Eye on cricket is one of my favourite books on cricket. I have recommended it to my friends, cricket fans and even non-cricket fans. The book has a dedicated chapter on cricket writing where Samir Chopra writes
“A good writer is the one who writes freshly and uniquely about an exceedingly common activity.”
I agree. Cricket writing has become boring and unimaginative. A biography or an autobiography spells out records and statistics like it has been given a command from an AI bot. The phrases find repeated and cliched use in cricket writings, even from the most proficient writers. Gully Gully breaks the clutter.
The writing is fresh, sometimes poetic. Iyer delivers an entertaining prose. Cricket becomes the vehicle to travel the country and he takes the reader on a joyous and enthralling ride. Every city that hosted an India game becomes a character. From Lucknow’s food to Chennai’s weather, each chapter is filled with anecdotes and stories that are worth savoring.
And so do the stadiums. The vivid descriptions of the murals, entrances and the media boxes make you feel you are at the stadium, experiencing the vibe in the most authentic manner.
I could also relate to the Kohli jumping into Bhangra during the New Zealand game in Dharamshala, which I happened to watch LIVE from the stands. Despite the ticket mismanagement that saw cricket fans waiting in queues forever, I managed to get my hands on tickets for a couple of games.
It was a festival, coming together of people who happen to share mutual love for a game. A game which is so engrained in every vein of our being that we forget there is a world outside it. The World Cup is arguably the biggest celebration of it. The book helped me revisit those beautiful six weeks of 2023.
The narrative involves Iyer collaborating with a cricket personality for each chapter. And not just cricketers. There are journalists, fans, retired cricketers and even administrators. This is the part that brings a unique perspective to the book and enhances the storytelling.
Iyer doesn’t shy away from being critical. He calls out the shambolic preparations, ugly and incomplete stadiums and uncivilized crowd behaviour. There is also an unbiasedness and objectivity in the manner in which he writes about the cricketers.
As a writer, Gully Gully inspires me to express myself in the most unfiltered yet restrained manner. There is a thin line between the two and writing in general excels when honesty is balanced with empathy, allowing sharp observations without sacrificing grace or nuance.
Writing a travelogue is painstaking. There is too much to plan, prepare and execute. We desperately need more writers who can bring candidness and originality to cricket writing. Who can move away from the bondages of clichés.
Verdict
Gully Gully has successfully carved out its own place among the vast library of cricket literature, standing out for its blend of travelogue, reportage, and deeply felt fandom.
It captures not just matches, but the soul of Indian cities, stadiums, and supporters in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.
What makes the book truly memorable is its commitment to honesty without indulgence, and its refusal to slip into lazy nostalgia or statistical recounting.
For readers tired of formulaic match summaries and hagiographic biographies, this feels like a refreshing, human alternative that still respects the game’s magnitude.
If you enjoy cricket writing that doubles up as a window into contemporary India, this is a book worth returning to, not just during World Cup season but any time you want to relive what the sport can mean to a country.
My Rating: 4/5
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