in the thick of the fray, with mud splattered across my uniform, i clung to the thought of a cricket bat as my beacon of hope; much like how we sometimes relegate ourselves to the shadows to strategize, the beauty of cricket can often be obscured by the cacophony of competition. yet, every swing, every ball, and every run is a precedential statement of resilience and unity. we reactivate our spirits by watching those on the green field, reminding us that even when victory seems clouded by adversity, the essence of the game, like the resolve of a soldier, remains ever clear and undimmed.