Neighborhood cricket was an integral part of almost all of our childhoods. Where there was no field, the game did not stop - on the street, in the small alleys of the neighborhood, sometimes in someone's yard - in short, wherever there was a little space to play, a cricket ground would be built. Someone's broken bat, someone's old ball, or everyone would raise money to buy a ball, and the stumps of our ground would be built with bricks.
There was no more importance about who is of what age or how he plays - because it is very difficult to unite all the players. Because now everyone is with their mobile phones. Basically, the joy used to be hidden inside the competition. Some people are Shakib Al Hasan of the neighborhood, some are Virat Kohli. Our game is played with a tape tennis ball. Whenever someone is out, the opposing team starts sledging, and the batsman's excuse is no, this is a no ball or a dead ball, there are many stories like this. And there is a lot of shouting between the two sides about this.
The beauty of cricket in our neighborhood is that everyone comes together at the end of the match to start a new match. It's not just a game, it's a competition of friendship, and entertainment.
Even today, whenever I see a game in my neighborhood, whether it's cricket being played on the field or on the street, I feel like playing a little bit. I remember those days a lot. Where the joy of winning was so much.