The pleasure of India defeating Pakistan

3 small things have made me the big pleasure in my life. Scratching my private parts on a hot, humid day, a long satisfying fart and watching India defeat Pakistan, whether in Cricket or Kabaddi ( A defeat by Gandhi family led Congress comes a close second). Just the opposite happens when the role is reversed.

 

During my growing up days in India, the later used to happen more frequently, especially in the 1990s. Congress would continually screw up the nation's economy and national security, but miraculously got elected time and again, both in States and at the Center. Similarly, India's loss to Pakistan in cricket (in Hockey as well) was a norm, a rule rather than an exception. Their fast bowlers Imran and Akram would destroy our batting, their batsmen Miandad, Salim Malik and Saeed Anwar would smash us into pulp.

 

It happened too often for comfort, to the chargin and frustration of the cricket fans like me. India could never come out of the jinx of getting hit out by the ropes by the famous last ball six by the mercurial Miandad off Chetan Sharma's delivery in April, 1986, so much so that, the next victory of India over its arch rival won't come until November of 1991. After a brief blip in the radar, our losing streak against our next door rival continued  in Harjah (Sarjah, as sarcastically called then, ascribed to us getting frequently vanquished by our next door neighbor).

 

India has come a long way since. It's players no more capitulate under pressure against Pakistan. A great example would be today's Asia Cup T20 encounter. Chasing a platy score of 85, we are reeling at 3 wickets with just 8 runs on the board. Rewind back to the year 1996, India facing the same situation against a virulent Pakistani attack. The body language of the Indian batsmen, their nervousness apparent from profusely sweating against the steam of the pressure cooker atmosphere, rather than the prickling humid heat of the subcontinent. India struggles and after Sachin Tendulkar gets out, the rest makes a beeline to the dressing room.

 

Now fast forward to 2016. Under the same situation, Kohli and Yuvraj at crease, hardly any visible sign of nervousness. They looked determined and played some sensible cricket under the circumstances, guiding India to victory. It's another matter, our Achilles Heels against quality fast bowling was exposed yet again. But what matter more, the fighting spirit, professionalism and killer instinct of out cricketers have increased many fold.

 

Nothing ever has united India and brought out the patriotism more than this game called cricket. It's arguably the only instance, at least for a day, we don't see ourselves as a Punjabi, Marathi, Tamil or Odia when India wins a cricket match against our obsessive neighbor, but rejoice as Indians. Such is the passion of the game, it's either flowers or brickbats as far as fans go. Let's enjoy the flowers while it and our determination doesn't wilt, as you never know when the brickbats would follow. Congratulations Team India, good luck for rest of the tournament.