Dear IPL,
I know it’s not been long since you left. Just a few days. And yet, it feels like months have passed.
Your absence is unsettling and I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. I know you tried your best. When the world around you was collapsing, you kept moving forward. You gave us 29 whole matches but our hearts still yearn for more. This letter isn’t to remind you of what could have been, but rather, to thank you for what you have given us.
For the quarantined patient lying miserably on his couch at home because he can’t taste anything, can’t hug his family, and has fallen into the pit of loneliness and despair, you became a daily visitor, wrapping your arms around him every single day, reassuring him that things will get better soon.
For the millions of anxious men and women around the country, paralyzed by the fear of 2020 repeating itself, you became a friend. A friend who sat with them every evening over a cup of tea, reminding them that even while sailing at night-time in pitch darkness, a single twinkling star can be their source of light.
While millions of humans drowned in the flood of negativity, you grabbed their hands, pulling them back to the surface for a breath of fresh air.
Sport teaches us how to live life, and when that sport is paired with an able ally such as you, it changes lives. For young men like Chetan Sakariya, aspiring to play cricket at the highest level, despite not being able to even afford a pair of cricket spikes, you became a life support system, giving them a chance to emit their own light, and shine on the highest stage amongst a galaxy of superstars.
When a barrage of sadness rained down upon us, striking us with utmost malice, you became the umbrella that sheltered us, and taught us to smile and appreciate those fleeting moments of happiness.
For millions of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals fans who wanted to see their team rise again like a phoenix from the ashes, you provided hope and helped them realize their dreams. For millions of Mumbai Indians fans who had given up hope in a chase of 219 runs, you provided a Kieron Pollard who claimed an impossible victory from the jaws of defeat. For millions of Delhi Capitals and RCB fans who wanted to see their beloved teams win a title, you provided glimpses of their fearsome abilities.
Just like captain Mayank Agarwal’s 99 not out in that last match, you, IPL, remained not out till the very end.
Suspended, but not cancelled.
Delayed, but not finished.
In the middle of a scorching desert, you were an oasis. IPL, amidst an ocean of despair, you were our lifeboat. And IPL, for the smiles you’ve brought to millions of troubled faces across the country and the globe, I thank you.
Hoping to see you soon,
An ordinary cricket fan
During a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) brought smiles on the faces of millions of cricket fans all across the world for 24 days. Cricket lovers waited every day for the clock to strike 7:30 pm and watched their favourite players and teams in action.
Thank you to everyone who was involved in bringing happiness to so many people in these challenging times. We will come out of this stronger.
