Those Sunday Morning Matches – Gully Cricket Childhood Nostalgia

Those Sunday Morning Matches: When Our Childhood Was All About Cricket

 

 

A nostalgic ride into early mornings, tennis balls, siblings as umpires, and neighbors shouting “Out!”

Introduction: The Magic of a Sunday Morning

Before smartphones, reels, and weekend brunches — there were Sunday morning matches.

No fancy kits, no cheering crowds, just:

• A bunch of sleepy-eyed kids,

• A sun-kissed street,

• One worn-out tennis ball,

• And a lot of screaming.

If you're reading this, chances are you were one of us. And today, let’s rewind the clock and relive those golden hours when cricket wasn’t just a game — it was life.

Chapter 1: The Alarm Was Your Excitement

You didn’t need a 6 AM alarm.

• The moment the sun peeked out, you were already in your half-torn jersey.

• Slippers on, bat in hand, shouting, “Arey chalu na, toss kar!”

There was no warm-up routine — just pure adrenaline.

Chapter 2: Building the Pitch – Any Flat Ground Would Do

• That stretch between parked scooters? Our Wankhede.

• The divider became the boundary line.

• Stumps? Either bricks, a school bag, or chalk on a wall.

And let’s not forget:

• The famous one-side run rule.

• “Ball gayi nali mein toh out!” 😂

Chapter 3: One Tip One Hand – The Unwritten Law

Possibly the greatest invention in gully cricket history:

• One bounce – one hand catches – you’re out.

• Even the best batters feared the lanky guy who mastered it with one flip of the hand.

And if someone denied it? The entire match paused. Argument mode: ON.

Chapter 4: When the Ball Entered That “Particular” House

You know the one:

• The uncle who hated kids.

• The garden with a big gate and scarier dog.

• The rule: “Whoever hit it, has to go get it.”

My Story?
I once sent a sixer into Sharma Uncle’s balcony.
He made me wait 45 minutes, scolded me thrice, and handed the ball after saying,
"Yeh last time hai. Next time, no ball."

He said that every Sunday.

Chapter 5: Umpire Bhaiya – The One Who Couldn’t Count Properly

Remember your younger sibling who insisted on being the umpire?

• Couldn't count six balls per over.

• Always gave you out but not your friend.

• Loved saying “No Ball!” after the shot was played.

Still, you never replaced them. Because... loyalty. ❤️

Chapter 6: “Jeet Gaye Bhai!” – Victory Was a Packet of Frooti

There was no trophy.

• No prize money.

• Just the thrill of saying “Humne hara diya unko!”

• Followed by two rupee lemon soda and high-fives that lasted the week.

Chapter 7: The Best Part – It Was Never About Cricket

Yes, we played to win.

But mostly…

• We played to laugh,

• To scream,

• To run around barefoot,

• To see who’d bowl the fastest,

• To tell stories in school about “that six I hit”.

And today, when you look back, it wasn’t cricket — it was childhood wrapped in joy.

Some Crazy Rules We Invented That Only We Understand

• One bounce = one hand = out

• Last man batting = unlimited runs, no runner

• If ball hits scooter = automatic 4 runs

• Hit-and-run = mandatory single or you’re out

• Bat-break = game over for the day

From Streets to Screens: What Changed?

Kids today might have cricket on PS5 and 1000-rupee bats.
But they’ll never know the thrill of:

• Shouting “Aunty, ball de do!”

• Playing until someone’s mom screamed from the window

• Or winning because the other team had to go home early for tuition

Final Over: Why We’ll Never Forget Those Days

We’ve grown up.

But inside us:

• Still lives that boy who prayed the night before the match,

• Who checked the ball 10 times for tape,

• And wore the India jersey with “Tendulkar” written in sketch pen.

Conclusion: The Real World Cup Was in Our Lane

You didn’t need Eden Gardens to feel like a star.
You just needed friends, a ball, and a Sunday morning.

So here’s to those matches,
To the underarm swings,
To the chalk wickets,
To the borrowed bats,
And to a childhood we’ll never forget.