“The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows (what's may happen this time)…”
This is what I had written in my post on September 11 - the day the Twenty20 World Cup began. A fortnight later Mahi and his boys have proved me right by pulling off a remarkable and almost unbelievable victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup.
What a moment for Indian cricket! Who would have dreamt of this victory? A young and enterprising team, led from the front by a great captain, winning the tournament in which the pundits had written us off. Without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the result was against all expectations.
This no-fear cricket has not only warmed all Indian hearts but instilled tremendous belief in India’s new-generation team. Above all, the win has, as Dhoni said, done the “repair work” that was necessary after India’s disastrous exit from the World Cup earlier this year. This is really looking good for the future of Indian cricket.
India beat the biggest teams in international cricket, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice). The team batted like lions, bowled like tigers and fielded like leopards. In a tournament that was supposed to give nothing but trouble to the bowlers, the opposition never got on top of our attack, and don’t forget we did not have Zaheer Khan. Bowlers like RP Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and Joginder Singh did it for us.
This win celebrates youth. Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in an over, Robin Uthappa, who can come in at any situation and make his mark, Rohit Sharma, not intimidated by the opposition even on debut, Irfan Pathan, once the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket who came back the hard way after being sent home in the middle of a tour. And a special mention to Gautam Gambhir whose quiet but effective contribution laid the foundations for Yuvraj’s heroics.
Age is on their side as it is for the captain who led from the front. MS Dhoni has shown that he has the capabilities of being a true leader, one who can lead from the front and inspire his team. His appointment as ODI skipper is probably one of best things to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.
All the best to Dhoni and his boys! Hope you give us many more such reasons to rejoice in future.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
C'mon India... do it... one last time!
YES! We’ve done it... we’ve avenged the defeat in the 2003 World Cup finals. Kingsmead came to resemble Little India as thousands of Indian flags were waved with abandon. And what more...we ourselves are now in a final... a dream final... an India vs Pakistan final in a World Cup. So what’s if it is a Twenty20 World Cup. A World Cup is a World Cup after all.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
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