For the First Time, My TV Will Be Off for India vs Pakistan
I have been a cricket fan for more than three decades. Since the 1990s, I have seen almost every match India has played, especially against Pakistan. I have bunked school to catch those tense overs, lied at work to slip away for a quick stream, and even turned down family commitments because nothing matched the thrill of India vs Pakistan. This rivalry was not just a game, it was a part of life. But for the first time, my mind and my heart are telling me not to watch.
In the past, whenever India faced Pakistan, the entire country paused. Offices slowed down, schools emptied out, and homes buzzed with collective excitement. Every run, every wicket carried the weight of history, politics, and national pride. That backdrop made the rivalry unique and almost sacred. But this time, things feel different. This match is happening in the shadow of tragedy. The Pahalgam attack and the sacrifice of our brave soldiers in Operation Sindoor are still fresh. Playing Pakistan so soon after those losses feels like an insult to the very men who laid down their lives for the country. Cricket is supposed to bring joy, but right now, it carries the bitter taste of compromise. For once, turning on the TV feels like turning my back on them.
BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, claims that it is playing Pakistan to preserve its rights to host future tournaments. This argument makes no sense. If the board is truly powerful, why should its hosting rights depend on bending before Pakistan? When money becomes more important than national pride, something is terribly wrong. It is pathetic that the game has been reduced to this. The BCCI, ICC President Jay Shah, and the Government of India have together chosen commerce over country.
As fans, we may not be able to influence geopolitics, but we can make a choice. We can show that our loyalty to the nation comes before our love for cricket. Boycotting the match is the only message that can reach those sitting in their air-conditioned offices counting broadcast revenues. A stadium filled with players but watched by empty living rooms across India will be a stronger protest than any hashtag.
For years, I have believed that cricket was above politics, that it could be a neutral ground. But this time, there is no rational argument left to justify watching India vs Pakistan. This is not about hating cricket or turning away from sport. This is about respect. Respect for the soldiers who died, respect for the nation that shelters us, and respect for the sacrifices that money can never replace.
So for the first time since the 1990s, my TV will be off when India plays Pakistan. And I hope I am not alone. If enough of us choose nation over nostalgia, perhaps the BCCI, Jay Shah, and the government will learn that Indians will not forgive them for putting profit before pride.
