This bond will live...FOREVER

"These young men share something special. These young men will be friends for life" - Harsha Bhogle



Tears of joy streamed down a billion faces just before midnight on April 2 as Dhoni sent the muddy white ball sailing over the long on fence to claim the top honours for his country. There were hugs all over the country, celebrations on every street and cheers of victory on every mouth. We all were busy shouting and congratulating friends and family, to an extent where cellphone networks were jammed for a brief period.



As it sunk in and we shifted our focus back to the TV screen, the Men in Blue were still soaking in the emotion. An emotional Yuvraj broke down on his skipper's shoulders, the ever energetic Bhajji and the pace spearhead Zak wrapped each other with the Tricolour and ran out together. Young Kohli and the instrumental Raina postponed their moment of self pride and patted each other for their contributions to the win. The industrious Gauti, when congratulated for his efforts said, "We did it for Sachin, We did it for the fans". Sachin Tendulkar went back 30 years in time and sprinted out on the field like a 5 year old, not just to embrace his Captain or the Coach, but to share his joy with every single member of the team, and the support staff.





These champions share more than just the fame, more than just the World Cup. They share the hours of sweating it out in practice sessions, the air of the dressing room. The soil on their team jerseys belongs to the same territory and the fire they breathed was ignited from the shared passion. They share the moment when they all stood there with the World Cup as Champion. The Cup will definitely travel to other countries in the future, but the glory which it brought to these men will be shared by them forever. The friends they made on the field and more importantly, off it, will be their Best Friends, forever.

IPL

One month of madness, excitement, joy and disappointments comes to an end. Looking back upon the past 45 days, and all the criticism which came along with it, it wouldn’t be surprising to ask, what is wrong with IPL?

Cynics may find countless flaws with one of the biggest sporting events in our country.

इस IPL ने देश को निकम्मा बना दिया है

No one is asking you to be a part of it. If you can't accept it, you don’t have the right to reject it either.

Several other allegations which come along are match fixing, money drain, cultural nonacceptance and an exorbitant source of entertainment. Hell, I differ.

The IPL is a source of employment for thousands of people. I remember the TV presenter mention in one of the semi-finals at Navi Mumbai, "Here we are with a crowd of 60,000 spectators watched over by security strength of 1600". From the salespersons at the ticket kiosks to the security guard at the gates of the stadium, from the poor man selling overpriced cold drinks in the stands to the flagwallas and the paintwallas who tattoo your team colours on your face with bright poster colours, the IPL is responsible for feeding thousands of families. Meager as it may sound; their families are assured of a square meal for those 45 days.

The IPL is a source of motivation. For the millions of youngsters who play cricket in India, the IPL opens up a gate of opportunities. Playing for the country will always be The Dream, but unlike a few years back, it won’t be the only option. With more teams joining the league in the coming years, the room for showcasing young talent will increase exponentially.

Finally, and most importantly, IPL is a source of inspiration. It is a source of inspiration for all those Under 23 stars of the tournament who get a chance to share a dressing room with the greatest names in the game. An inspiration for tomorrow’s superstars as they share the field with their idols. A pat on the back of a bowler whose bowling the first over of his life to an opening pair of Sachin and Jayasuriya, a young and nervous pair of hands cupping under a skier, a match-winning partnership with Cricketing Gods at the other end to guide you, the league gives immense inspiration for the new kids on the block to perform better.

The Indian Premier League unites everyone. Families spend more time together at matches. It unites random people at a bar, it unites unknown fans at a giant screen at the promenade, and it unites the adrenaline rush of hundreds of spectators in the stands. And when a hundred crore viewers witness a nail biting finish to a game played by 22 super humans, it unites a nation.

I have seen GOD. He bats at number 4 for India

'Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom.
When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives'

25 years ago, a child saw a dream, for the love of his country, for the love of cricket. What is it that makes Sachin the greatest cricketer to have ever walked onto the pitch? Dedication, commitment, discipline or his enthusiasm?

भगवान सबको सब कुछ नहीं देता। शायद यही वजह है कि सचिन अभी तक World Cup से वंछित है

The man's greatness lies in his respect for the game. On the field, and more importantly, off it. He once famously said, "Please don't make me do stuff which makes me look bigger than the game, no one is bigger than the game".

SACH is LIFE...SACH is the GAME...SACH is CRICKET!