Timing my passion

Cricket has always been a passion for me… and the passion turns into an infatuation during exams. Unfortunately, cricket and exams always seem to go hand in hand for me. It all began with the ‘96 world cup, probably the first time I saw live cricket and it was also the first time that I saw the little maestro. 

The ‘03 world cup was so wonderfully scheduled that I had four out of my five exams the day after a match with India playing. Surprisingly I did quite well in the exams despite the fact that I had watched almost all the matches. School turned to college and the routine continued. India’s first tour of Pakistan in ‘04 was exactly during the mid semesters and again I did pretty well there too. Third year didn’t turn out to be any different. 

A friend of mine and I always had something in common, we get carried away with our emotions on the pitch. On one particular day we lost in the so called quarter final of an intra hostel tournament. For the first time we weren’t that emotional about it. I also realized that by playing cricket for fun all I do is waste a lot of energy… I wasn’t getting any better and that eventually some time or the other everyone looses, but I’m ok with that. But then I asked myself what is the point of playing like this? For the first time I was able to resist playing cricket even though so many of my friends had called it a really important game. I thought I was finally growing out of it… but all I did was watch another India match going on television. 

After India's debacle in the world cup, which I can happily say I hardly saw, I hope that passion has swiftly gone down the drain. Who knows, may be in the next world cup, like a Phoenix rising from its ashes, the passion will probably be reborn.