The IPL Baba

The play is all set. All the cards are in place. The air is thick with expectation. The clock is slowly ticking on. A pair of eyes keeps on darting towards it: anxious, curious, eager, keen, impatience written large in them……………… the hour clock strikes, the pendulum swings……………….. a gasp escape from the owner of those mesmeric eyes…………………

“Papa! Time ho gaya IPL match ka…………” he screams and rushes forward to grab the remote. Not a second should be wasted. He remembers the exact channel number and punches in the number on the remote………. Bingo the SONY Max channel flashes on the screen. Today the match is between the RCB (Royal Challengers of Bangalore) and Mumbai Indians.

The RCB has won the match toss and have elected to bat first. The opening batsmen are walking on to the field and in his hands he already has the cards of the openers long before they are visible on the screen: Dilshan Tillakaratne and Chris Gayle.

Then the camera focuses on the players walking in and there can be no surprises or rewards for guessing who they turn out to be. Because at home we say:

“IPL Baba ki jai ho!!”

So who is this IPL Baba? What does this imply? What kind of Baba breed is this?

Well! To lift the curtains off this suspense: here we present the IPL Baba:

He is none other than my own dearest son: Manveer Singh Pabla

He is a walking encyclopedia about IPL.

Want to know where the match is being played? Ask Manveer.

Who are the competing teams? Ask Manveer.

What time does the match start? Ask Manveer.

What would be the batting lineup of the team? Ask Manveer.

This time around he has been so consumed by this tournament that it has taken us by surprise.

The cards would take a ride on the bus to school; they will be out on the shopping spree with Manveer, cards will be there for the friends to see and others to envy, cards will get a good night’s sleep along with him on his cushioned bed. Wow! What a luxury!!

When the cards are being used to play the games with whomsoever happens to be carrying it around, and then they are used for trading. Higher the value of the card being traded more the number of the less valuable cards you need to shell out. For a Sachin Tendulkar gold card, you will have to shell out as many as 10 ordinary cards.

Playing game with the cards is no mean game as he knows all the cards and their value by heart and also remembers all the marks/signs/indentation on each. So in a game you can try all you want and still you are bound to lose because it takes only a glance from him to know what card we have in hand and play his next accordingly.

This is a passion without limits, all encompassing, all consuming!!

If this how he works or plays, I am wondering what will happen when he chooses a vocation of his choice, his true calling!! Such giddy heights he will reach and so all consuming will it be that it will be a sure shot success for him………….. Amen!!