Forget nationalism, enjoy the cricket

Having made several cricket trips to Sri Lanka, Anand Vasu writes in Wisden India that there was something refreshing and different about this World T20. The hospitality in the wilderness of Hambantota was one such example and the liberating feeling of not having to follow India's fortunes on a daily basis was another. It was also a chance to learn some interesting facts about players.

I learnt that Dilshan Munaweera was a studious boy who spoke impeccable English and that it was Sanath Jayasuriya who introduced Ajantha Mendis to his future wife Yoshini, at the sidelines of a match. Had I been covering the Indian team, or even following their fortunes closely like so many fans are compelled to by their sense of nationalism, I would've likely been so engrossed in what the team composition was for the next match, or the form of a certain player, that I would have missed the best things about a world tournament - the sheer breadth of experiences on offer, the amazing stories behind the ordinary characters, the role every last piece plays in the bigger picture of this great game.