Cricket: From 'a sport to a Profession' in India

               In the last chapter, I put up a statement saying Power and Money act as an edge in this sport. Many can disagree with this statement but let me explain why I strongly back my statement. So, do not think biasedly when you go through this article. It might not have happened to you or me, but it doesn’t mean it does not exist. 

               The first edge that I want to describe to you is Money. We all know how important it is in everyone’s lives. First, let me take you to some scenarios. Assume there are two kids. One comes from a rich family and another from a middle-class family. Both are talented cricketers in all aspects. Both have a dream of playing higher-level cricket as they grow up. They turned 19 years of age and both still have not yet represented any higher-level cricket. They are both nearing completion of their degree. And both also had a lot of potential in them remaining. A rich kid goes to his father and tells him he still wants to pursue his dreams. The father had a lot of faith in his kid and agreed with him and let him pursue his dream. The middle-class kid goes to his father and tells the same that he wants to pursue his dream. His father also agreed without any hesitation to support him. Both started working hard but the results were the same. How much they put in the effort they always failed to finish that line. After a few months, the kid who came from a middle-class family decided to quit the sport. The rich kid asked him why he wanted to quit when his family had also been supporting him so much but why he’s quitting? The middle-class kid asked the rich kid what he would do if he failed to represent in a higher-level cricket and because he’s been so much into cricket after that what he would do to earn money or what about his career. The rich kid said that he is good at studies so I may continue studying while playing and if this doesn’t execute, I can work. Even if that doesn’t happen, I can do some business. So here you can see he had reliable options. Then the rich kid asked the same question to the middle-class kid. The kid said I had the same plan that you just told but I cannot afford that risk so I will be playing cricket but not prioritizing the game. Now, what had happened to the kid to quit the sport? We know the price we have to pay just to train in a coaching center. Okay, let us assume it was made free for you especially. Training sorted. But still, you have to do fitness and get good nutrition to compete with the best talents. You won’t get loans or any free in any gyms or nutrition. So, what you will do you start managing these stuffs with whatever is available. You start working out at home with some equipment and also for nutrition, you manage it at home. Okay, that is too sorted. Then you want to travel here and there every day to practice or for matches. You have a vehicle or a friend who picks you up and drops you. Okay, that's sorted too. Everything sorted then why does he quits? But think you are going nowhere with the results but still the costs will be there it’s not like it will become zero as the days pass by. There will be a threshold for everything. Money helps to push that threshold further whenever you feel like it's nearing and keep on going but if you cannot push that threshold, you just cannot take chances or risks in your career. The middle classes have thresholds that they can test but cannot push. Even if he is getting all the support and needs still it cannot be pushed after a certain time. But if you have the power to push that little further every time you fail isn’t that an edge that you can bet on?    

               The second edge that I mentioned is power. What do I mean by power? You might be guessing if is it the power of being backed by some influence. If you are guessing that then that is right. It is an edge. When you have someone who is backing you in selection discussions isn’t that an edge? I strongly believe that any greats or legends of the game once got that backing in their early days to be able to achieve what they have today. You do not need backing every single time because as I told you in the last chapter everyone is talented you just need some edges over the other to get that extra talent. 

Conclusion:

               Please understand that here I am not trying to blame those who have been fortunate to have these edges but showering light on the dark truths behind the sports industry that sells you dreams and at last all you get is self-doubt, depression, loss of confidence, this list goes on. And not only the dark side but also the bright side of the sport it teaches you to be competitive, hard work, friendships, comradery, and again the list goes on. To be honest, the cricket industry has turned into a business lately. If I say business, it would sound a bit harsh so let me put it as a corporate industry. Remember not your club cricket is considered a corporate industry but the higher-level cricket where the above edges exist. And this is where the sport becomes a profession. Stick with me as I tell you why.