WGCC 2013 - Cricket, As we know it!

It was 2010. A Group of friends were starting afresh with a shared vision from across the Winston and Greensboro region, a vision to start a cricket club - where only cricket mattered and nothing else; and dream for it to be turned into a culture, a culture that each one of us have individually lived for so long – a culture of eating, drinking and sleeping cricket; some drinking more than others and it wasn't cricket at times. It was blessed as Winston Greensboro Cricket Club or WGCC as we all commonly address it. Over the years, this name has become synonymous with unity, camaraderie and fun; with the addition of more and more cricket lovers. Three years on, and with the fourth cricket season just around the corner for our club, life seems to have come full circle for more reasons than one for WGCC. Over the last three seasons, there have been many memorable games; boasting of many individual brilliance's – be it Rahul’s magnificent knock of 150 against ACC on his birthday, or Mayur’s high on emotions innings of 97* against arch-rivals TGCC, and innumerable excellent team work – be it defending a paltry 137 against SPCC or chasing a mammoth score against PACC. When we started playing in CCL, WGCC was considered as sort of nuisance by the league for all the wrong reasons, but now we have become the big boys of the Carolina league and it is mostly due to the performance of our cricket team. While the team structure and culture itself has been slowly evolving, our on field success has been primarily driven by the sheer talent and spirit of the uniquely talented players discovered in recent times. These three years have introduced us to many talented players and affable characters off the field-be it KANWARDEEP BURA’s obsession with his long hairs and his not-so-perfect bouncers, or as say they good things come in small packages- PRADY’s transformation from a wannabe batsman to a key off spinner and his brilliant talent in photography, or that one man who is the epitome of righteousness and it is a common knowledge that we don’t deserve him – SITTA, or DIPEN’s amazing shots with wrong batting grip and his love for lil wayne, or SINU’s unflinching commitment to the club and his brilliant work behind the stumps, and many many more. Apologies for not listing everyone's name but each member of the club has had a significant impact in the growth of WGCC. Then there is the backbone of club; the core players in PRASHANT DIXIT, MAYUR CHOUDHARY, RAHUL MANDEWALKER, SUNNY KRIPLANI, ASHISH GABA - and I am proud to be a part of this group. Lots have changed over the past three years, but one thing that still remains is the love for cricket and the hunger for that elusive title – the Title of Champions in the league. Granted that there have been triumphs in the Duke cups, Weston cups over the years, but the shelf still awaits the biggest of them all. So as the season comes closer, as we await the sight of the red cherry on the ground; let us all make a commitment to the club – to give it all, to play and beat the best there is. Let us be individuals from different backgrounds; each fiercely proud of his own individuality and yet united not just as a team but as a family. Go WGCC!