Good luck Team India

The stage is set for today.
Everyone is in a state of frenzy. The cricket fever has raised the mercurial levels to shocking, unknown degrees.
1.2 billion People are in anticipation of one time, 2.30 PM, when finally the first ball will be bowled.
If there is anything more fascinating than the match today in this cricket crazy nation, it can only be the journey so far.

India – Australia
I was journeying, literally, during the India – Aus cricket match. The 50 odd men, women and children in the bus could think of only one thing ‘the score’. It was really amazing to see how much people get emotionally involved in the game and the number of innovative ways they find to keep track of the match. Nearly everyone in the bus was busy messaging, calling friends and family or using the mobile internet to check the score. When a co-passenger called his friend to check the score nearly everyone waited with bated breath. I could hear the man assuring excitedly (and loudly) over the phone that ‘Raina’ was a good batsmen and India definitely is in a comfortable position to win. Everyone heard and everyone nodded. Offcourse we all wanted to believe that ‘Raina’ is really, really good.

As the passengers called, surfed and eavesdropped to keep track of the all important cricket match, something exciting happened. The ‘laptop guy’ entered the bus. The laptop guy made himself at home in the bus and smartly started streaming the cricket match. Instantaneously there was no other fascinating object left on earth for the travelers. Everyone including the conductor was shamelessly fidgeting to sneak peek into his laptop.
By this time the match had reached the final stages, the last 5 overs and nobody could contain their enthusiasm.
One of my friends even started doing a Ravi Shastry by giving live commentary for the benefit of others who couldn’t see comfortably intothe guys laptop. It didn’t matter that she said the bowler is walking not running, everyone was listening.
Offcourse the slow streaming did not make any difference as the ‘smart guy’ had the cricinfo opened too.

India had 11 runs to win from 20 odd balls. Everyone was on their toes when the internet connection went down. There was a spontaneous scramble while the crowd resorted to their old reliable ways to get the score. Some others stared into the guy’s laptop as he tried to repair the connection. When he succeeded India had 4 runs to win and got home comfortably. The strangers in the bus all clapped together and celebrated. They had all the reason in the world to cheer. The next match was India v/s Pakistan.


India – Pakistan
Emotions, one could almost drink them. There is no need to say that India Pakistan matches have always been special. Many of them bunked office, or colleges or school on the auspicious day. My company rose magnificently to the occasion by arranging a projector in the cafeteria. This was the next best thing to watching the match in the stadium. Every run was cheered. Every four was welcomed with a dance. The unforgettable moment was undoubtedly sachin’s lbw. The crowed sighed, whopped, cheered and even cursed the umpire in unison. All six lives of tendulkar were celebrated with pomp and glory equivalent to an ‘avatar’. It was total fun, total celebration and total craziness.

India’s joy new no bounds when we won. My next door neighbors’ showed off their feelings by taking their bikes out and touring the whole area chanting ‘India India’. The crowd celebrated by bursting crackers. There was a festive atmosphere all around.
I don’t know if it was my imagination but the next day everyone seemed to greet everyone with a wide smile. Everyone was discussing with everyone about cricket. People responded by posting some very innovative facebook updates. All in all celebration was in air. India has reached the world cup finals.

India- Srilanka.
Let India win and if it does it is a tribute to Sachin Tecndulkar, the god of cricket.
India should win and Sachin should hit a century.
There is nothing more satisfying than getting the world cup home in the batting maestro’s own backyard.
Common Sachin, the whole world is with you (except for Lanka:P)

Cricket!. It has united us all today.
Nearly everyone is busy making plans for this day. Pizza and coke market is going to boom as calls are being made between family and friends discussing the options to watch the match together. Apartment complexes are becoming one by hosting cricket parties. All the television showrooms will be busy entertaining people coming to have a glance at the match. Shops will be closed, roads will be empty and the world will come to a standstill.

The stage is set. Let the game begin,
Until then BLEED BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!