As Lady Luck favored Australia in the last lap of the race, the crowd at the Narendra Modi stadium seemed to lose touch with the essence of cricket. Let’s delves into the bygone era of cricket, where the sport was more than just a money-making machine and aggressive nationalistic fervour, as shared through the lens of a nostalgic cricket enthusiast.
Travis Head’s remarkable innings of 137 runs off 120 balls deserved a thunderous applause, but the muted response from the 1,30,000+ spectators in the packed stadium was a poignant moment. Even veteran commentator Prakash Wakankar expressed dismay at the lack of enthusiasm, highlighting a subtle shift in the way fans engage with the game today. It was a stark contrast to the camaraderie and appreciation that once defined cricket matches.
The author, Rinku Dutta, chose to eschew the contemporary experience of watching cricket on TV and, instead, embraced nostalgia by tuning into the Akashvani radio commentary. This decision opened a portal to the past, a time when cricket matches were narrated with poetic flair and vivid wordplay. The phrase, “…and the batsmen took a single off the fumble” resonates as a testament to the art of commentary that once brought matches to life through the airwaves.
Despite three-quarters of a century passing since India gained independence, the English cricket commentary in the country maintains a distinct British flavor. Wakankar’s commentary transported the author back to the 1960s and ’70s when cricket was a leisurely affair, with matches spanning five to six days and a Rest Day in-between. This reflection invites us to ponder whether the essence of the game has evolved for the better or lost something valuable along the way.
The article suggests that Test Matches of the past offered much more than the basics of batting, bowling, fielding, and umpiring. It alludes to a time when cricket was a nuanced experience, allowing for the savouring of style and humour on the field. Unlike today’s cricketing landscape dominated by commercial interests and nationalistic passion, cricket in the yesteryears was a gentler, more tolerant sport that embraced the occasional fumble with a smile.
The cricketing world experiencing the transformation of the game into a high-stakes, fast-paced spectacle. But, the loss in the World Cup serves as a poignant reminder of what might have been lost along the way. Rinku Dutta’s journey into the past through radio commentary invites us to reevaluate the essence of cricket, urging fans to appreciate the subtleties that once defined the sport. In a world driven by results and fervour, there’s a call to rediscover the joy in a single off a fumble and cherish cricket for more than just the final score on the board.
