AILA!! WICKE(D)T..........

I reached work earlier than usual only to flip the paper and check the random pre match gossip. Who was fasting for whom, where will the VIP’s stay, etc. Since I don’t have a TV for regular updates, the office newspaper has become important. I’d know nothing  of whats happening in the world otherwise. I still never flipped over to the sports page, but today I was going to do exactly that.

Little did I know that the first page of the Hindustan times will contain 5 snapshots, four of which I knew and liked. A few moments later I was guilty; the immediate childish guilt for having seen/said/felt something you completely shouldn’t. I back tracked and looked into the faces of Sangakara, Murlidharan, Malinga and Jaywardhane again. In the crack of the moment I realised they were Sri Lankans and they were playing against my country today

The IPL somehow did this one amazing thing. It made teams more important than countries. And people more important than teams. Apart from the billion dollars of personal wealth attained each year, it’s giving us more. A fair chance to love players from other countries. With some awe I remembered that all these four were in teams I had supported last year in the IPL. And not because it was home team or I liked the region. But I liked the players individually. Murlidharan and Malinga still give me goose bumps as they charge on to the field with all that confidence and passion. And sadly, I might hate myself for admitting this, but none of the Indian players make me feel that way anymore. After Dravid, I’ve never felt like revering Indian cricketers for their style or grace; in the way I do these Sri Lankans.

But I love my country too much. I’ll pray for a clean win and the biggest victory for the strongest Indian side since 1983. And I'll whoop at every wicket we take and every boundary we score. Yet I feel divided somehow. Between unquestionable patriotism and honest respect for a few players. I didn't know I'd have to choose.

Whoever wins, I will win today. Whoever loses, I will lose.

All the best India. Beat them. But let them have their peace. Amen.