RCB... in finals again!

My passion for game of cricket began since I was 6-7 years old. Co-incidentally, it was the same time when Rahul Dravid started his career. There was something special about him. He might not be a very hard hitting batsman but his ability to adjust in adverse situation, his ability to bat when attack is hostile and conditions are non-friendly made me a big fan of him. For me, he had become a symbol of patience, hard work, sincerity, calmness and consistency. I always adored Sachin Tendulkar but when you talk of personal favorite, it was always Rahul. So when IPL began, RCB was my obvious choice. I was not just cheering for Rahul or his team, but I was cheering for my love for cricket, I was cheering for the spirit of my favorite city. Somehow the team combination did not suite well for RCB and they ended up being the second last team on the table. My friends always made fun of so called TEST SIDE playing in a T20 league. But I never gave up. Next year they inducted some new players of caliber of Robin Uthhappa, Manish Pandey and Kevin Peterson and all of the sudden RCB started to win. My father gifted me a RCB fans' jersey and that jersey just added to my passion for the team. It was fun fighting with my friends in common room. It was fun to be the only supporter of RCB at times, later on joined by Saransh. Things worked for RCB...they made it to the finals...But could not clinch to the trophy. I never gave up...How could I! It was about Rahul..it was about Banglore. 3rd season also did not go well..They lost in the semis. But my love for RCB had just increased. I am sure red color of  RCB had replaced some red blood cells in my body. RCB was in my blood. But then happened something very strange. The franchise did not retain Rahul Dravid and he went to Rajasthan Royals. Now what! On one side there was the team whom I was worshiping for last three years. On the other side, it was my favorite player who is a synonym of cricket for me. I decided to support both RCB and RR. But somehow I felt my passion for both the teams was never the same. Both the teams were not doing so well. But then something really great happened. GAYLE made his way into the team, thanks to Dirk Nannes' injury. Gayle had a point to prove. He had to prove his worth having been rejected by both- IPL teams and West Indies board. He did it! He single handedly changed the fortunes of the team RCB and they again started winning but for me, RCB was not the same. one day after reaching Banglore, I decided to watch an IPL match in Banglore's home ground. It was one of my dreams for last three year. I entered the stadium. It was all painted in Red. It was RCB all around. All of the sudden the atmosphere started to thrill me. The match began. Gayle's hostile attack was ripping apart the Kings eleven Punjab's bowlers. Crowd was cheering RCB....RCB....RCB... I could feel it inside me...Again my love for RCB rose to an extent that I forgot all my miseries. This match again made me the same RCB lover. And that RCB is in finals today. Out of the all four seasons, this one has been the most special one. Those arguments with Akshay, Shubhayu, Sumeet, Nilesh were nothing short of a world war for me. People say they dont feel the same passion for IPL in comparison with what they feel when India is playing...Well.. I would say both the feelings are different for me... But the intensity is same. I dont know whether if my desire to see my team winning IPL would come true today or not. But for me... Its just RCB whom I would love till I am alive!