This story I have written is dedicated to all cricket lovers and people who can play this game well, but do not get the opportunity to play. It is also dedicated to one of the greatest batsmen of all time, K.S Ranjitsinghji, who is truly my hero in cricket and the person who roused the spirit of cricket in India.
HOWZATTT!!!!!!! Sorry. Today I had a very good time playing cricket. I took a wonderful wicket today. I can imagine it in slow motion in my mind. The ball going slowly towards the wicket in a curved arch. The batsman (my friend Jai) getting very confused. He tries to hit it. But suddenly the ball makes a sharp turn and strikes the middle stump. But to my amazement, instead of the middle stump falling, the other two stumps fell down. It truly was my moment of glory. But you know what, there has been a match even greater than this. But sorry, I cannot tell you because it is a P2C2E (problem too complicated to explain). Nah. Just joking. I can tell you about this. This story is about Sir Kumar Shri Ranjitsinghji, who played cricket in his childhood as if it was his life, which let him live, which let him breathe, which let him enjoy and savour every moment of his glory.
Ranji was very sad. He remembered it all as if it was a dream. Bullies were troubling him. Saying, "do you think you can play cricket? Nahi yaar, you can't, you are the worst player in the village, no country no world!!!" Ranji cried out loud " I can play cricket you morons, and if you think I can't, I'll challenge you to a match. Will you play? Or are you too scared?" The bullies were surprised at such bravery. They accepted and warned Ranji that if he did not come to play then the consequences would be great. As they went, Ranji realised what he had done was terrible. The words had just flown out of his mouth.
He had to play on June 10th, which meant he had 10 days to gather players and try to beat those bullies to prove that even they were of some significance in the world. So he started to gather players. He first discussed it with his father. His father had actually played for India in the world cup. His father told him all the essential players. He needed 6 bowlers, and 5 batsmen which had to be good. Ranji immediately knew the team. It would be He, Bhalu, Rakesh, Krishna, Arjun, Jai, Mukesh, Bhairav, Veer, Koki and Mandavya. Ranji was nervous about Koki. Koki was a girl and he didn't think she should be in the team. But he had seen her play, and she played pretty well. Anyway, the bullies hadn't made any conditions to play the match. He started right away.
He wrote the invitations on bright colored paper. In that, he requested all of them to be in his team and meet in their home ground, a dump yard behind a large cinema house. All of that costed him a hundred rupees of his precious savings but it was worth it. The next day he went to the ground and found all of the selected players waiting for him. They started arguing over who should be captain immediately. Ranji tried to put a stop to the fight but they kicked him out. Vaah!, he thought. He had a team of arguing morons, who didn't even look like they could play any sport. He had to scream as loud as he could to put a stop to the fight. "Look!!" he said. "We need to make decisions carefully. I know that you guys want to win but if we want to win we need a person who can make the right decision at the right time. Let's vote." But Ranji was sharply interrupted by Mandavya. " What, do you think this is going to help you become Skipper? I don't think this is going to help you." Ranji replied "Whoever wants to work as a team and win please stay. Everyone else who want to become captain please leave." Nobody left. Mandavya apologised but Ranji could swear that he heard him cursing under his breath.
So then they started their practise sessions. Ranji observed everything carefully. He was chosen as captain and was a farsighted indeed. He looked at everyone's overall batting and bowling and put them into their right places. They practised day and night, as hard as they could, and came back home all sweaty and exhausted.
The team utilised their ten days wisely, and improved a lot over this short time span. Finally the great day came. The D-Day...! Ranji was tense and nervous in the morning when he woke up. He did his morning chores with lightning speed, took blessings from his parents and set off to the cricket pitch with a confident air. He was sure of victory, unaware that this would be the hardest challenge he would ever face. When he reached, he was shocked at the sight of the opposite team. He watched with his mouth agape, a team of bulky, hefty boys. They towered over his team with sullen expressions, their muscles ripping and menacing. "Never mind" thought Ranji, gathering his wits. " They might be looking very powerful but they all have their own weaknesses", he figured.
