There was a time when cricket was considered a mere English sport and a caprice of the gentlemen. But times have changed. Like soccer or football, people all over the world are crazy about cricket.
Every time Sachin Tendulkar raises his bat to hit a ball; A roar of anticipation reverberates throughout the stadium. Every time Bret Lee swings his arm, the entire crowd waits with great anticipation for the result.
So many cricketers have come and gone, but the crazy flattery of the sportsmen has never stopped. I remember a phase where I was a crazy Rahul Dravid fan and whether or not I understood cricket was irrelevant. He was glued to the television every time he played India.
Fans around the world show their adoration in their own way. Some sport jerseys from their own country or get a tattoo, or hang wall-to-wall posters in their rooms, or even sing prayers for their players in temples. Some may even burn coach effigies if someone dares to say a word or act against their favorite player.
You can take the example of Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of India, who was the center of attention last year, albeit for the wrong reasons. When he was expelled from his team, his compatriots went wild with anger. They made street protests and showed their unconditional support for their favorite player. Now that he’s returned, fans are gloating with pride. They are treating their victory as their own victory, such is their fan craze!
Legendary icons like Don Bradman, Kapil Dev, Ian Chappel, Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan, Vivian Richards, and many more still reign among people’s hearts like shining stars. Cricket is a sport where one day you are turned into a hero and put on a pedestal and the next day you can be treated as an abandoned and forgotten man. It is such a sport that you want to laugh or cry for your country.
