| Think cricket and you have to think of India. The | | | | other mediums of communication besides the |
| two seem to be inseparable pair that share a love | | | | television, radio and print. The new media also could |
| and hate relationship. When the players come home | | | | not escape the charm of the game. Many online sites |
| after a stunning victory over their rivals in field, the | | | | are exclusively dedicated to the game. On these |
| whole of India is seen cheering. The scenario is | | | | sites, you can find not only easy access to live |
| completely reversed with a single loss. Overnight the | | | | scores updated constantly, but also every tidbit of |
| heroes change into villains of the story who have let | | | | the players, past cricket records, discussion forums |
| down their fans. However, the grudge against the | | | | and chats regarding cricket, posters and photographs |
| cricketers is not long lasting, only until the next | | | | of the cricketers and so on. Hence Indian cricket fans |
| victory. Another interesting characteristic of the | | | | who may not be able to sneak out to the stadium |
| Indian cricket fan is his unlimited views and opinions | | | | each time a match is being played, can now comfort |
| about how a game should be played or should have | | | | themselves through the cricket websites on the |
| been planned. The fickle nature of the fan adds to | | | | internet. |
| the unpredictability of the playing style of the | | | | A new format of cricket, Twenty20, which was |
| cricketers. Players who perform astonishingly well in a | | | | recently introduced to the world, has captured the |
| particular match can fail miserably in the very next. | | | | fancy of fans across the globe. Cricket enthusiasts, |
| Indian cricket, however, has successfully survived the | | | | who were great fans of Indian cricket, had been |
| various difficulties of each player's career as well as | | | | disappointed with the team's dismal performance in |
| the fickle nature of the fans. The game of cricket | | | | the World Cup. The Twenty20 World Cup being won |
| continues to be the unofficial national sports and | | | | by team India has set the records straight and once |
| favorite past time of most Indians. Consider the | | | | more Indian cricket finds itself on top of the |
| scenario of empty streets and shops, high number of | | | | popularity chart. In a country where cricket is religion |
| students playing truant from school, office | | | | and the cricketers are gods, it is not easy to displace |
| attendance hitting an all time low. Yes, you guessed it | | | | the game from the heart of Indians who have put |
| right, blame it on a cricket match, especially if our | | | | the game on a completely new pedestal. The level of |
| home country is playing. Any true cricket enthusiast | | | | attachment is so strong that every aspect of their |
| can be seen glued to his television set or found with | | | | cricket heroes affects the fans. So, as long as |
| ears glued to the live commentary on radio, | | | | Indians share this strong bond with the game, cricket |
| whenever a live match is being played. | | | | is definitely here to stay for a long while to come. |
| The cricket mania has further extended to include | | | | |