Cricket Is More Than Just a Game (At Least Here in India)

in India, cricket is not just a sport. It’s a whole emotion. From the chaiwala with a radio to kids in school uniforms rushing home for a match, cricket somehow connects people who have nothing else in common.

I grew up watching matches with my dad, who always acted like the real coach sitting in our living room. He’d shout at the TV like Rohit Sharma could hear him. I didn’t get all the rules at first (still get confused between offside and leg side sometimes), but the excitement was real. The tension in the final overs, the roar after a wicket.

What makes cricket different is how unpredictable it is. One over can change everything. One dropped catch, and the match flips. It teaches you to never celebrate too early and maybe that’s a good lesson for life too.

I’ve also noticed how cricket creates instant bonds. You can meet someone new, and the moment you find out they support the same team it turns into friendship. It’s like a shortcut to connection. And don’t even get me started on the memes during IPL season. Half the fun is the online drama.

Cricket also teaches patience. Not everything is fast like T20s. Sometimes you sit through hours of test matches with no major action, but real fans still stay. It’s a mix of strategy, skill, luck, and pressure. That’s what makes it special.

For me, even though I don’t play professionally, cricket still holds a big place in my life. Whether it's watching, talking, or even just playing in the rain with friends, it somehow brings back a sense of joy I don’t find in many other things.

So yeah, cricket may be “just a sport” on paper. But here? It’s more like a second religion. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.