It has been almost a week since India won the coveted World Cup – a title that has been evading India for 28 long years. After losing to Australia in the finals in the 2003 WC, India got back pretty strong with Greg Chappel coaching the Indian team and started as a favorites in the 2007 World Cup but as everyone knew it, their short stint at the World Cup ended up in a losing attempt evoking furious outrage from the Indian fans. It did not even spare Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Indian cricket who admitted that he faced his worst moments that time. Not just him, the then-captain Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh echoed his views that those were the bad times for Indian cricket. It is also evident that Sachin was booed in front of his own home crowd just a few months earlier. This even prompted the media and the critics to ask Sachin for his retirement – a thought that never crossed his mind and thankfully, it didn't as he still had many records to be beaten in the following four years.
Coming back to World Cup defeat, the tournament had a particular phenomenon about it which I called the Sub-continent effect. I wrote an article regarding the same four years back. To give a brief note about it, ever since the 1992 World Cup until 2007 World Cup, Sri Lanka and Pakistan - two of the three biggies of the Indian sub-continent had reached the finals twice – only one ended up in a winning cause. India, the third biggie had reached the finals once which means that they not just would reach the 2011 WC final but also would win it. That was a pattern that crossed my mind; coincidentally, some others had pointed it out as well. Some even went on to say that the pattern is useless; just to alleviate the 2007 WC loss.
At the beginning of the 2011 WC, I told that there are chances of a India – Sri Lanka final. My friend, who was predicting an India vs South Africa finals encounter, challenged me with a bet. I regret denying the bet :P, the result of the South African debacle came just two days later. Setting my prediction skills aside, it was plain obvious when these two teams reached the knock-out stages. The Australian and Pakistani coaches pointing out that the pressure is on India would not have helped for their cause; the same reason that Dhoni had called it as a responsibility rather than pressure just before the World Cup began. They lived up to what Dhoni said.
Just before the World Cup final, I saw a break in the pattern. I had pointed out in my previous entry that India will be facing a non-Asian team in the World Cup. Of course, it broke the pattern. Now one of the three biggie had made it to the finals thrice. It was an Asian vs Asian on an Asian ground. Without a doubt, it was touted to be the biggest contest. India, clearly, had an edge following their awesome performance in the quarter-final and semi-final. Their counterpart did not have to face a rough phase as India as they had to face a relatively weaker team in the sub-continent soil.
Right from the moment the toss was declared, the tough contest began. It was the much-awaited event for Indian fans and also the Indian cricket team who wanted to win for and dedicate the victory to the same person – Sachin Tendulkar. It was also a pressure match for Sachin himself (when it had not been and he knew how to handle it). Sri Lanka wanted to win for Muralidharan, who was in his final ODI match. The stage was set - it was Wankhede stadium at Mumbai, Sachin's home venue. The entire day was a festival; the final was attended by the biggest personalities of India. The Indian and Sri Lankan presidents were there; apart from that, Rajinikanth, Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Mukesh Ambani and a lot others were there. As Sunil Gavaskar pointed out, how come India would lose if Rajini was there?
Coming back to the match, India gave a splendid performance; a lot of events that happened. Jaywardene's century knock – a theory that went behind the scenes was that no century knock in the finals had gone in a losing cause. India had lost in the statistics already and also a several pattern combos that did not favor India. Also, there would have been a debate on whether Sachin should score a century or not, a perfect dramatic fairy tale, bringing up his 100th ton at the right time, if he had, and a win for those believers in superstition who went on to say that India would lose if Sachin scores a century. Sachin did get out; the openers did not give India a good start, the one that India needs to chase 270. It looked easy with the Indian middle order who just proved it yet another time that they could deliver when it is needed.
Dhoni's huge six that won the match and his bat twirl, a rare display of emotions and the cool composure that he maintained after the win, when most of this teammates were not able to hide their tears, would be the most talked about in near future. There is a debate going on right now whether Dhoni is the best captain India has ever had. Sachin and Ganguly had admitted the same; the question is whether it holds true. Undoubtedly, his mastermind helped India solve the puzzle in their seventh attempt.
Sachin is the true master blaster. The only accomplishment that was missing from his belt was the World Cup trophy. Now he would be pleased to be having that as well. As Virat Kohli pointed out, it was Sachin who bore the Indian team on his shoulders for several years and it was the time that the teammates bore him on their shoulders. It came right after the team carried Sachin on his shoulders as a gesture of respect and his World Cup farewell; also it came right in front of his home crowd which booed him once. The comeback of the little master is a true story of a great comeback that others need to learn. No wonder the England football coach wanted his teammates to learn from Sachin the spirit of sportsmanship.
Every player of the squad had atleast one thing to be proud of in the tournament. Hence, congratulations to team India for winning the World Cup 2011! This is the beginning of a new era!
Also this is my 175th post! :)
