The Game of Life...

The Game of Life…

Cricket is in the air! Isn’t it always nowadays? Cricket has forever been a part of my life, though I don’t play it anymore. (I followed the advice of Vijay Merchant who said “Retire when people ask why and not why not”!)

My earliest memory was that it was a simple game of bat-ball which I loved. The ball is an irresistible sphere. I can’t just hold a ball (or an orange for that matter!) and not do anything with it. I have to bounce it, toss it, spin it or throw it against a wall or play catch with someone else in the room. Okay, I am exaggerating …I don’t usually throw an orange on the wall. Even as kids, if my friend or brother was holding a ball, I would get restless and cluck while motioning with my fingers “Abey, ball de na”. If the ball isn’t thrown to me, I used to get withdrawal symptoms like a needle taken away from a drug addict!

The game appeals to my senses. The smell of a cricket ball, which is wet after rolling in the grass, is something I can identify blind folded!  The resounding “Thochackk” of the bat meeting the ball is music to my ears. The sight of a lush green cricket field sprinkled with flannelled fools in white is just so soothing. Then there is this special feeling when your bat touches the ball perfectly and for one brief moment only you know that this is going for a four. And ofcourse the sweet taste of victory!

I am always fascinated by the art of batting. In my opinion, it is the only sporting activity where you commit one mistake and you are gone. Reminds me of my former colleague, Babu (hereinafter to be referred to as ‘The Wise One’) I got back from a Cricket match and he asked me how I did. So I told him that I was batting well, hit a few boundaries and  I went for a drive ,but the ball swung out more than I expected so I nicked it and  got caught in the slips. The Wise one spoke “Kya Uday? Outwala ball ko sambhaal ke khelne ka”

It is unique because it is a team sport with individual performances. There is team work in running between the wickets, fielding and catching but you are alone when you are facing the bowler and bowling to the batsman. You can get out first ball or just bowl one over or may not get to bat or bowl in an entire match. It’s terrible when you go to the ground and then it rains. You will also have to be prepared to be 12^th man and carry drinks. So the commitment to the team is huge and unless you love the whole process, you won’t enjoy playing it.

Though I am known for having a fiery temper on the tennis court, something about cricket always made me play it like a gentleman. 

I have many fond memories but more importantly Cricket has helped me grow as a person and given me lessons for life. It certainly builds character.

Almost any situation in life can have a cricketing analogy. 

Any time I am going through a rough time I tell myself “Just face this over, and don’t throw your wicket. You may be beaten but you aren’t out.”

Year end targets are always ‘slog overs’, a new year is ‘taking fresh guard’. Problems are ‘bouncers and googlies’. Packing up after a day’s work is ‘stumps’ because the test will resume tomorrow. Preparing for something is ‘padding up’.

Cricket, like life, is all about focusing on the present, keeping a calm mind, taking one ball at a time, weathering the tough spells, staying patient ,take that calculated risk and being there for your team. It is also a great leveler. You are only as good as your last innings. If you have your head in the air, you will get out. You have to be confident about your abilities but not arrogant. Ignore the sledging and let your performances do the talking. Approach the game with humility and respect…a lot like life.

The game has evolved and there are certain aspects of the game that I love and some that I don’t, but then again, the only constant in life is change.

I may not be as crazy about the game as I was before but I still love studying it.

For me, it is still a simple game of bat and ball.

As a kid, I felt that Cricket is life, but I now feel that Life is Cricket.