Gaurav Sabnis writes:
Quite.
Frankly, I do not understand the sense of immense happiness some fans seem to experience when India plays Pakistan. When Pakistan defeated India in what in sporting terms would be called a drubbing, in the Champions Trophy in 2017, there were many expressed that they were shocked and that it was shameful the way India lost. This time, there was a video circulating of a Pakistan fan crying as they lost while blaming the Pakistan players for being fat and unfit.
As a cricket fan, I am happier when I see a great delivery or a beautiful shot, a great spell of bowling or a great innings, no matter who it is. In the match in question for example, I loved the turn Imad Wasim was able to get. Some thing Kuldeep replicated later and bowled a sharp turner ball to dismiss Babar Azam.
Yes, it is pleasing when India wins a match, however, it isn't exuberance except on rare ocassions. Winning a limited overs World Cup match certainly does not pipe my emotions. There is the whole aspect eluded to by Sabnis that we do not really share a sporting rivalry between the nations which is true. Should I establish my sense of joy and identity from this one match?
Do we become better as a nation in any which way if we defeat Pakistan, and do we become worse if we lose against them? In a sporting contest, any team can win, and would it mean all the progress India has made as a cricketing nation, or a nation, would fail, if India came out worse off on a particular day in a game versus Pakistan? Not really.
I will enjoy my cricket regardless of what every other fan tells me while abusing India or Pakistan and it's players depending upon their nationality.
Unpopular opinion. The most overhyped, banal, and annoying "rivalry" in all sports is the India-Pakistan non-rivalry in cricket. Because it's not a sports rivalry at all. It's just a periodic proxy for people of those two countries to express their jingoism and mutual hatred.
Quite.
Frankly, I do not understand the sense of immense happiness some fans seem to experience when India plays Pakistan. When Pakistan defeated India in what in sporting terms would be called a drubbing, in the Champions Trophy in 2017, there were many expressed that they were shocked and that it was shameful the way India lost. This time, there was a video circulating of a Pakistan fan crying as they lost while blaming the Pakistan players for being fat and unfit.
As a cricket fan, I am happier when I see a great delivery or a beautiful shot, a great spell of bowling or a great innings, no matter who it is. In the match in question for example, I loved the turn Imad Wasim was able to get. Some thing Kuldeep replicated later and bowled a sharp turner ball to dismiss Babar Azam.
Yes, it is pleasing when India wins a match, however, it isn't exuberance except on rare ocassions. Winning a limited overs World Cup match certainly does not pipe my emotions. There is the whole aspect eluded to by Sabnis that we do not really share a sporting rivalry between the nations which is true. Should I establish my sense of joy and identity from this one match?
Do we become better as a nation in any which way if we defeat Pakistan, and do we become worse if we lose against them? In a sporting contest, any team can win, and would it mean all the progress India has made as a cricketing nation, or a nation, would fail, if India came out worse off on a particular day in a game versus Pakistan? Not really.
I will enjoy my cricket regardless of what every other fan tells me while abusing India or Pakistan and it's players depending upon their nationality.
