very soon that we are not up to mark today and our batting failed miserably and we posted a paltry total on the board which Australian🇦🇺 easily achieved. 

I was aware, conscious that I shall keep my self detached with the outcome of the match but failed to do it like millions of Indians that day..... It was a true heart break.. Keeping aside all spirituality lessons on the side I deliberately pulled myself into it to come out of like this...writing stuff on that after weeks of that match... 

Reason was uprising of huge huge patriotic feeling on that day and when Hon'ble PM himself witnessing the event live, it truly became a pride thing that day. So loss of India in the sport on that day actually pained me a lot. Still after so many days, I still feel alas we could have won it. Why one of the two Virat & Rahul didt take charge. Why succumbed to the pressure so much. This all needs to be analysed beyond cricketing skills to avoid failing in future big events. 

Today, got news that BCCI convinced Dravid to continue as head coach, that's really fantastic news. 

I hope our Indian cricket team rise and shine in the time to come. 

Till then enjoy and keep watching cricket!!!!