In India, Cricket isn’t just a game. It is a bona fide religion. A religion where cricketers are Gods and every victory is a festival. So why exactly is India so crazy about cricket? Why exactly is it a religion? Here’s why;
1. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
In a nation of 1.3 billion people with 1.3 billion problems, he is a source of pride and joy to us all.
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2. It gives us heroes to look up to
Who doesn’t like watching MS Dhoni save the day in the final over?
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3. It gives us reasons to celebrate
Indians just need an excuse to celebrate. Remember the epic party that followed after we won the 2011 World Cup?
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4. Cricket unites us
Hindu? Muslim? Sikh? Christian? When it comes to Cricket we are all Indians!
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5. It’s the perfect excuse to take “chutti”
When cricket is on, your boss knows why you are suddenly ‘unwell.’ In fact, even your boss will be ‘unwell.’
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6. Anybody can play
Tall, short, fat, thin, slow, fast… anyone can be good at cricket.
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7. Social status does not matter
Cricket is India’s great leveller. Rich or poor, only talent talks on the cricket field.
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8. And neither does age
Men versus kids is not like David vs Goliath. Because f you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
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9. Or gender
Why should boys have all the fun?
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10. Because everybody knows the rules
No offside, no double fault and no albatross. Everyone knows a sixer, full toss and leg side!
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11. And “nobody gonna get a hurt real bad.”
Unless you bowl like Shoaib Akhtar, you won’t wake up with severe body ache the next morning.
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12. There is a format for everyone
Test cricket, ODI, T-20, Gulli cricket, French Cricket, One Tip One Hand, Hand cricket, Book Cricket… There is something for everyone!
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13. It has the one thing that every Indian loves. Drama
Soap operas are so yesterday. Who wants to watch boring Saas Bahu serials when you have I.P.L?
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14. Even the commercial breaks aren’t too bad
Ads after every over give you time for a loo break or a sandwich break. Or to bicker with your friends about the match.
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15. That feeling when India beats Pakistan…
There is no feeling an Indian cricket fan cherishes more than handing a solid thrashing to our perennial rivals, Pakistan.
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