For Our Men Who Bleed Blue

Currently if there is anything that is giving all of us a high, it is the match that we are eagerly waiting for on this coming Wednesday between India and Pakistan.Arch rivals is what the two teams are considered, no wonder our excitement has crossed a hundred peaks well before the game.For a detailed revision of our records do visit India vs Pakistan

All roads[and skies!]are now leading to Mohali.Every other channel on television is with an expert panel  twenty four seven opining on the match.While they discuss and dissect each player’s performance, the field on the day is made to appear nothing smaller than a battleground.Well it always has been when it is ‘India Vs Pakistan’!I could not stop giggling when I found a news channel airing a picture of our captain with armour on like a warrior and blowing a conch, now what war are we looking forward to huh?

With tickets not reaching the common man, bookies and bettors having a time of their life and our dear Prime Minister inviting his counterpart to watch the game there is a lot for us to raise our brows and think about.Cricket is a sport and one team definitely wins which means the other has to lose,so how far can it go and help us to promote peace?On a tiny and friendly note it can definitely help us bond but it can never solve our hundred other issues.The political interests of both nations are very diverse and huge to be handled by the spirit of the game, but a small gesture from any side is worth it.Kudos to Mr.Singh for that.

Our players are in form,there is madness in the air and fans are thronging towards the stadium.If you notice apart from our national days, cricket is the only thing that reflects our deep hidden patriotism.When cricket frenzy people like us watch a match of this magnitude, each run and wicket is remembered.No little mistake is forgiven.Palpitations, goosebumps and nail biting moments are for sure.The loudness of the cheer when a batsmen hits a boundary is inversely proportional to the pin drop silence when he succumbs to a ball, very contrasting and intriguing reactions indeed.We criticize our players more than we applaud them, don't we?With brewing expectations around, a victory is easy to accept and praise but when it comes to loss there is always a mass nervous breakdown,sigh!

For a player a game is bigger than what it appears to us.Despite each failure and fame, they have worked hard for where and what they are both individually and as a team, all of them.They play for a pleasure of representing their country on a colossal scale of responsibility.While they are doing so, lets appreciate them for that.And as Indians we expect our team to give their best,but natural.Predictions and statistics apart, when India and Pakistan play we know it is lot more than cricket.The match enters history.With cricket turning into a game of the Asians in this tournament, lets pray and hope that our men make the cup all ‘Indian’ like how twenty eight years ago these heroes made it happen.

"Wishing our team runs, wickets, wit, will and a win! For you and we deserve it and have waited long, really long, come on make and bring this moment again..."

"De ghuma ke...de ghuma ke...jiyo khiladi wahe wahe..."

-R.