March towards the Championship

Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com

2^nd April 2011, 48.2- MS Dhoni sent the ball out of the boundary line, as whole of India erupted in joy, happiness and goose bumps. Yes, I’m talking about the World Cup final. India finally were crowned champions after 28 long years. Let’s talk about India’s journey towards the World Cup triumph.

As a kid, watching the sport since late 1990’s and the early 2000’s, I used to hear a lot of adults talking about how great Kapil Dev was, how India did the unimaginable by winning the 1983 World Cup. My dad used to tell me stories about Kapil Dev’s 175 against Zimbabwe and his amazing catch in the World Cup final to dismiss Sir Viv Richards. I too wanted to experience India winning the World Cup once in life. I was too young to understand the 1999 World Cup, or let’s just say I didn’t know much about cricket back then.

Picture credits: www.scoopwhoop.com

Then came the 2003 World Cup. I remember India’s dismal performance against New Zealand before the start of the World Cup. The 8 year old me just wanted India to lift the trophy. After beating everyone except Australia to reach the finals, they met Australia again in the final of the 2003 World Cup. I had made my own book too of this World Cup, don’t know if it’s still there, but 2003 World Cup will stay in my heart forever. Only an Indian victory in the final would have added the cherry on the cake. Watching the match keenly, India won the toss and Ganguly decided to bowl first. I never saw such domination of a team before the final of the 2003 World Cup. Australia posted a mammoth 359 in their 50 overs, thanks to Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn. Half of India’s hope ended there itself. And the other half ended when Sachin, the highest run scorer in the tournament got out in the first over. India folded out at 234, meaning Australia won the 2003 World Cup. I was gutted. The 8 year old me couldn’t accept such horrific defeat at the hands of the Aussies. But, what more could have I done other than spreading rumours of final be rescheduled again because there was a spring in Ponting’s bat? It was over. It took time to accept.

Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com

The 2007 World Cup was a forgettable time for India as they crashed out in the group stages of the tournament. However, the T20 World Cup win in the same year brought the smiles back on the fans faces. MS Dhoni, young captain lead India to the first ever T20 Champions title. However, the 50 overs title was still evading India.

After a 4 year long wait, India were hosting the World Cup along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. By that time period, the Indian team was strong, considered to one of the semi-finalists by cricket analysts going into the World Cup. India had a great chance of repeating what they did in 1983. The Indian fans had faith in their captain MS Dhoni to lift the trophy after a 28 year long wait. After beating Bangladesh, West Indies, Ireland and Netherlands, India were in strong position to qualify for the quarter-final. A tie against England and a loss against South Africa were minor hiccups before India were going to meet against Australia in the quarter final.

Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com

The 2003 World final loss was still going on in my minds and I bet everyone in India would be thinking the same. Ricky Ponting scored yet another century against India as Australia posted a healthy 260 on the board. India started off steady before Sehwag fell in the 9^th over. Tendulkar couldn’t convert his half century after he departed scoring 53. India were 94-2 at that stage when Tendulkar was out. It was still in India’s hand, but Australia were not going to give it up easily. After they broke Kohli and Gambhir’s 49 run stand, Gambhir was run out in an ugly fashion for a well-made 50. MS Dhoni came out to bat and it felt this was India’s last batting pair which could take India home. However, Dhoni was out on just his 2^nd ball, leaving India reeling at 187/5. Suddenly, the belief amongst the Australians was back. Came in Suresh Raina, which was his first World Cup outing with the bat. He started off with just one job of giving Yuvraj Singh, India’s man in form the most of the strike and as he got his confidence by that time, he hit a six of Brett Lee, to almost seal the deal for India. They stitched together a 74* run stand, out of which Raina scored 34 of 28 balls and Yuvraj Singh finished the game with a boundary scoring 57*(65). Raina’s crucial innings and Yuvraj’s anchor innings meant Australia were out of the World Cup. The dominance of the entire 2000’s decade was shown the way out and everyone felt, India have a great chance of winning the World Cup.