The match started. Ranji went to do flip the coin as captain. The opposition's captain, the bully who terrorized him every day gave him a look as if to say : "I'm going to win, you little trout sniffer." Ranji lost the toss and had to field first. He gave his team a long and encouraging speech, which rose everyone's spirits. In it he included that they, those small children, were of some significance. They wanted to be recognised by the people, so that they could be remembered by everyone. They all gathered in a circle and put their hands in the middle and roared "CHAKDE!!!!!!." The action began.
Sitaram and his spinners were sent first to bowl. Sitaram, was encouraged greatly by Ranji's speech and took a wonderful wicket on the first ball. He roared and shouted "OUT HAI!!!!!!" The next batsman was not as nervous as the opening batsman who got out. He made 35 runs, caught out on a big hit by Mandavya. They all shouted in glee when this wicket fell. In the break Ranji told the team their new fielding positions. He encouraged the team and munched on the delicious snacks rakesh's father had made for them. And a miracle occurred. The wickets fell as rapidly as the sweets and snacks were consumed!!!
The Bully's team got out for 130. It was a pretty good score and Ranji was already chewing his nails. But he still went to the pitch to bat along with Mandavya. They made a very good pair and batted very well. They were about to make their half century each when the opposition cheated!!!!! Their lead bowler was very frustrated that they were making easy runs. He rubbed rubber on the ball to make it go even more fast. And the very next ball he bowled got Ranji out.
Ranji could not believe it. He was completely disheartened. But Sitaram had seen the bowler cheat and took a few snapshots with his polaroid camera. And the bowler went on with his cheating. The wickets kept on falling like dominoes rapidly tumbling in a line. Ranji's team got all out for 104. Ranji was crying but told everyone that he was sweating through his eyes. He had worked so hard for that match. But still he could not gain victory. He had just let it slip out of his hand. The Bullies started teasing him afresh. And this time, Ranji gave in. He heard their taunts and their criticism and thought that he deserved it.
Suddenly, Sitaram let out a wild whoop of objection. He ran claiming that the opposition had cheated !! Even before he could be asked for proof, the excited boy showed the umpire the photographs !... After a few tedious moments of silence, when no one dared breathe, the umpire declared that the bulies had cheated indeed ! Ranji's team had won ! Ranji was ever so happy. His team lifted him on their shoulders and paraded around the ground. Ranji also was shedding tears of happiness.
The End
The Greatest Cricket match ever
HOWZATTT!!!!!!! Sorry. Today I had a very good time playing cricket. I took a wonderful wicket today. I can imagine it in slow motion in my mind. The ball going slowly towards the wicket in a curved arch. The batsman (my friend Jai) getting very confused. He tries to hit it. But suddenly the ball makes a sharp turn and strikes the middle stump. But to my amazement, instead of the middle stump falling, the other two stumps fell down. It truly was my moment of glory. But you know what, there has been a match even greater than this. But sorry, I cannot tell you because it is a P2C2E (problem too complicated to explain). Nah. Just joking. I can tell you about this. This story is about Sir Kumar Shri Ranjitsinghji, who played cricket in his childhood as if it was his life, which let him live, which let him breathe, which let him enjoy and savour every moment of his glory.
Ranji was very sad. He remembered it all as if it was a dream. Bullies were troubling him. Saying, "do you think you can play cricket? Nahi yaar, you can't, you are the worst player in the village, no country no world!!!" Ranji cried out loud " I can play cricket you morons, and if you think I can't, I'll challenge you to a match. Will you play? Or are you too scared?" The bullies were surprised at such bravery. They accepted and warned Ranji that if he did not come to play then the consequences would be great. As they went, Ranji realised what he had done was terrible. The words had just flown out of his mouth.
He had to play on June 10th, which meant he had 10 days to gather players and try to beat those bullies to prove that even they were of some significance in the world. So he started to gather players. He first discussed it with his father. His father had actually played for India in the world cup. His father told him all the essential players. He needed 6 bowlers, and 5 batsmen which had to be good. Ranji immediately knew the team. It would be He, Bhalu, Rakesh, Krishna, Arjun, Jai, Mukesh, Bhairav, Veer, Koki and Mandavya. Ranji was nervous about Koki. Koki was a girl and he didn't think she should be in the team. But he had seen her play, and she played pretty well. Anyway, the bullies hadn't made any conditions to play the match. He started right away.
