In India, almost everyone has an opinion on cricket. Many of us grow up believing that cricket belongs only to the Indian team, forgetting that players from other countries work just as hard to reach the same level of excellence.
Since the 1983 World Cup, cricket in India has grown beyond a sport—it has become a religion. Today, matches are not just analyzed ball by ball but judged relentlessly. Even Sachin Tendulkar, often called the God of Cricket, was not spared. His shot selection, his form, and even his failures were publicly dissected. If legends faced this level of scrutiny, imagine the pressure on children who are just learning the game.
This pressure often extends beyond the field. Parents and stakeholders of young cricketers carry unrealistic expectations, hoping their child will reach the international stage. Hoping is not wrong. But burdening children with performance pressure while they are still learning is harmful and can have long-term emotional consequences.
The real purpose of enrolling children in sports academies should be simple: to keep them healthy, reduce screen time, help them understand teamwork, and develop social skills. These lessons are invaluable—not just for sports, but for life, relationships, and even the corporate world. Not every child will become an international cricketer, and accepting that is difficult—but necessary.
I write this as a parent whose child is also learning cricket. Like many others, I would love to see him play at the highest level one day. But I also understand that success cannot be forced, predicted, or demanded.
Over time, I’ve witnessed incidents that deeply disturbed me.
I saw a young boy collapse on the pitch during a summer match in Faridabad. He was dehydrated, exhausted, and struggling with his performance. The coach and fellow players rushed to help him, gave him water and glucose, and ensured he was safe. But once he recovered, his grandfather hit him—for failing to score runs.
In another instance, a parent deliberately sent their child to practice without informing another child from the same society, driven by competition and insecurity. The politics surrounding children’s sports can often feel bizarre and unhealthy.
Some parents openly complain to coaches about “returns on investment.” They question fees paid, demand performance, and even pass that pressure directly onto their children. I once heard a parent say to his child, “After spending so much money on your coaching, you should have scored at least one run.”
This mindset is deeply damaging.
Children don’t need investors; they need support. They don’t need pressure; they need patience. Sport should be a space for learning, growth, failure, and joy—not fear.
Let them enjoy the game. The rest will follow
