Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

The prevailing situation has made everything feel as though it is spiraling out of control. There are clouds looming above us all, and just as it does in Cricket, these clouds have brought immense uncertainty and anxiety about the future. Coronavirus has brought the world to a halt, and much like everything else, Cricket has taken a toll too.

Had this not happened, we would’ve been in the second leg of the IPL, filled with excitement and wondering which 4 teams would make the playoffs. We would’ve seen fresh talent emerge, some surprising results and a whole lot of competitive Cricket to keep us on the edge of our seats. We would’ve seen MSD back in action, something that fans have been itching for ever since that WC semis in July. People have reverted back to their lives. Everyone’s focus has shifted from sport, and we’re focused on taking care of ourselves and the people around us. The stands are empty and there is a deafening silence in every single stadium across the globe.

But there is a silver lining to all of this. There was a lot of talk about the sheer amount of Cricket that was being played across the globe, and people were getting desensitized to the sport. People moved from one dopamine hit to the next, wanting more from each game till they eventually got no thrill out of it. Everywhere you looked, there was some sort of Cricket being played. This break, however – will give fans the much needed dopamine detox. Once this problem has been dealt with and Cricket continues, people will start appreciating the sport more. Our love for Cricket will grow stronger, we will start appreciating the little things more. An underrated bowler bowling a good opening spell, batsmen getting through testing phases, or a low scoring game – all this will start to feel enjoyable again.

This might bring back the eyes that Test Cricket has been missing for so long. People will come through the gates, turn on their TVs and follow every hard grinding session to catch what they’ve been missing so much. They will want to see all the big names back in action, and as a result, Cricket might flourish again, and for good reason. This phase resembles Test Cricket. It is testing our temperament, making us work hard and focus on the right things to make it out of a difficult phase. Until then, all we can do is ‘play out the session, and wait for the opportunity to cash in’,

-Vibhor Dubey

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