Dhoniiiiiiiiiii……….finishes
off in style…..a magnificent strike into the crowd…..
India had a mediocre rise as a nation till 90s but the whole story changed after liberalization. As our GDP growth rate increased andour prestige increased on world arena, our nation became more confident. But one thing was missing from that India. And we still lack that element and that is Success in the field of sports arena. Just look at China, they started talking part in Olympics in 1984 and by 2008 they were no. 1 sporting nation in terms of Olympic medals. They have even played a FIFA World Cup. United Sates, Japan, Korea, Britain, and Russia – All had their share of sporting glory. Somehow we are not sports power. I grew up watching disappointments on the field. India lost 1996 ICC world cup semifinal in Eden Garden, we struggled to win a single medal in Olympics and the Snyder heart break for Hockey team are just a few examples. We were just happy to see Sachin’s centuries & some other individual brilliance. Bindra won an Olympic gold and Anand became world chess champions but still we were in search of a miracle movement. When Indian reached in world cup final in 2011, I literally forced my 10 month cousin to sit inform of TV for 5 minutes so that I can say that he was born when India played world cup final. I did so because I didn’t believe that India will reach final again soon.
But as country progressed, new generation of players emerged in India. Saurabh Ganguly taught Indian team to play with confidence. The stage was set in 2011. India was hosting the world cup and we were the favorites under the charismatic captain Dhoni. India still had the service of cricketing God- Sachin Tendulkar. Today’s superstar start Kholi and Ashwin had just started to play for India. Dhoni, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Gambhir were young and playing some of the best cricket of their carrier. India struggled in group stages but progressed to quarter final. Sachin was among the runs but the real hero was Yuvraj Singh. India outplayed 3 times defending Champions Australia in quarter final and we defeated arch rivals Pakistan in Mohali to enter final. The final in Mumbai was an emotional moment for whole India. 23 years ago, in the same Wankhede Stadium, India has lost world cup semi-final against England from a winning position but it had inspired a ball boy to win the world cup. That ball boy none other than Sachin Tendulkar. He was playing his 6th world cup and probably the last world cup. Like millions of India, he had a dream to win the world cup. Sri Lanka scored a commendable 274 with Jayawardene scoring a fine century. At the break, Australian world cup winning captain Allan Border & 2 times world champion Viv Richards told Rajddep Sardesai that Sri Lanka were now favorite to win the match. India lost Sehwag when the score was 0 and the god (Sachin) was out in 7th over. A nation of 1.1 billion was stunned but still we had hope on Yuvraj & Gambhir. Kholi & Gambhir calmed the nerves but young Kholi got out in 22nd over when the score was 114. Then something unusual happened. Whole world was expecting Yuvraj Sing to come at number 4. But out of form Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to bat. Later we came to know that it was the decision of Dhoni to promote himself at no. 4 and Coach Gary Kirsten supported the idea. Dhoni had taken the risk of his life. 23 years earlier on same stadium, an Indian captain played a bad shot and India lost semifinal. After that match, Kapli Dev never captained again for India. Dhoni and Gambhir took India with reach of the Sri Lanka’s total. Yuvraj replaced Gambhir in the middle when he was bowled on 97 but India had regained upper hand till that time. Then came the epic wining six.
The nation was over-joyed and I have not seen such celebration in the streets in my whole life till now. The magic captain’s wining six become immortal and finally Sachin won world cup in his last attempt. Even the Captain cool moved to tears and millions of Indians cried for the whole team. It was the moment for over joy, emotions, and pride for whole country. Sunil Gavaskar had once said that he wanted to see that winning shot in his deathbed before dying. Whenever I am in tension or feel sad, I just watch that winning shot. Even after 6 years, I feel emotional watching that immortal moment again & again. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
India had a mediocre rise as a nation till 90s but the whole story changed after liberalization. As our GDP growth rate increased andour prestige increased on world arena, our nation became more confident. But one thing was missing from that India. And we still lack that element and that is Success in the field of sports arena. Just look at China, they started talking part in Olympics in 1984 and by 2008 they were no. 1 sporting nation in terms of Olympic medals. They have even played a FIFA World Cup. United Sates, Japan, Korea, Britain, and Russia – All had their share of sporting glory. Somehow we are not sports power. I grew up watching disappointments on the field. India lost 1996 ICC world cup semifinal in Eden Garden, we struggled to win a single medal in Olympics and the Snyder heart break for Hockey team are just a few examples. We were just happy to see Sachin’s centuries & some other individual brilliance. Bindra won an Olympic gold and Anand became world chess champions but still we were in search of a miracle movement. When Indian reached in world cup final in 2011, I literally forced my 10 month cousin to sit inform of TV for 5 minutes so that I can say that he was born when India played world cup final. I did so because I didn’t believe that India will reach final again soon.
But as country progressed, new generation of players emerged in India. Saurabh Ganguly taught Indian team to play with confidence. The stage was set in 2011. India was hosting the world cup and we were the favorites under the charismatic captain Dhoni. India still had the service of cricketing God- Sachin Tendulkar. Today’s superstar start Kholi and Ashwin had just started to play for India. Dhoni, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Gambhir were young and playing some of the best cricket of their carrier. India struggled in group stages but progressed to quarter final. Sachin was among the runs but the real hero was Yuvraj Singh. India outplayed 3 times defending Champions Australia in quarter final and we defeated arch rivals Pakistan in Mohali to enter final. The final in Mumbai was an emotional moment for whole India. 23 years ago, in the same Wankhede Stadium, India has lost world cup semi-final against England from a winning position but it had inspired a ball boy to win the world cup. That ball boy none other than Sachin Tendulkar. He was playing his 6th world cup and probably the last world cup. Like millions of India, he had a dream to win the world cup. Sri Lanka scored a commendable 274 with Jayawardene scoring a fine century. At the break, Australian world cup winning captain Allan Border & 2 times world champion Viv Richards told Rajddep Sardesai that Sri Lanka were now favorite to win the match. India lost Sehwag when the score was 0 and the god (Sachin) was out in 7th over. A nation of 1.1 billion was stunned but still we had hope on Yuvraj & Gambhir. Kholi & Gambhir calmed the nerves but young Kholi got out in 22nd over when the score was 114. Then something unusual happened. Whole world was expecting Yuvraj Sing to come at number 4. But out of form Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to bat. Later we came to know that it was the decision of Dhoni to promote himself at no. 4 and Coach Gary Kirsten supported the idea. Dhoni had taken the risk of his life. 23 years earlier on same stadium, an Indian captain played a bad shot and India lost semifinal. After that match, Kapli Dev never captained again for India. Dhoni and Gambhir took India with reach of the Sri Lanka’s total. Yuvraj replaced Gambhir in the middle when he was bowled on 97 but India had regained upper hand till that time. Then came the epic wining six.
The nation was over-joyed and I have not seen such celebration in the streets in my whole life till now. The magic captain’s wining six become immortal and finally Sachin won world cup in his last attempt. Even the Captain cool moved to tears and millions of Indians cried for the whole team. It was the moment for over joy, emotions, and pride for whole country. Sunil Gavaskar had once said that he wanted to see that winning shot in his deathbed before dying. Whenever I am in tension or feel sad, I just watch that winning shot. Even after 6 years, I feel emotional watching that immortal moment again & again. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
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