Cricket is not only a game; it's a field for emotions, humanity and respect. One of those scenes recently reminded us why cricket is referred to as the "gentleman's game". Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has won the admiration of the whole cricketing world for a touching gesture. Post-match, he presented his bat to Sunrisers Hyderabad's budding batsman Abhinav Manohar, wishing him with — "Score a lot of runs with it."
Hardik Pandya, with his aggressive batting and quirky personality, revealed a different, soft and humane side of himself that day. A bat is not just worth its monetary value; a player's emotions, memories and efforts are blended into each instrument. When an experienced player transfers his bat to a young sensation, it isn't a mere gift, but an invaluable source of inspiration.
Even in the cutthroat world of cricket, those few moments of friendship bring us to realize that apart from winning and losing, this sport is also one of friendship, respect and empathy among individuals. For Abhinav Manohar, this bat will undoubtedly mean a great deal more — not only as a bat, but as a source of inspiration for what his idol Hardik gave him.
This exercise of respect and support among the players is one of the greatest achievements of the IPL. The league not only provides a platform to establish talent, but also provides a huge platform to establish relationships between younger and older players. Hardik Pandya's little gesture, which might not find its way into the scoreboard, but will stay in the minds of millions of fans for years to come.
In this world today where success in competition appears to be all, this little but precious lesson of Hardik reminds us — true triumph is in humanity, kindness, and the attitude of encouraging one another.
This human element of cricket has turned it not only into a sport, but into an emotion.
