How Cricket binds the thread of patriotism

Sudhir Kumar has been a symbol of  Cricket Fervour in
India. Image:Wikipedia

We are a huge county- with diverse geographies, religions, beliefs, customs, rituals, habits and languages.It is a land of 1.3 billion people-the second most populous country with the seventh largest area, where Hindus alone worship 33 million deities. These cultural identities are spread across the landscape of mountains, plains, plateaus and deserts. Travel a few hundred miles to any direction and the difference in culture becomes apparent. As this unique nation of ours turns 70, let’s remember athread that binds this diversity close together- the game of Cricket.

In summer of 2007, India had made an early exit in The Caribbean World Cup. Rahul Dravid, the then captain, was caught teary-eyed by the television camera. He was a cricketer known for poise-but there he was, distraught. The Indian team sat in the dressing room- broken-hearted-with weights of disappointments tied to their feet. They knew they had let down millions of fans-fans who were made to feel that their demi-Gods were humans. It was a terrible thing to realize. Had Cricket been just a game, people would have moved on from it the next day. Laughed away and went to work next day. But Cricket is Patriotism here. And It was not a game lost, it was Patriotism which had been shrunk smaller that day-unable to muster its pride. It stood disappointed in a corner with its head low- embarrassed for falling short of gigantic expectations.

The Famous Six that led India
to their 2011 WC win

Four years later, a MS Dhoni six sealed the world Cup for India-their second world cup that came after 28 years. It was an emotional outburst-by players who cried in joy, by media who penned down literary eulogies, by fans who took on the streets to celebrate, by administrators and governments who handed out huge riches to the winning team. It only added to all that it was a fitting farewell for the great Indian cricketer ever- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The tri-colour unfurled everywhere- because it was not a game won, it was patriotism which stood that day with its chest swelled with pride.

"The tri-colour unfurled everywhere- because it was not a game won, it was patriotism which stood that day with its chest swelled with pride" 

The Tri-Colour reaches all corners of the world
Image source: Sportskeeda

There stood Muslims and Hindus arms in arms, oblivious of their religions, with same prayers in their lips. The black celebrated with same zeal as the white. The kid was no less ecstatic than the adult. The women were no less proud than the men. It was an epidemic that made those immensely different millions look up to the skies for the same wish-An Indian win.

Cricket is more than a game in India-it is often likened to a religion, likened to a fever. One might not be able to communicate to all people in any one spoken language here, except cricket. Across the breadth of the country, there are small children playing cricket for hours. Even in the age of smartphones, there are people queuing up at a paan shop to listen to radio commentary. India-Pakistan matches are treated no less than a war- with the Big Finale Sundays made sacrosanct for the game. Emotions erupt and boil, with every boundary and wicket. The stadiums attract thousands of fan, who paint tri-colour  on foreheads, and wear their heart on sleeve-cheering every milestone and becoming teary-eyed on every loss. Not only in Wankhede, Indians turn up with tri-colour and blue jerseys everywhere in the world- from Lord's to SCG, from Colombo to Wellington, from Johannesberg to Trinidad.

Some might think that it is a country obsessed with a game. Some might call it a distraction. Others might laugh it off. But the existence of cricket has been more to us- it been a bridge to unite differences, a common table where everyone meets, it is a glue that keeps everyone together.

Cricket, here,binds the thread of patriotism.