Cricket

By Harshit Gupta

I remember the first time, with my mother by my side,

A bat in my hand, with the world open wide.

Tea was once my materialistic pleasure, so dear,

But now cricket stands above my greatest cheer.

At first, I scorned this game of willow and leather,

But soon it became my escape, my tether.

Hours would pass, with no sign of fatigue,

Even when unwell, cricket remained my league.

Dreamt of making it big, wearing my nation's crest,

But asthma had plans, putting my dreams to rest.

Yet the love remains, as strong as can be,

For the game that once set my spirit free.

MSD, the legend, my guiding light,

Taught me to stand tall, in every fight.

How to handle the heat, when the pressure's high,

How to stay calm, with an unshaken eye.

From Kohli, I learned what it means to be strong,

Consistency in every shot, right or wrong.

With each inning, a step towards perfection,

Always improving, a true reflection.

The joy I felt in 2011, India's World Cup win,

Was the spark that made my love for cricket begin.

But then came heartbreaks, in 2015 and '19,

Yet my hope remained, unwavering, pristine.

Though a career in cricket was not my fate,

The lessons it taught me, I celebrate.

In every game, every breath I take,

I find strength, for my own sake.

By Harshit Gupta