How I got bitten by the Cricket bug!

During my school days, like every other child in India, I too used to fantasize playing cricket at the international level. Playing cricket alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Gangully used to be the ultimate dream, even though I had no teeth to undergo any sort of professional training. My persistent cries to accommodate me in a coaching centre always reached my father’s ears but seldom pierced his eardrums. The era of 90s used to be such that Cricket was not for the ordinary. Only the elite with clout power could afford time, money and the effort to make it at the big stage.

https://morguefile.com/photos/morguefile/5/cricket/pop
Fed up of my remonstrance, my father once clearly told me I was free to join wherever I wanted if I earned the necessary money myself. He would not escort me or pick me back from the sessions even if I did join.
I was of course, distraught. It took a while for me to come to terms with it. But then, over a period of time I realized it was not actually his fault that he didn’t or couldn’t lend me any support. We were financially in dire straits. It was hard to make ends meet.

My craze towards the sport was at such levels that I used to watch Test Matches ball by ball. Even the day before an examination would find no respite. Match fixing scandals around the 2000s did attenuate my frenzy for some time, but yet, could not entirely absolve me of my madness. How did I get so hooked to this sport? There is an interesting story behind this.

https://morguefile.com/photos/morguefile/5/cricket/pop
This was around the time when India-Pakistan rivalry was at its peak. The greats like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar ruled the roost in the era. I was in third or fourth grade. It was a one off match between India and Pakistan if I recall correctly. The following day, our teacher Suma madam started discussing cricket with us. She was excited about our victory against the great Pakistani team. She went on describing how Robin Singh delivered as a pinch hitter, how Ajay Jadeja hit huge, magnificent sixes with his super cool temperament, how Nayan Mongia made weird noises behind the stumps distracting Pakistani batsmen-a strong counter to Pakistan’s Moin khan behind the wicket, so on and so forth. During the conversation she once looked at me excitedly for a response. I was totally unaware of any sport back then, let alone cricket. Expectantly, she looked at me asking how I enjoyed Sunil Joshi’s bowling. I of course, bore a blank expression. She just ridiculed me saying I did not understand cricket and looked at another student. I was embarrassed. It sank deep in my tender heart. I took to my ego and started watching cricket along with my father, uncle and Grandfather. I decided I should not be left out of a conversation on cricket, anywhere, anytime. I always wanted to know more than others when it came to cricket. I was bitten by the cricket bug!

Were you?