Enough! Mother Cricket, it’s Enough !

By : Stranger

I am one among the millions who had the opportunity to see the manifestation of one of your greatest son to the cricketing world some 16 years before. Thank GOD, he followed that century on debut by another century and another good score post that. If not he might have been thrown away saying that century on debut was just a beginner’s luck.

Following that, a small conversation going on with my bench mates; “Favorite Cricketer” someone tossed a question, when most of them claimed they are the fans of the master; few raised their eyebrow when I proclaimed my favorite cricketer’s name.

When those innocent fights happen during school days that whose favorite is the best and how they are better than the other, friends highlighted my favorite’s inability to play bouncers, the only shot he could play on on-side is hitting sixes, he is vulnerable of delivery curving away from him, etc. But the fact remained – only few centuries separated the master and him in ODIs; only in a matter of few years.

The so-called-demi-god no longer could bear the responsibility of leading Team India, that too during the match-fixing scandal cropping up. Then was the Prince crowned as the king of Indian Cricket. While his critics were busy finding mistakes in all his success; my respect for the man kept growing. Well, not only for cricketing reasons but for this toughness and never-say-die attitude as well. “You get back what you gave” the message was sent to all his opponents on and off the field – loud and clear!

Half a decade of glorious reigning went on; conquering the never (really) fought battles happened and the Prince kept marching towards the peak. It was then, the mother cricket sent a coach from one of her favorite land. The dethroning of the Maharaj happened in a much dramatic manner with the help of some funny BCCI officials.

Down… out… written of… forgotten (within the team)… almost when his critics waiting for final nail in the coffin, he was seen flying to South Africa and there he walked straight into the team practice, with his coffin sized kit, shook hands to inform his coach to say “I am back” and rest is written as history!

You never let him to sail smooth, rather brought storms – one after another! This time a duo, once again from your favorite land and another, I doubt who knows little about cricket apart from c-r-i-c-k-e-t. Whatever they done to him, the fact remained – there were millions of his fans who loved him and preferred to watch his highlights than someone’s blockbusters which grossed millions in India and abroad!

The welcome he got, when he came back said it all, none had that honor inside a cricketing field. Remember, the way Yuvi was watching the fan touching his feet amidst tightest of security!

Even now your most endorsed son sulk to show interest to the classical version of the game and already considering retirement and pension plans. Our hero kept playing… speaking… breathing… planning… more importantly, nurturing your other younger kids. This shows his passion and love for you, in spite of all the ill-treatments he had to face.

Mother Cricket, why is this? Why a step motherly treatment for one of your greatest son;

- Is that because, he waived his jersey in frenzy and failed to upkeep the decorum of your own home?
- Is that because, he made your then successful son wait? or
- Is that because, he taught us to remove the tag ‘mere-tourist’ -other-continents and taught us how to win abroad?

Whatever are the reasons Mother …

It’s enough!

Stop using this different scale of measure for our much loved cricketer; for you he may be one amongst hundreds, for us he is our one and only Dada.

It’s enough!

Stop this biased attitude, not that we his fans are tired of raising our voices for him every time he was discriminated; but because simply, he will need to come back with his heads high and of course without bowing it in front of anyone.