The first match I remember watching is 1992 world cup final and subsequent celebrations by Pakistan team. Ever since then, I am following cricket very closely as most of my generation has done. During this time, Indian team went through ups and downs, found in Sachin Tendulkar, a player that for most of my generation is not just a player but source of inspiration, idol, god really, experienced Dravid's gutsy knocks to save India from hopeless situations time and time again, saw Ganguly transforming India's team and infuse some self -belief and aggression in the Indian team; the period when young shoulders started taking responsibility for the win, Yuvraj-Kaif's sensational partnership to win India a game against England stands as a prime example of this change and then finally the "Now" phase of Indian cricket, with emergence of MSD as captain of India. The whole journey of following cricket has been time consuming but something which gave me and most would agree if I generalize "me" to "us" enormous joy.
2003; we came the closest to winning the world cup. Around 30 of us gathered to watch it together, but what we saw was nerves taking over calm and Indian bowlers loosing the plot in the early stage of the match. We never came back in it. But this time around it was different. Opening spell from Zaheer was crucial; the same bowler who conceded 15 runs in first over in 2003 world cup started brilliantly this time around with 3 maidens in a row and set the tone for India's bowling. The opening spell insured that Srilanka would not go past 300 unless we really bowl badly. Though, magic of Mahela took them close to 300. 275 was a symbolic score. It is right in between 250 and 300; 250 suggests the total you would expect a good team batting sensibly to chase down and 300, a total you would expect only gutsy team full of aggression and self believe could chase down. So it was clear that our batting needed mixture of these two approaches.
After the fall of two openers, stalwarts of Indian cricket, it was mature partnership of Gambhir and Kohli who calmed the nerves and put India in a position from where target of 275 looked within range. Then Dhoni paced the innings excellently and the way he controlled the match was brilliant. He never gave Srilanka any chance of coming back in to it. And finally that killer blow over mid - on to seal the deal! I was at MIT, Boston to watch the match with 50 other Indian students and with that six started celebrations which all of us waited for 20 years of our life. This victory has given a way to vent all our emotions attached with Indian cricket. As a cricket follower, it was a proud moment to see men in blue lift the trophy and carrying Sachin over the shoulders. The statement from Kohli just summarized the contribution of Sachin to Indian cricket. His resume now looks complete. I have never seen Sachin so expressive and happy after the win. That just shows how desperately he wanted this and he played his part during the tournament; 53 against Australia, 85 against Pakistan both were crucial knocks to help India enter the big final. But the revelation was Yuvraj; He just proved most wrong including me.
I have been a great critic of Dhoni; not for his cricket but for his sometimes unnecessary and disrespectful comments about senior players. But still I have to say this; this man has got something in him. He reads the game better than the most. It was a master stroke to bring himself before Yuvraj. He rectified his mistakes during the world cup and saved the best knock for the final moment. I still do not understand why he had to criticize fielders after every match in public? But now is not the time to talk about this. The man has delivered and close to becoming a legend in Indian cricket.
Garry Kirstin transformed Indian team in last 3 years. Such a short time, but in his tenure we reached the heights we never tasted before. Became number one team in test, were consistently in top 3 teams in ODI's. We cannot persuade him to stay but he has done his job and now time has come for him to enjoy his time with his family back home. But he will fly back with memories he can cherish for his life. He will not regret the he became an Indian for a moment after the world cup win.
In the end, it was a perfect end to Sachin's last world cup. Everyone wanted India to do well in world cup but more so for Sachin. All the Indian players made it amply clear that he was the source of inspiration and he is the one for whom they wanted to do it. That really proves the point how inspirational this man has been for millions. This man has achieved everything a cricketer would want to and he has taken cricket to a different level. He has set the standards for batsmans to come in future and hence to become the greatest batsman for any player in future has become a task infinitely difficult. I do not know when Sachin will retire, but now I am sure he has nothing more to achieve. What a legend, master of masters and greatest of greats! Thank you Sachin for giving whatever you have given us; we cannot imagine what our life would have been if you were never there! And we do not even want to imagine!!!!
