An Open Letter To The Indian Colts On Their Brilliant Performance In The U19 World Cup

Dear boys in the Indian threads for the U19 World Cup,

Another World Cup final, another defeat for India, this time for youngsters who went through the blazes and came out with flying colours but there is absolutely nothing for these bravehearts to hang their heads low.

You know, it’s easier said than done, it’s easier to say that things could have been better but when a bunch of young guns, just mastering the ropes take the yard against the might of Australia, it turns entirely different. Life doesn’t get easy and it never will.

But this can very well be your turning point. When you play a sport, you win some, you lose some. You fly in some, you stay chained to the Tartarus in some. You emerge as Gods and victors in a few while you get labelled as failures in a few. But that is the essence of the game.

Just because there is a fall, doesn’t mean that there won’t be a rise. Just because the final step proved to be an obstacle that you didn’t cross doesn’t mean that you won’t cross that ever again. Life is tough, there are more falls than rises but you fight.

What a grand tournament you had! You dictated oppositions like none other, you ruled the roost like none other. You came back from almost ineluctable situations and fought your way out with your chest inflated and your hearts in your mouth.

The most important part is that you fought. You fought like warriors, irrespective of the consequences. Sadly, things were not to be in the grand finale. It happens, kids. You just have to get your chin up high and look forward. You need to embrace the defeat, bite the bullet and take the yard again.

Do not let the outside noise bother you. It’s just a part and parcel of the game. Always remember that when you start this well, what awaits you is nothing but glory. But glory comes at a cost, a very heavy one. It comes with sacrifices. So be prepared to embrace them all. However, at the end of it all, stands a place where you will stand alone face to face with the gods of victory and you will know that you have finally won it.

Chin up lads.

Yours sincerely,

A crazy cricket fan