Indian cricket in 2007: First heartbreak, then victory

The year 2007 was a mixed bag for Indian cricket.

In February, the team landed in West Indies for the World Cup as one of the favourites. But what happened thereafter was, perhaps, the worst for Indian cricket since the 1979 World Cup. However, in 1979 there was at least some consolation – the team was playing in just its 2nd World Cup, the one day format of the game had not yet caught on, and India was pitted against the mighty West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

But what happened in 2007 was nothing short of a disaster. The team had a great batting line-up — probably the best in the world — it had the right blend of youth and experience, and it had fared very well in two previous series at home against West Indies and Sri Lanka just prior to the World Cup.

Even then the World Cup dreams of a million people back home crumbled in the first round itself. Team India was stung by Bangladesh in its first match. In the second, it redeemed its grace somewhat by achieving a victory against minnows Bermuda after scoring a World Cup record score of 413. However, in the third match India was comprehensively beaten by Sri Lanka, and eliminated from the World Cup.

Now, the question was how would Team India rise up from the ashes? Will the fans back home forgive the team for its disastrous World Cup campaign? Will Indian cricket regain its lost glory? If yes, how?

All these questions were answered in September, just seven months after the World Cup disaster. India reached South Africa to participate in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship, this time with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the helm.

No one gave this team a chance. Their three batting superstars - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly - were missing and India had played just one Twenty20 match before this. But Dhoni’s boys surprised everyone by winning the tournament after a series of giant-killing acts. En route to the final, India beat Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice).

It was India's first major triumph since winning the 1983 World Cup. Apart from adding a glorious chapter in the history of Indian cricket, the victory also laid to rest demons of the 50-over format of the World Cup.
India cricket in 2007 can be classified as the tale of two dreams - one that fans all over the world wished they never had, and, the other, that the country will never want to wake up from.

Now, all that needs to be done is to continue the victory march in Australia.

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.