When it comes to sports like cricket and tennis, Desi people across the globe cannot keep calm while supporting their favorite players. However, when both cricket and tennis events are happening at the same time, fans often wonder what to watch. However, a recent viral video shows that it is possible to play both games at the same time, all you need is the good old habit of jugaad.
In a video that’s going viral, four players can be seen engaged in a rally – all with racquets – trading the red ball for lime green ones seen in tennis. Without a bowler, the game was pretty much like a tennis match, only without a racquet.
Aatif Nawaz, a stand-up comedian and cricket commentator for the BBC’s Test Match Special, shared the video online with a hilarious caption. “If tennis and cricket had a baby…” Nawaz quipped on Twitter.
If tennis and cricket had a baby…pic.twitter.com/mrakL50x2Q
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) December 14, 2021
While it may seem like all players are just having fun, it’s actually part of a pre-game workout. The video, originally shared by National Performance Coach and National Selector for Cricket Scotland Toby Bailey, showed players from the country’s senior team and players from Edinburgh Napier University Academy.
Taking to Twitter, Bailey explained that practice is key to players’ foot movement, adding, “The game will be played on a badminton court with cricket bats.” He went on to say that the match was the best of five games in a tennis game format for more pressure points may be.
#batminton The game usually lasts 10-15 minutes depending on how good the players are. Excellent for warming up and brilliant for foot movement, face control and accessing the ball to play against spin. #batminton
— Toby Bailey (@Tobybailey76) December 14, 2021
“Great warm up and brilliant for foot movement, clubface control and accessing the ball to play against spin,” added the cricket coach.
When the clip made the rounds on the internet and many Desi users stumbled upon it, they couldn’t miss Nawaz’s comment and joked that it would be the perfect game for Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik’s son. Others couldn’t stop pushing for this hybrid game that combines their love of both sports while reminding many of their childhood days when they did it just for fun.
Son of Sania Mirza & Shoaib Malik.
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) December 14, 2021
@realshoaibmalik and @MirzaSania hard to beat in this sport😍😍
– dr Drake Ramooray (@science_daan) December 14, 2021
you mean izhaan pic.twitter.com/hc6ei9QLRH
— 149 (@DivyaK18_) December 15, 2021
@realshoaibmalik Your son will fulfill mom and dad’s dream like this. Please show Izhaan a demonstration. 😂😂❤️😂
— Zulbab Hassan (@Zulbabhassan) December 14, 2021
Imagine if there actually was an Olympic sport. We cricket fans would be so happy to see cricket at the Olympics with such a good mix of tennis in the middle 👍 👌 😍 🤩😅
— Samish Santhosh (@Samishsanthosh1) December 14, 2021
As long as the game is no more than a few points. Or they are there all night 😆
– Red Wish (Ahmer) 👓 😷 💉 (@RedWishDotCom) December 15, 2021
I saw that earlier. Looks like great fun. The kind of game my brother and I used to play as kids
— Jonathan Barbier (@johnnygb) December 14, 2021
No aces, no helicopter shot, but looks amazing!!! 😁
— Siddhartha Sharma Nimmaturi (@imsiddharth21) December 14, 2021
I really want to try this❤️🔥
— 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰 (@love_pakistan9) December 14, 2021
Why is this so satisfying to watch?
– Ed sane (@ sane_ed) December 15, 2021
The left-handed and right-handed pair works well here too pic.twitter.com/pidDMuj1Ok
— सिद्ध्यर्थम् 🇮🇳 (@siddhyarthaM) December 14, 2021
And badminton is neighbors with them
— Bart Cooper (@RahulRe51486413) December 14, 2021
@ICC Please provide some rules for playing cricknis https://t.co/le4LGAYkpn
— Khansama (@FarziKandur) December 14, 2021
When she says I love tennis and cricket equally https://t.co/4Mqgslvowe
— Prateek Kore (@Prateek_Kore) December 15, 2021
Reminds me of the time we used to play cricket, table tennis and squash with ping pong bats and ball https://t.co/5XbKqfoCoS
— Raiyan (@Raiyaaaannn) December 15, 2021
An interesting mash up.
Would certainly work in India where everyone wants to bat. 😂 https://t.co/SzGZRSXYTc— electroLuX ⚡⚡ (@d_inverter) December 15, 2021