It was not only Team - India in tears but me also and like me uncountable number Indian cricket fans who were in tears. I thank team India to have given us joy of lifetime, memories we will enjoy for rest of our life and more importantly will inspire new generation to take on cricket seriously and that’s where from we are going to get our new Sachin.
There is nothing really that is coming to my mind now. I am all overwhelmed and probably at midnight here in Boston, its time to go to bed with the end of finest day of my life!
Thanks team India, thanks Sachin and thanks god for making me an Indian!!!!!!
2003; we came the closest to winning the world cup. Around 30 of us gathered to watch it together, but what we saw was nerves taking over calm and Indian bowlers loosing the plot in the early stage of the match. We never came back in it. But this time around it was different. Opening spell from Zaheer was crucial; the same bowler who conceded 15 runs in first over in 2003 world cup started brilliantly this time around with 3 maidens in a row and set the tone for India's bowling. The opening spell insured that Srilanka would not go past 300 unless we really bowl badly. Though, magic of Mahela took them close to 300. 275 was a symbolic score. It is right in between 250 and 300; 250 suggests the total you would expect a good team batting sensibly to chase down and 300, a total you would expect only gutsy team full of aggression and self believe could chase down. So it was clear that our batting needed mixture of these two approaches.
After the fall of two openers, stalwarts of Indian cricket, it was mature partnership of Gambhir and Kohli who calmed the nerves and put India in a position from where target of 275 looked within range. Then Dhoni paced the innings excellently and the way he controlled the match was brilliant. He never gave Srilanka any chance of coming back in to it. And finally that killer blow over mid - on to seal the deal! I was at MIT, Boston to watch the match with 50 other Indian students and with that six started celebrations which all of us waited for 20 years of our life. This victory has given a way to vent all our emotions attached with Indian cricket. As a cricket follower, it was a proud moment to see men in blue lift the trophy and carrying Sachin over the shoulders. The statement from Kohli just summarized the contribution of Sachin to Indian cricket. His resume now looks complete. I have never seen Sachin so expressive and happy after the win. That just shows how desperately he wanted this and he played his part during the tournament; 53 against Australia, 85 against Pakistan both were crucial knocks to help India enter the big final. But the revelation was Yuvraj; He just proved most wrong including me.
I have been a great critic of Dhoni; not for his cricket but for his sometimes unnecessary and disrespectful comments about senior players. But still I have to say this; this man has got something in him. He reads the game better than the most. It was a master stroke to bring himself before Yuvraj. He rectified his mistakes during the world cup and saved the best knock for the final moment. I still do not understand why he had to criticize fielders after every match in public? But now is not the time to talk about this. The man has delivered and close to becoming a legend in Indian cricket.
Garry Kirstin transformed Indian team in last 3 years. Such a short time, but in his tenure we reached the heights we never tasted before. Became number one team in test, were consistently in top 3 teams in ODI's. We cannot persuade him to stay but he has done his job and now time has come for him to enjoy his time with his family back home. But he will fly back with memories he can cherish for his life. He will not regret the he became an Indian for a moment after the world cup win.
In the end, it was a perfect end to Sachin's last world cup. Everyone wanted India to do well in world cup but more so for Sachin. All the Indian players made it amply clear that he was the source of inspiration and he is the one for whom they wanted to do it. That really proves the point how inspirational this man has been for millions. This man has achieved everything a cricketer would want to and he has taken cricket to a different level. He has set the standards for batsmans to come in future and hence to become the greatest batsman for any player in future has become a task infinitely difficult. I do not know when Sachin will retire, but now I am sure he has nothing more to achieve. What a legend, master of masters and greatest of greats! Thank you Sachin for giving whatever you have given us; we cannot imagine what our life would have been if you were never there! And we do not even want to imagine!!!!
It was not only Team - India in tears but me also and like me uncountable number Indian cricket fans who were in tears. I thank team India to have given us joy of lifetime, memories we will enjoy for rest of our life and more importantly will inspire new generation to take on cricket seriously and that’s where from we are going to get our new Sachin.
There is nothing really that is coming to my mind now. I am all overwhelmed and probably at midnight here in Boston, its time to go to bed with the end of finest day of my life!
Thanks team India, thanks Sachin and thanks god for making me an Indian!!!!!!
last line should be "thanks god for making me an Indian"
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