Politics Divides, Cricket Unites

Monday, 15th Dec. 15:20 hours:

I had just finished interviewing the Vice Chancellor of the Gujarat University, when dad called to say, 'Neo Sports kem nathi aavtu?' (Why arent we receiving the Neo Sports channel?) I couldnt find an answer to that... but he said that India was on verge of winning the test match against England. I was suddenly out of my lethargic slumber... all excited and wanting to reach home to see the final moments of the first test.

Rewind to Sunday evening, 14th Dec. 20:00 hours, Jayshiva:

"Its too big a score to win," exclaimed Arjun. "India is not good at chasing such a good score." The enthusiastic Indian cricket nationalist spirit in me blurted out, "If Sachin, Gambhir, Yuvraaj and Sehwag play their knocks... we will." In a way my prophecy had come true...

I had no idea my comments would stand up for me just 20 hours later... I was ecstatic. I messaged guys (Amul, Chintan, Arjun) who were witness to the conversation we had last night... as to what they had to say about their "unreliable" Indian cricket team winning the test match...

While Amul was surprised... Arjun was caught with his foot in mouth... and Chintan was sleeping.. he called later to say that he didnt watch the match... but Tendulkar was GOD.

Amul - Chintan - Arjun

Amul: "Shit, they won...!!!" (He immediately called to say that he couldnt believe it... he promised to rush home soon to celebrate the victory... which we did by having Pau Gathiya from Bhavnagar)

Arjun: "Bloody fantastic... I missed most of today's play because of office but once i knew Sehwag has given us the right start yesterday there was this feeling that if two other top order guys fire then we are going to win. Came home just in time to watch sachin sweep Swan for a four and an amazing victory. This is the fourth highest run chase ever, which makes it even special. And to add to that, dhoni has won all four tests he has captained. Super Stuff."

Chintan: "Tendulkar is god and there is none more exciting to watch bat then Sehwag. So good to see Yuvi find test form. Amazing team effort. We sure feel invincible right now, atleast on the cricket field."

Just like Chintan, Sachin Tendulkar too couldnt talk of his feat without referring to 26/11 attack on Mumbai. I caught the post match celebrations and ceremony on tv. Tendulkar was happy and at the same time told media, "Its hard to concentrate on the game after what has happened in Mumbai. Though cricket is too small compared to this nation... i hope this 100 (he scored 103) brings some happiness to people of Mumbai." It was his way of giving something to the Mumbaikars...


"I thank those who stood up to the terrorists and who made sure that they were captured or shot dead as the terrorists were many. I salute the NSG commandos, Taj Hotel staff, police, public and everyone," Tendulkar said.

The Mumbai Terror Attack has affected one and all... which includes the Indian Cricket Team. Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, before the test match had said that lets hope the first Test against England will help the country heal the scars of last month's militant attacks in Mumbai.

And it has in a way... for once the television channels dropped the 'mud-slinging comments by India-Pakistan' as headlines and had cricket as its first headline. After weeks, the anchors on television channels appeared to have smiled while giving us out News. And it was such a good break to come back home and blog something other than terrorism... Today's match - with Sehwag's 83, Gambhir's 66, Sachin's 103 and Yuvraaj's 85 was a nice break from last two week's depressed state of affairs (10 terrorists killed, 20 terrorists demanded, 195 civilians killed, 13 parties agreeing to the Federal Investigative Agency)... With Politicians hardly able to come together to form a federal investigative agency, it was great to see that atleast our Indian Cricket team has an amazing team spirit... they make me believe that its possible to work together... that its possible to stand by each other and play the game in true spirit and emerge victorious... it was an amazing team effort. Only if our politicians understood...

May be Men in White can learn a lesson or two from the Men in Blue.