One of the most compelling experiences of cricket,and modern sport in general,is tracking the rise of a sportsman from an ordinary background,having no godfathers,mentors and the like,yet rising to the heights just due to his own grit,guts and sheer mental strength.Thats why watching this young Indian team perform in recent times has been the experience worth more than all the IPL dollars.
Imagine a coolie’s son rising to the heights of a Hollywood star in a few years time and yet displaying an uncharacteristic level-headedness uncommon among Indian sportsmen of the recent past.And another,born into a family of wrestlers,literally having to grapple his way to selection.Welcome to the world of the Dhonis and the Praveen kumars…
I came across this bit of info in an article in Tehelka.It said that Dhoni used to go to a temple about 50 km from Ranchi.He used to talk to the priest for hours,asking if it was possible to predict his future.When he said yes,Dhoni didn’t want to know about it all..Instead he sought God’s blessings to improve his game.
The priest says
“We used to chat with him for hours and hours together when he came here.I want to do so even now.But I know it is impossible”
Also,just before that home series against Pakistan,where Dhoni’s rise started,he had no one to turn to for practice.All the practice he had before that series was with his school coach,who bowled to him with wet tennis balls on a concrete surface,to train him to face Akhtar and co.And on that hot,humid day in Vizag,all those fast deliveries flew to the boundary like tennis balls would in gully cricket.
While these guys have been rewarded for the hard work they put in,there are many,many more, who,having been given the cold shoulder by the BCCI,have sought employment with the ICL.
I also came across this touching article on one of cricinfo’s blogs about the sufferings undergone by some of our own first-class cricketers.They deserve(d) better.
Today,even as the world is split into two factions,arguing about the viability of the IPL and the ICL,one thing is for sure…these leagues have helped those underprivileged lot earn a living.
