the importance of cricket in India is huge there's a reason why they say it's not a sport it's a religion in India no I'm no God I'm sain I'm sain Tendulkar and feels comfortable to be sain Cricket is one sport that everyone has played at some stage in their life in India and that is why it's so special in people's hearts and minds and the kind of connect or the kind of ownership for the kind of frustration and emotion they feel with the players and with the team it's a very organic thing it's not made up [Music] got India the mecca of crickets is the one country every fan and player wants to visit growing up seeing those seething crowds turning pictures and the noise when the little Master walks out to bat is always a mesmerizing event and left a significant impact on me when I was invited by the Cape Town jackals from South Africa to join them at a last man stands tournament in chandigar I did not have to think too long before booking my flight so on the 2nd of March 2024 I took my first steps on Indian soil and was soon on my way to the Rison red hotel where I was staying and where I would meet my teammates so let me quickly introduce them first up our captain Tyron who put so much effort into getting us here the rest of the guys were Raj Sai Vel Rory tan and last but certainly not least King CaRu we also had uncle Ron who would be keeping us on the straight and narrow for the week what a pleasure it was to meet these guys and what a privilege to get to know them over the week after the long flight luckily we had a rest day before our first match so after catching up on some sleep the only logical thing to do was to spend a significant part of the day at a Cricket shop checking out the local Willow on 43,000 rupes 10 10,000 10,000 take out a mortgage for five and it off it's like kids in a candy store we've gone through all the that and we found we found the blade is this the one the one I think I'm in I can't cheat on her you guys keep on putting options in front of my face but you came in with mrf on the mind on the mind and you had a little around tast some other fruits but actually actually it's all what in your heart your soulmate came back to you only for 5 minutes what are you saying what are you saying ping I reckon the shops made made enough to last in the year hey com I mean look at this Excalibur what of bats and gloves that was 3,300 ja this number four and five six seven bats eight players in the we seven bats after our bat splurge and with our first match getting ever closer the guys were Keen to have a net having spoken to some locals we were told about a net with a bowling machine near our hotel so at 9:00 in the evening with cricet kit and toe we crossed some busy streets dodging Tuk Tuk and taxis and made our way down a dark alleyway where we eventually found what we were looking for and here was an example of why India produces such incredible batsman in the most unassuming of places we arrived to find a 10-year-old hitting ball off ball with a technique many of us only dream of a tough act to but we managed to have a much needed hit to get rid of that traveling [Music] rust boy all the excuses going to come out now haven't batted since September so let's go tip this rest off before tomorrow's match so I'm in my hotel room here in chandar just about to leave for my first match for the Cape Town jackals against the dhar Thunder I have to say I'm feeling the nerves a little bit but looking forward to a good game today let's hopefully we get a win under the belt apparently this team is a is a hot team so we're going to have to do really really well looking forward to the first match and getting our tournament underway let's go today's match took place in the evening at the cricket Hub ground making it my first night match on the channel as I mentioned previously we were playing in a last man stand Super Series tournament for those of you that have haven't heard of ales before it is a t208 side format with a unique set of rules the main differences include that when the seventh Wicket Falls the last man continues batting next is the home run rule whereby if a batsman clears the boundary off the final ball of the Innings it counts as 12 runs thirdly the double play rule is where the Fielding team is able to dismiss two batsmen or a single delivery for example if a player gets caught the Fielding team may also run out the non-striker other rules include five ball overs and WI counting towards the batsman score for the full set of rules click the card above so with that being said it was time to get the match underway against the Dakar Thunder who won the toss and chose to bowl I opened the batting with Tyron so let's see if we can get ourselves off to a good start in the tournament but just before we get the match underway I'd just like to say thank you to Pink drive and especially moti moves who sponsored our team and allowed us to come on this trip we really appreciate your guys support how's it going s it's do it's do it boy it's do it South Africa let's go boys let's go boys I haven't actually checked this picture out yet no grass jeez I've never seen a wi could like neither it's hard no wonder it skids on light is pretty good yeah I know it's absolutely fine white ball black background so I think my first night match haven't played a night match in about four years yeah enjoy Man Too TI that middle [Music] yes ball skids keep wa white white wait yes no no no SK time get through we up yeah good L yep yes ni yeah Bo come again shot [Music] boy close too close yeah push push yes yes yes just push can [Applause] you y stay there head down T got it yes that's okay good bman to come after start playing a bit of shots comes off okay you and can keep going I'm on foot beautiful timed it man [Music] yes shot High shot boy wait wait wait yes sucking in oxygen that's how to let's keep going [Music] Top Shot yep stay the one I'm going to try you stay okay I like this baller if I get out it's it's okay got ran taken should be okay but let me take him on Good Start yeah all good just getting on and you know what we need to do go for there yeah straight back one no it takes a bit of time to get used to it skids and low very low yeah just darting it a bit shorter usually yeah [Applause] no sorry it's fine all right man it's tough getting in here you've got to give going to take one more couple more balls you stay a new through sure push that yeah push that a it's okay man happens come T looks like it's keeping low here yeah low and skidy on the up off the pitch yeah okay sweet so just knock it on the sof side when we run sweet we got taken here and I'm going to have to run this guys quick yep stay the one yes can push that I think you must fall I think so these legs feel like they're in cement cuz I'll get this you let's go boy so what happened Reb and five RS so not three plus five just five first one is one and a reball good come good come back explain that one to me so the first one is a and a reball the second one's three and no reball okay so it's maximum that would be five and a Reb this is my first LMS game does that five go to me five runs come to me yeah yeah ball before work good come nice short nice Bo the pin is to come he a steady innings for myself which I was satisfied with especially on a pitch that was so different to what I used to in England we often play on slow low pitches but this one was fast and low meaning that the ball was keeping low but skting on off the surface this meant that lbw and bold with the main danger of dismissal and playing across the line was probably not the best idea my dismissal being a points in case the brief exposure to this pitch makes you really understand the adjustment overseas teams need to make to be successful on these types of [Applause] [Music] pitches very good boy good man love the PED love the [Music] [Applause] p as you saw the rest of our team struggled too as we managed to below pass score of 117 off our 20 overs but like all formats of cricket a few wickets up front puts pressure on the opposition so hopefully we can get into their top order early doors I think it's good to come in it spin as well it's getting on the lbw is on we know it's difficult to score runs here don't give them anything right fight for absolutely every single round which you got something to say n bro let's do it man believe Bo come win this game boys we take a couple of early wickets they're under pressure that's it boys come two three to all the cany cricket patrons and members you're a big reason why I can go on trips like this so a really big thank you for the support you show the channel if you'd like to support the channel further become a patron or member by following the link in the description or the card above [Applause] I've seen many could take it on a let's go Rory and three two three nice good come great [Music] comeback [Music] get [Applause] get the something again I can't B on my own okay let's change right keep it's fine do it icing full night it's to hit you on the top straight Mor moves move as long as you can Mi move the almost falling was [Music] hey boys we end the pump here and fortunately fling Dro to catch which is very very frustrating but probably won't win this one as always tomorrow let's go a really comprehensive defeat for us to start our tournament and we will need to improve in all departments if we are going to reach The Knockout stage a drop catch from myself at a Cru didn't help matters either sorry but in saying that the D Thunder were a really good side and you could tell that they were used to playing in these conditions but apart from the result I really enjoyed my first match in India and was champing at the bits to get stuck into the next match I know that there were several times during the evening when we looked around and had to pinch ourselves when we remembered just where we were and what a privilege it was to be here a big thank you to you guys for watching and supporting the channel I really appreciate it I hope you enjoyed my first match in India he has hoping for an improved performance in the next match Bring It On