My relationship with cricket has changed over the years.

And after June 2024, I stopped playing.

I was hurt - physically and emotionally - because of the game.

But no matter how much I tried, it always felt like there was something missing in my life.

Until a month ago, when I decided that I need to go back to my first love.

Not want to, but need to.

And I did.
June 22, 2025.

I ran in for the first time after almost 13 months and I felt more alive.

I felt like I belonged.
I felt safe.
I felt home, a feeling that I missed a whole lot.

And somehow, my mind ended up drawing parallels to my journey with that of Arjun’s from Jersey the movie.

Jersey will always be in my top 3 favourite movies of all time. It’s about love - love between a father a son, a love between two people who stuck with each other no matter what and a love between one man and his undying passion for the game, who found, just like me, his home in his first love.