2011 ICC Cricket World Champions -
Team India - happiness beyond measure.
A couple of days ago I blogged about
The Last Hurdle. As a fan I really wanted India to win, but I was nervous that Sri Lanka would be a banana peel that would cause India to slip up.
But never the less, I was up at 3.30 in the morning to cheer the team on from Ball 1. It was amazing to see the team contain the Sri Lankan batsman until the batting power play, but at the end of it when the score read 275, I felt really nervous about the team's chances & when we lost a couple of early wickets it felt like 2003 all over again. But then, slowly but surely Ghambir and Kholi consolidated the innings and brought back hope. It was such a thrilling match. I couldn't even take my eyes of the screen. When Dhoni walked in at the fall of Kholi's wicket, to keep the momentum & the left-right partnership going, I thought for the first time that we may be on our way to the cup. But every time a commentator said something good, or bad I was looking for wood to touch, nails to bite. So many miles away I could feel the tension. I felt like I was there, every time Chak De or Vande Mataram played it boosted the tension and you felt for Dhoni, Ghambir and Yuvraj.What must they have been feeling? The weight of a billion hearts on heir shoulders. As we inched ahead, the thoughts of an Indian win started surfacing, but tried not to think those thoughts for fear that it would jinx the team.
But when Dhoni hit the last ball for a mighty six, I let out a load roar, felt such happiness, exuberance and delight. Pure Happiness, "We are the champions". A few tears rolled down my cheeks. Tears of Joy. Team India did it.
All these days, I've seen friend after friend put up status messages on Facebook during the match. Almost running commentary of what was happening on the ground. I found it funny, to comment about a cricket match on Facebook. But then it happened. A few minutes after that Six, there I was, putting up a congratulatory message of my own, liking status messages of the Indian win, trying to be a part of something great.
After the match, as the scenes of celebration were unfolding, you could see tears in the eyes of so many. The players, the support staff and even the fans. It was so clear how much this series meant to all of us. We are champions in 2011. All credit to Kapil and the 1983 team. But this victory is for the current generation. It resets the clock from 28 to 0.
Here's hoping it stays at 0 for a long long time to come. :)
All I can say is... Thank You Team India, you brought so much of happiness to so many. Congratulations you deserve all the accolades you will receive.
"A Fan Following" - Rahul
The best photo of the victory is this one...
Sudhir Gautam, the biggest Indian fan that you see at every match, with the flag painted from head to tummy got a chance to hold the cup. Very nice gesture by Sachin.
And India broke the jinx as I hoped... "An Host Team Won World Cup".
