I an Not all Academics by Anshul Balaji

Personal Essay

Many people don’t know that I’m not all academics; instead I have a burning passion for the sport cricket. Not only do I like playing it, but I am also good at it as I play Under-12 and Under-14 for the school team. So, as you can see, I am the kind of person who likes playing cricket because, it is interesting, enjoyable and because it takes my mind off things. Here are some real life incidents that helped me realize this.

One of the reasons’s I like playing cricket is because it is interesting. I found this out in an Under-12 school cricket match against DPS. In the game, we restricted DPS to a mere 153 and were all confident to win the game. On the first ball, Hasi hit a four and we thought that it was a sign of things to come. Instead on the fifth ball, Hasi’s middle stump was uprooted. In the next over, both Abhilash and Anurup got out. There was some tension in the dugout. Shashank and I restored ten runs to the team before I perished. All of a sudden, the game had turned on its head. We all watched nervously from the dugout. This is exactly why I like cricket; this is exactly how interesting it can get.

Secondly, I like playing cricket because it takes my mind off things. I know this because of another incident that took place about 2 months ago. I used to go to a drama class and at the end of the course we had an exam from the TRINITY COLLEAGE in London. This was a very crucial exam because if you fail it, you cannot continue the course. I was really nervous and I could not sit in one place for more than 5 minutes together. My mom then told me “Go and play some cricket.” So I did as I was told and went and batted for a bit. Every time I played a good shot, my mind would relax a bit. This is how I realized that it takes my mind of things. I was so focused on the ball that I did not even care about the exam.

Lastly, I love cricket because I enjoy playing it. I realized this in an incident that took place only a few weeks ago. I had just been picked for a match against FCA who elected to bat first. After 15 over’s, Ranjan Sir asked me to bowl. I didn’t get any wickets in the first over. In my second over, I bowled two full-tosses which were both caught. On the hat trick ball I bowled a beautiful delivery that got the batsman bowled. Hat trick Hero!!! I was enjoying myself thoroughly. Yash took a fantastic catch the next ball.  Four in four…!!!! I was ripping their middle order apart. On the next ball I bowled a doosra which knocked over his middle stump. I had got five in five. This is how much I enjoy playing cricket.

This made me realize how much I love playing cricket. I also believe that the stories I wrote are good enough to prove that I am the kind of person that likes playing cricket because it is interesting, enjoyable and it takes my mind off things. A bigger realization I made in this is that I am not all academics and how I have a passion for cricket.