There is hardly anything left to say about Cricket in India. This game has outgrown all proportions to entify into a religion and incarnate its Gods too ! Like a cult-following its popularity cuts across the socio-economic strata of the society. Once perceived as a game of the Sahib and watched with distinguished demeanour, today has transformed into a raw run pursuit and watched by an equally disordered crowd.

The game is now into its quickest format the 20-20 and the Indian premier legaue is the biggest sensation all over the world. New talent keeps coming and the old ones have no choice but to conform to the changing pattern of the game. I really am not sure …whether I prefer to enjoy watching Dravid play his classic and stylish sqaure drives and score a century standing like a wall or thrashing a quick 40 off 37 balls surviving dangerously on the wicket and taking his team to a sometimes meaningless victory. But being a hardcore cricket fan i certainly cannot ignore the game in its context.

I have been watching cricket for almost three decades now. In the late 70’s I remember watching cricket on screen in movie theaters as apart of the News reel just before the movie. I clearly remember in one of the India-England encounter, Tony Grieg lifting G.R.Vishwanath physically as gesture of appreciation on GR reaching his century. It was black and white during those times. The game and the players were all new to me and I relied on information from seniors, dad in particular for every players repute. One good innings by a batsman was enough to rest hope on him for all the next matches he palyed. Well it was this hope that not only kept cricket alive but also attached the adage of the funny game to it.

Clearly 70’s saw the advent of modern cricket all over the world, the Jardine approach of the 30’s which was then considered hostile was now called competitive. India was begining to see their first demigod of cricket in Sunil Gavaskar who negotiated the West Indian attack with guts. Whenever he stuck to the crease the match was on, to loose him early was to see India crumble. This had happened so many very times that its impact still lingers on the minds of those who have been watching cricket since then with the same fervor. Tail-enders seldom made more than 15 odd runs. This continued till almost the late 80’s when still Test match was the dominating format of the game. The only solace was to see Gavaskar scoring his centuries and breaking records of the great Gary Sobers and Sir Donald Bradman. He also went on to be the first batsman to surpass the mark of 10000 runs. But before all this in the early 80’s 1983 saw magic happen, the invincible West Indies were shattered by the then underdogs India. God had chosen his own name to appear in Kapil Dev. In my memory this era of cricket laid the foundation for team India to dominate on international cricket scene. We also won the Benson and Hedges cup in 1985. That was the time when Indian spectators were in for a treat, thanks to the advent of colour television and bigger thanks to Karry Packer and his Channel 9. Believe me Indians had never seen such a spectacular telecast of the game before this. I am lucky to be a part of that generation which can value and cherish those moments as much as it can value the hawk eye and the third umpire today. I would give any thing for a pleasure parallel to watching Kapil Dev in the wee hours (the games used to be played in Australia) bowl out the Kiwis or the Australians and then Shrikanth and Ravi following to bat. You bet !

Then came the Sharjah Cup, the passion and the emotion involved in these games between India and Pakistan was simply incomparable. In 1986 Javed Miandad won the match for Pakistan by scoring 6 of the last ball when 4 were required. A day the cricket followers from either countries will not forget for contrast reasons. India was clearly dominated on the field by the Pakistanis …. we never tried to win but always tried to save a miserable defeat against Pakistan from then on. With the submissive nature we Indians had it was difficult to expect hostility suddenly from the eleven on the field. We succumbed and succumbed badly to pressure on the field. Wasim and Waqar ran through us like a lightning most of the time. Except like a miracle in the world cup matches we never really won against Pakistan convincingly till …….. Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag started managing the affairs.

With due respect to Azharuddin who captained, batted and also changed the standards of the Indian fielding, it was Ganguly who settled as a genuine left handed batsman after a long long time for team India. He was not tentative and led the team with courage, with Sachin, Robin Singh, Jadeja, Dravid the team survived even after quick early wickets. Who will forget the 2003 onslaught of Sachin and Sehwag on Waqar and Wasim in the world cup match and the ten wicket haul by Anil Kumble the other time. That put the Pakistan domination in the grave forever. India started shinning brilliantly in Cricket. Saurav led with the domination required and it was he under whom the team India flourished in Sachin, Sehwag, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Kaif and Dhoni ofcourse. We began to look professional and with the Natwest series win we were confident to aspire for the world cup. 
It was a delightful sight to see Saurav wave his shirt barebodied at Lord’s … an emotion all Indians had longed for and Saurav satisfied all. It culminated the Indian effort to win the current World Cup, the celebrations of which are marred by the IPL4.

It was quiet unfortunate to see Saurav’s unceremonious exit from the international cricket, i always thought justice was not done … He came back into the Kolkatta Knight Riders team and didn’t do well either. For IPL4 he went unsold…

Today he stepped on the wicket for the Pune Warriors … timid … unconfident… and I am sure lot of Indians wanted to shout and say … we haven’t forgotten the golden touch you’ve given to India. If Sachin is God then you too are the Lord of the game … All these emotions came true ..when we witnessed this and fortunately the camera captured it too.
Today my son, who watches football more than cricket is amazed at the animosity displayed during the India- Pakistan match, he often even laughs at my emotional approach during such a game. Well! he hasn’t witnessed Javed hit a six off the last ball in 1986.