He wrote the invitations on bright colored paper. In that, he requested all of them to be in his team and meet in their home ground, a dump yard behind a large cinema house. All of that costed him a hundred rupees of his precious savings but it was worth it. The next day he went to the ground and found all of the selected players waiting for him. They started arguing over who should be captain immediately. Ranji tried to put a stop to the fight but they kicked him out. Vaah!, he thought. He had a team of arguing morons, who didn't even look like they could play any sport. He had to scream as loud as he could to put a stop to the fight. "Look!!" he said. "We need to make decisions carefully. I know that you guys want to win but if we want to win we need a person who can make the right decision at the right time. Let's vote." But Ranji was sharply interrupted by Mandavya. " What, do you think this is going to help you become Skipper? I don't think this is going to help you." Ranji replied "Whoever wants to work as a team and win please stay. Everyone else who want to become captain please leave." Nobody left. Mandavya apologised but Ranji could swear that he heard him cursing under his breath.
So then they started their practise sessions. Ranji observed everything carefully. He was chosen as captain and was a farsighted indeed. He looked at everyone's overall batting and bowling and put them into their right places. They practised day and night, as hard as they could, and came back home all sweaty and exhausted.
The team utilised their ten days wisely, and improved a lot over this short time span. Finally the great day came. The D-Day...! Ranji was tense and nervous in the morning when he woke up. He did his morning chores with lightning speed, took blessings from his parents and set off to the cricket pitch with a confident air. He was sure of victory, unaware that this would be the hardest challenge he would ever face. When he reached, he was shocked at the sight of the opposite team. He watched with his mouth agape, a team of bulky, hefty boys. They towered over his team with sullen expressions, their muscles ripping and menacing. "Never mind" thought Ranji, gathering his wits. " They might be looking very powerful but they all have their own weaknesses", he figured.
The match started. Ranji went to do flip the coin as captain. The opposition's captain, the bully who terrorized him every day gave him a look as if to say : "I'm going to win, you little trout sniffer." Ranji lost the toss and had to field first. He gave his team a long and encouraging speech, which rose everyone's spirits. In it he included that they, those small children, were of some significance. They wanted to be recognised by the people, so that they could be remembered by everyone. They all gathered in a circle and put their hands in the middle and roared "CHAKDE!!!!!!." The action began.
Sitaram and his spinners were sent first to bowl. Sitaram, was encouraged greatly by Ranji's speech and took a wonderful wicket on the first ball. He roared and shouted "OUT HAI!!!!!!" The next batsman was not as nervous as the opening batsman who got out. He made 35 runs, caught out on a big hit by Mandavya. They all shouted in glee when this wicket fell. In the break Ranji told the team their new fielding positions. He encouraged the team and munched on the delicious snacks rakesh's father had made for them. And a miracle occurred. The wickets fell as rapidly as the sweets and snacks were consumed!!!
The Bully's team got out for 130. It was a pretty good score and Ranji was already chewing his nails. But he still went to the pitch to bat along with Mandavya. They made a very good pair and batted very well. They were about to make their half century each when the opposition cheated!!!!! Their lead bowler was very frustrated that they were making easy runs. He rubbed rubber on the ball to make it go even more fast. And the very next ball he bowled got Ranji out.
Ranji could not believe it. He was completely disheartened. But Sitaram had seen the bowler cheat and took a few snapshots with his polaroid camera. And the bowler went on with his cheating. The wickets kept on falling like dominoes rapidly tumbling in a line. Ranji's team got all out for 104. Ranji was crying but told everyone that he was sweating through his eyes. He had worked so hard for that match. But still he could not gain victory. He had just let it slip out of his hand. The Bullies started teasing him afresh. And this time, Ranji gave in. He heard their taunts and their criticism and thought that he deserved it.
Suddenly, Sitaram let out a wild whoop of objection. He ran claiming that the opposition had cheated !! Even before he could be asked for proof, the excited boy showed the umpire the photographs !... After a few tedious moments of silence, when no one dared breathe, the umpire declared that the bulies had cheated indeed ! Ranji's team had won ! Ranji was ever so happy. His team lifted him on their shoulders and paraded around the ground. Ranji also was shedding tears of happiness.
The End
I don't really like cricket, but this is a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Swethaa. But I thought you said you were good at wicket-kepping? Am missing you a lot here
ReplyDelete