World cup fever - India vs Pak

Its just a match..!!

When it comes to India vs Pak, I have wanted to say this so many times, but unfortunately I have found that I am unable to even think that. Because you see, the moment the sentence starts forming in my head, my cricket fanatic part of brain takes over and starts screaming "bloody hell,bloody hell, bloody hell..!!! " Its not just any match. It is THE MATCH..!! The tension, hype, adrenaline and the constant prayer shape the mood of the match.

I have never been a superstitious person except when it comes to India - Pak match. I can remember the days when I have felt that if a particular ad comes before an over begins there will be a wicket fall. If a certain umpire comes, then India is bound to lose. And also the most famous superstition, of which my Grandfather was very vocal supporter, if Sachin hits a century, India will lose. Amidst all these paranoia, the constant chant of  "oh God!oh God!" goes on in my head. Frankly, I don't think I have prayed as much for my own exams or interviews as I have prayed for India's victory in these matches.

Even though I was sitting miles away from my home, today, watching the match, I again felt the same stirring of madness getting hold of me. I was feeling utterly dejected when the Indian innings got over but something was missing in the whole match or, was it me?!

Well, later I understood what it was... After the match got over, I wanted to review the scenes of the match, so I pulled out my laptop and did Google search for the pictures of the match. As I was going through them, I could see the passion, tension, strength and compose displayed by both the teams whole through the match. Finally when I reached the presentation ceremony pics, I realized what I was missing!

In all of India-Pak matches, there has always been a personal enmity display by both the team players. The matches were played as though they were not playing a game but are fighting for Independence. Today for the first time, I could see the match played for the sake of the sport rather than any other feeling. There was aggression, passion, fear/anxiety and all sorts of other emotions but for once there was no enmity or hatred in either of the team. For the first time, the two teams were playing for the joy of cricket, they were playing as two highly talented professional teams who admire and respect each others play, but are giving their heart and soul to the game they both love.

Thats when I could see that, this was indeed THE MATCH of Indian cricket.

PS: Of course, none of this stopped me from hoping/praying/wishing for a India victory..!! :)