A board game of Scrabble isn’t complete unless you’ve had a fun squabble with another player over how the score was incorrectly arrived at. You have to sigh and shriek, just to get into the game mode, most siblings would agree on that. Likewise, a sport isn’t complete without the soundtrack of the fans. It’s the fans that make a game, even the players agree with that. As a batsman, you draw your energy from the collective sighs. As a bowler, you absorb and deliver to the loud cheers of the fans. And as fans, we all agree, that we need to make some noise. A Not Out decision by the third umpire needs to be celebrated with a high-five, an impromptu dance even. A boundary deserves the sudden jumping off from our chairs, followed by a louder, YES!
As we gear up to make NOISE at the upcoming #cwc, let's take a moment to feel grateful that we once again can do that. Do you recall the time when the IPL was held during the pandemic? Yes, whilst #almostcricket is almost fun, it's also more too.
Back then,
1. The soundtrack was on mute.
2. The authorities placed dummy cardboard-crafted fans.
3. Some of the fans (at home) played stadium sounds in the backdrop as they watched the matches.
4. The empty stadiums haunted all of us alike.
5. A few of us dared (safety, first) to gather at a pub to watch the game, together.
6. Fewer still gathered with friends at home — around that one telly screen, rooting for their teams.
7. The cheerleaders with the pom-poms were missing,
8. The masks were what stayed with us.
Yes, we all geared up to welcome the Covid-19 season of the IPL, nevertheless.
So, what If our live commentary with every ball had no takers, except the dog, sitting beside us, who wondered what had got into us? It was still the season of cricket, and we let nothing dampen our spirits to cheer on. We looked up DIY pom-poms tutorials, got the kids to make them, and danced away to glory, for no one was watching. We stayed true to the spirit of sportsmanship. Didn't we?
Okay, if this got a little heavy then...
Tell me: What do you want to read next or don’t? Just send over a gift card. I am also now open to collaborating for exposure. Have you participated in the ongoing competition to win F&B vouchers? Head here: to win
I was not kidding about the latter, so here you go.
Read this post to win!
Note on collaboration for exposure: Mr Toad’s, Dubai’s go-to destination for big-screen sports action and great F&B deals has launched ‘Championships at the Pad’, with bargain packages of food and drinks to celebrate the Cricket World Cup. With an international snack menu reflecting classic cuisine from participating teams, Championships at the Pad has food from AED30, with platters of four different dishes for AED109, washed down with an all-day happy hour with hops, grapes, and spirits from just AED25.
What will you win? Five of you will win vouchers for Dh200/each from Mr. Toad’s, which will be valid at their outlets at Al Jaddaf, Dubai Investments Park, Garhoud, and Dubai Silicon Oasis.
How will you win? Do you know the drill?
Like and follow @mrtoadsme and @purvagr to qualify
Next, tag three of your friends, mentioning which Mr, Mrs, Miss, and Ms the individual is from the list on the column on the website and why in the comments on socials or the portal. Bonus points: If you come up with another ‘stereotype’. And yes, keep the game on as you can participate multiple times (with different players, of course)
Sit back and keep reading, playing, and praying your team wins until then.
Rewind to how it all started (and support if you want it to last)
A hashtag I thought I'd never use
P.S.: I hope to write for 17 days until the CWC 2023 kickstart, so if you want to suffer (with me) keep coming back here for daily doses of what for now and for the lack of a better name I am calling my #notaboutcricket project, #almostcricket. If you’re into the LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to the FREE PLAN (damn!!) way of living then, of course, you can do that too. I also accept gift cards, just saying. Reach me at hello@purvagrover.com.