ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
For all the Indians who were swearing at Dhoni for deciding Nehra to bowl in the Group match against South Africa, here is the “Shut Up!” notice. Nehra is no last-over villain, the batsman was all determined. So what does the man from Ranchi, the guy drinking milk all the time at ones for what happened in the past. From the garland of slippers over the poster of Dhoni (2007) the transition has taken place to pouring of milk and beer all over the Team’s posters (2011).
April 2, 2011 the most memorable day, after twenty eight years the shimmering Golden Cup is all ours and the hunt has ended. 14:30 began the Final, enthralled to see the Sri Lankan Team down losing their most valuable possessions, Tharanga, Dilshan and Sangakarra. Yet the middle order made the match sustain with the target 275 for India. As Sangakarra said at the Presentation Ceremony, any score less than 350 are just not enough for a team like India. Team India entered the Cricket World Cup circuit with a poor fielding side, Zaheer, Harbhajan and Nehra may be strong individually, when the team effect comes into the big picture, the fielding seems to collapse. Besides all the criticism on the fielding, the finals was one of a kind, the best upshot of the Indian Team’s fielding. Dhoni running to check the ball from kissing the boundry line, Yuvi going wild at the pitch, Harbhajan praying before every delivery of his cannot be erased from the memory. All these came from the past Group matches, Quarters and Semi-Finals. Lessons learnt, strategies accomplished!
Mirpur – Day 1
Letter “M” is somewhat lucky for us. Mirpur was the match to rewrite the history, match to shower the hidden grudge against Bangladesh. The match of explosion. Sachin’s wicket was disappointing but Sehwag’s century placated all the apprehensive feelings. The ‘Losers’ lost at their home, for Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Sehwag this was equivalent to winning Cricket World Cup. Bangladesh was not a big headed team, but the victory was essential to prove the mettle of our Indian players.
Matches against Netherlands, Ireland and West Indies were cake walk, besides one or two thumps at few points.
Next hiccup was at the second match for India, against England. Sehwag dismissed this time, Sachin played. The jinx that when Sachin plays, the Team turns complacent and struggles, was realized and the struggle ended with a draw. [I have this special love towards the matches that ends in a Tie!].
Uhhh! By the way, this match was at “M”. Chinnaswamy Stadium!
With South Africa, the first loss was incurred. The first and the last loss in the Cricket World Cup 2011 for India, it is not Dhoni, it is not Nehra. It is just the destiny! Bypassing the losses and leaping to the biggest match, India vs Australia…
Yes, yes it is again “M” – Motera!
At Ahmedabad , the second Quarter-Finals between the two finalists of 2003 was a nail-biting one. There was no hope in me, that India would break the ice and drive in to the Semis. At Motera all that was remarkable was the master-blaster Ponting breaking down with watery eyes in the last over of the second innings, bleeding Bret Lee with hopelessness in his deliveries. It is pathetic to imagine the masters falling down. Mirapur to Motera was all smooth till the Mohali match came in.
The perfect blend of Politics, Cinema and Cricket was at Mohali, what else an Indian needs? India-Pakistan, at Mohali playing a “do-die” match… Wah!
The annals said that there is no single victory for India against Pakistan at Mohali, but as we knew this World Cup 2011 was to create new and change the existing history, and then… India won!
Thud! We are now in Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium.
After eight matches, we entered the finals with the most hospitable opponent team the Lankans. They sulked, they sunk, they struggled and they sustained in the first innings and made the figure to 274. We (Sachin and Sehwag) walked with a gait into the pitch, and at 0.2 over Sehwag was dismissed. That blackened the dreams of millions. The early wickets, Sachin and Sehwag what else could make the Indians go kaput? Gauti, Kholi and the (Milkman) Dhoni lifted the falling tower of hopes. We were unlucky, we were pressurized, we sizzled and we evolved. We won the cup with board of no centuries but brilliantly handled innings by Gautam and Mahi.
Mirpur, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Motera, Mohali, and Mumbai!
And finally it is MS Dhoni and The Master! Chak De India!
Tags: Cricket, India, Mirpur, Mohali, Mumbai, Sri Lanka, World Cup
