Why Watching Cricket World Cup in Office is Super Fun!

Alright, the match is over and India gave it back, I mean the Cup. It being a weekday, and the possibility of getting a leave as bleak as possible, we all thought of watching cricket world cup match together in the office. Having bought the star sports subscription for live feed, we ensured we get good speed data cards, a meeting room, a good TV screen and a Do Not Disturb Board.

We enjoyed the next 8 hours of the match screaming/shouting/howling/laughing. Seeing the match in a group is super fun and here’s why-

1. Everybody is an Expert

Really, with the men folk in majority, I realized one fact- even the quietest/senior-est/grumpiest of them is a cricket expert. They throw old statistics and facts of the game as if they were Harsha Bhogle! From Gavaskar scoring 36 runs in 174 balls in India’s first World Cup match to Javed Miandad’s last ball six to Chetan Sharma- I really am an enlightened soul today!

2. We are one, but my state player is the best

One Nation-One Voice was the slogan of the day. But when it comes to crunch moments- the state preferences are loud and clear. We would have won this one if Yuvraj was there. Dada (Ganguly) would have seen us through– all this when Dhoni the most successful run chaser of all times was still at the crease.

3. Well Directed Puns

It’s really quite interesting how some people don’t leave the mauka-mauka (chance) to take a dig on the other. Everybody is in a happy mood and they just flow in the moment.

Sir, yahan toh positive ho jaayo (please show positivity here at least);

Sir, yeh aapke teamke bandhe nahi hai- yeh target meet kar lenge (they are not like your team members who can’t achieve numbers);

kya HR madam-cold drinks snacks ka arrangement nahi kiya aapne (Why didn’t you arrange for cold drinks and snacks, dear HR)

Bada khush ho raha hai, data bhejh diya? (You are enjoying a lot, have you finished your work?)

4. Hardly anybody knows

There are like only a handful of people (and that too, one hand) who really know the teams, players or even the rules. Everybody else is just guessing around.

Person A: Doherty is not coming to bowl?

Person B: He is not in the team.

Person A: Oh!

Que: How many DRS are allowed?

First Reply: One.

Second Reply: Yes, One

Third Reply: Yes One.

Fourth Says: No, no. If they get one DRS right, they get one more

First: Yes, Yes. He is right- Two are there.

5. Tension? What Tension!

There is always a joker in the crowd. And I mean a jovial, fun loving, positive person when I say the word Joker. Even when key players are getting out, this person would crack up jokes, lighten the mood and keep the spirits high. As there’s a joker, there’s always also a pessimist. And his favorite comment on every wicket is “The match is fixed”. A good joker on hearing this comment says, “I know the match is fixed, India is going to win the match in the last over-tu chup chaap match dekh (you keep watching).”

6. Betting is Fun

Ok, so don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to get into legal mess here. The fun betting of chocolate, drinks are always going and they keep changing fast. First 10 overs of first innings, one bet. Last ten overs, another bet. Second innings, 4 more bets. And each, with such thumping high-fives that everybody else is convinced about the seriousness of it. After the match, all is well forgotten.

7. One Ardent Believer

Whenever the match starts shifting balance to the opponent, people would move back to their workstations-losing all hope. But there would remain one believer of India’s win and he would just sit there quietly, hoping for a miracle. In a few overs, things consolidate and we get back in the game, people start flocking back to the screen again complimenting this believer’s persistence. This believer is the one who stays on till the last wicket and post the loss, silently moves back to his work to hear the words “I told you 15 overs back only, why were you still watching”

Summing The Sunny Side Up

I guess we all are believers at all stages while watching cricket world cup match. Even when the going gets tough, even when we are being slammed for sixes, our heart is always praying for a miracle. And haven’t we all seen and enjoyed the turnarounds?

Cricket is a religion in my country, and I am a proud citizen today. Well Done Team India. Not many believed you would reach even to the Semis when you started.

Pic Courtesy: My Friend Roshni Nizami, who watched the match live at the stadium!