A billion dollar team!

picture courtesy AP

Team India!
Yes, finally a note on cricket. I know, you already had enough of cricket everywhere else. Yes, and that's the reason I didn't talk about it here. So why now? Because I can't hold it any longer! :^(

But I am sure the Western audience would love to hear a few words on Cricket- a game that drives the Indian nation wild just as baseball and football does it in the US. A nation of billion people behind one team- Team India!

But there is another 'one billion' mark that is blessing the Men in Blue- sponsorship and media rights around the Indian cricket team touched one billion dollars following a new five-year deal for one-day matches across the world.

Ignoring that slight tinge of uncentainty involved with this game, I have to admit it that I have never felt this good about the Indian team ever before. A rush of young blood, a captain who is known as the 'Wall', and a dash of fearless attitude has sent shockwaves through every opponent camp this season.

And, here's what the Indian team is upto these days. Messing with the English team in our own backyard. [Link]

BTW, some recent Bollywood films that touched the subject of cricket:
Lagaan- where a team of poor Indian villagers take on an English team that represent the British Raj (occupying British empire) [Link],
Iqbal- where an underdog tries to make it to the national scene [Link]

and Ajay Jadeja [Link], who did just the opposite, a cricketer who touched Bollywood.

So what's more exciting- baseball or cricket? Anyone? Anything?