All-Star Cricket

Take me out to the cricket pitch,
Take me out to the crowd,
Buy me samosas and cashew nuts,
I don’t care if the traffic is stuck,
For it’s root, root, root for the Seniors,
What’ going on? Could someone explain?
For its 49.4, 49.5, 50 “overs” and its done at the ole’ cricket game!

Last night I got to fulfill a life-long (ok, month-long) dream of mine to witness a real “major league” Indian cricket match. Our friends Sonny, Vineeta, and daughter, Ayushe, took us to the Punjab Cricket stadium to watch the India Seniors battle it out with the India “B” team. All-star cricket in our own home town.

Sonny’s nephew, Yuvraj Singh, is a professional cricketer for the Seniors and happened to get us into the air conditioned box seats for free. In India, it’s all about who you know.


As I bombarded Sonny with questions about cricket, Jen showed her team spirit by letting Ayushe play with her hair and refraining from yelling things like “swing batta, batta swing!” or accusing the pitcher (bowler rather) of being a belly itcher.


In India, cricket players are like gods. The first batsman for the seniors earns Rs. 10 crore (over $220,000) in endorsements each month for simply putting a new logo on his bat. He barely scored a few runs before he got out.

Yuvraj, on the other hand, was still batting when we left at 9pm and had scored 39 runs so far. A couple hours later, Yuvraj was STILL batting and helped win the game 242-240 with his 99 runs. He was awarded “Man-of-the-Match” and was celebrated for changing the tide of the game. (Seen below.)


I never thought I could get so excited about a game I know so little about. It was an excellent evening.

I think you’d agree that the sportswriter said it best when he wrote, “Yuvraj's attack doesn't come with any half measures and the local crowd erupted in raptures at some sparkling strokeplay.”

At least I think he said it best.

Jimmy