'Gully Cricket'

A gang of ten, a team of five, we played cricket with utmost passion and planning..We had the point and ranking system and the unforgetful day n night matches with those shining white plastic balls.. that was unique! (atleast at that point of time and for me)..we raced and wanted to become the best in the 'gulli cricket'..
The Team: Nafis/Rinku(the mastermind), Sajid(the organiser), Rocky, Chotu, Nanhu and Jummi (the ambassadors), Danish, Moon, Majid/Nadir/Shamsi, and of course Me..
We were a bunch of lad, happy to accept challenges and no doubt-excel, not just in cricket but in other sports too, like-'gulli-danda', lattu, badminton and in other spheres of life-studies being one of them..
Apart from the intra-colony cricket matches played every evening, we challenged teams of other colonies too..we won most of the time with the foolproof planning made on the eve of every 'big' match at sajid's place..
When we played in the colony, best venue was the 'aam ke ped wala ground' and Nafis's compound..we seldom played anywhere else..We used to contribute Rs 10 for the wickets and all, and Rs 2 or 3 for the cosco balls and few penny more for those 'luxurious' cosco champion balls..
There were rule of the game: 'direct bahar jana out', 'ped se lag ke catch liya to out' and the most strict was-batsman being responsible to fetch the ball if went to 'naali'..Each day teams were chosen by the captains, it always turned out be balanced on each side, as all of us were all rounders in 6, 8, 10 over matches, best of 3 matches..
In retrospect, everything was so pleasurable and carefree..I feel those were the days when we learnt about team work..
The cheers and arguments of the match still resonates in mind when i pass the compounds..The team is still doing well and going strong..