Picture credits: The Telegraph

India reached the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup, and their opponents were none other than arch rivals Pakistan. India started off with Sehwag hitting 5 fours in an over to Umar Gul. Tendulkar on the other end was steadily moving the ship, until Sehwag got dismissed LBW. Tendulkar got a few lines on his way to 85 but was finally dismissed. Yuvraj Singh, India’s best man at the World Cup, was out for a duck at his home ground leaving India at 141-4. India was setting a target and anything below 250 would have been below par. With MS Dhoni out in the 42^nd over, leaving India at 205/6, India were once again looking at the underdog Suresh Raina for some after late finish. And he didn’t disappoint the fans. Scoring 36 off 39 and batting along with the tail, Raina’s matured and crucial innings gave India the required runs as they reached a competitive 260, the same score which Australia scored against them in the quarter final. Pakistan were looking comfortable when they were standing at 103/2. Yuvraj Singh came into the attack. His luck with the bat wasn’t there, but with the ball, he came and took two quick wickets, and Pakistan were 106/4. Umar Akmal showed aggression at one end and at the other it was Misbah Ul Haq, who was playing the anchor role. Harbhajan Singh took Umar Akmal’s wicket followed by Afridi. Abdul Razzaq was done by the slower one by Munaf Patel, and suddenly, Pakistan’s tail was exposed. Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal did everything they could do to help Misbah, but in the end 260 turned out to be enough for India. Misbah Ul Haq was the last man to be dismissed as India won the match and qualified for yet another World Cup final.

Picture credits: Daily Mail

India had given themselves a great chance of lifting the trophy. The wait was finally seeming to get over as afternoon of 2^nd April 2011 approached. Sri Lanka won the toss and happily decided to bat first. A safe choice putting runs on the board in the final, rather than succumbing under pressure in a big match chase. Sri Lanka started off well, with Dilshan scoring 33 and Sangakkara scoring 48. However, Jayawardene had something else in his mind. His might with the bat was showcased at just the right time, in the final, in a high pressure match, he scored a century as Indian fans including me sat in disbelief. Thisara Perera’s late blows, scoring 22 of just 9 balls meant Sri Lanka were taking momentum along with them at innings break. The score read 274/6 in 50 overs. A very healthy and a very challenging total for a final. 

Picture credits: www.geo.tv

India started off with Sehwag getting out on the 2^nd ball of the innings followed by Sachin not too late. It was pin drop silence in the stadium, when India lost Sachin and the scene at everyone watching the match at home would be the same too. 31-2 isn’t a situation you want to be in chasing 275 in the final. Gambhir and Kohli joined hands and steadily were holding the ship together until Dilshan took a brilliant caught and bowl to dismiss Virat Kohli. At 114/3, Indian fans were looking at yet another Yuvraj’s heroics as he has done so far in the World Cup. However, to fans surprise, came in Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This decision shocked everyone, as MS Dhoni was in poor form with the bat throughout the World Cup so far. The decision was based on Muralitharan’s off spin might trouble Yuvraj as he’s a left hander. Partly, also to keep the left-right combination going. India still was required to go at a rate close to 6 per over and the ask was just getting bigger and bigger. A 109 run partnership between Gambhir and Dhoni brought back hopes amongst the Indian fans. Gambhir batting on 97, came down the wicket to slice the ball through point, became the victim of Perera who went straight at the stumps. 

Picture credits: India Today

Gambhir missed a golden opportunity of scoring a World Cup century that too while chasing a total. However, more than Gambhir’s century, India wanted to win the match and the World Cup. Yuvraj Singh came out to bat and support MS Dhoni, who started accelerating. And then came the moment, 4 needed off 11 balls. MS Dhoni on strike, Kulasekara the bowler, length ball, and MS Dhoni smacked it to cow corner for a six. He just stood there for a minute or two until he realized what he just did. 

Picture credits: www.sports.ndtv.com

Yuvraj Singh came in running and the celebration was never going to stop, was it? Finally after 28 long years, India lifted the World Cup and as rightly said by Ravi Shastri in the commentary box, it was an Indian captain who was magnificent at the night of the final. The emotions amongst the players was evident as Bhajji, Yuvi broke down in tears of joy and everyone carried the master Tendulkar on their shoulders.

Picture credits: India TV

I’m still getting goose bumps while writing about it, it was tremendous, and something magical only a true Indian cricket fan would feel. MS Dhoni was awarded the M-o-M for his brilliant 91 off just 79 balls and Yuvraj Singh was the Man of the Tournament  for his all-round performance scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets.

Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com

The dream of watching India win the World Cup was finally fulfilled and now even I have a story to speak about to many new generation kids out there.