Bowled Over by Words: The Ultimate Cricket Book Recommendations
Cricket isn’t just a game, it’s a culture, a way of life, and a source of inspiration. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, an aspiring cricketer, or just curious, this blog is your ultimate guide to the best cricket books to add to your reading list.
1. Of Spins, Sixes and Surprises
Nothing comes even remotely close to the excitement that cricket evokes in both the young and the old in India. Cricket in India is a religion, with cricketers revered as gods. While we have grown up watching cricket on our televisions, we have felt the tension, euphoria and joy that cricketers on the field may have experienced while playing. Of Spins, Sixes and Surprises: 50 Defining Moments in Indian Cricket is a humble attempt at reliving those occasions.
2. The Lords of Wankhede
The Lords of Wankhede explores the evolution of Indian cricket in the 28 years between the two
World Cup successes. Seen through the eyes of a former Test cricketer, who has been associated with the game for four decades, and a cricket writer with 30 years behind him, this book provides a perspective of the successes and strife, the trials and tribulations that made the journey of Indian cricket so fascinating over the 28 years bookended by Lord’s and Wankhede. An absorbing revelation for the millennial, a stab of nostalgia to the middle aged and an essential for the cricket romantic, this book lays bare the conditions that led to India becoming a cricket behemoth.
3. Sunny Days: Sunil Gavaskar’s Own Story
Sunny Days is the fascinating account of the growth of one of India’s greatest batsmen, one whose astonishing feats on the cricket field have caused innumerable records to be re-written and set close to impossible targets. How did the story of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar begin? What was the genesis of the man who grew to be a legend in his own lifetime?
4. Coaching Beyond: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team
Coaching Beyond reflects primarily on R. Sridhar’s seven-year coaching tenure with the Indian cricket team as its fielding coach. This book isn’t as technical as it is anecdotal. It throws light, for instance, on how Virat Kohli overcame a dismal Test series in England in 2014 to smash four hundreds in as many matches in his next overseas outing, in Australia.
It also traces Rishabh Pant’s journey towards becoming the ferocious ball-striker and outstanding gloveman he is today while delving into the minds of players and the support staff to analyse India’s progression towards the number 1 Test ranking. Revelations of behind-the-scenes parleys jostle with the then head coach Ravi Shastri’s motivational skills in a riveting read that provides an insider’s account of the rise and rise of Indian cricket.
5. Wrist Assured
Wrist Assured traces the cricketing journey of wristy genius G.R. Vishwanath from the dusty by-lanes of erstwhile Bangalore to the most iconic venues in the world. It gives deep insights into the mind of a champion, and of the trials and tribulations of an international career that saw both despair and delight in his very first Test. Vishwanath followed up a first-innings duck with 137 in the second against Australia in Kanpur in 1969. The same crowd that had hurled matkas on his way back in the first innings rose as one to celebrate his century, providing him his first important lesson—nothing succeeds like success.
6. On Board
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is an institution that elicits extreme reactions. While some marvel at the remarkable work it has done to promote and develop cricket in India and elsewhere, others decry it as being myopic, arrogant and money-minded. However, nobody can deny the impact the BCCI has had not only on Indian cricket, but also international cricket and the influence it commands. Over the years, the professionalism and excellence displayed by Indian cricketers on the field of play has been complemented by the zeal and diligence of those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to take Indian cricket to where it is today. On Board gives the reader an opportunity to walk through the corridors of this extraordinary institution and enter its meeting rooms, where many issues were discussed and momentous decisions taken.
These cricket books have allowed us to delve deep into the heart of the game, revealing stories that resonate with fans from every corner of the world. The above listed cricket recommendations will help you keep the game alive in both your heart and your bookshelf. Let the stories continue and let the love for the game endure.