Sachin at Sharjah, Kohli at MCG: Why we keep returning to cricket

I think it was a Friday. A nippy October evening in the early 90s. A time when people in different parts of our country were manufacturing horrendous events to be adapted by Bollywood 30 years later. Punjab, Kashmir, Bihar, Tamil Nadu etc - it was the Ranji trophy of tragedy. Times were not that great. And that day was another addition to the list.Side Lower Berth: This coloumn is on observations about India and Indians from the best vantage point. Aquib Javed, the Pakistani pacer, had just run through the Indian batting line-up. India were bundled out for 190, chasing 262 in the Wills Trophy Finals at Sharjah. Yes, It was a Friday. I distinctly remember walking back from Gupta ji’s house with my heart heavier than my school-bag. Gupta ji was the Area-rich-guy, a local maxima, who not just had a TV, but also an inverter-battery setup.