Hmm.. so where should I begin this one?

I’ve spent the last few hours going over the last over of the Final and the “aftermath” if you will, on youtube. Again, and again, and again. And each time, the euphoria remains. Each time my heart swells up. Each time I see a Harbhajan or Yuvi with moist eyes and I get how much it meant to them. The incredible hug Tendulkar gave Dhoni and Yuvi. I’ve never seen him this animated. The lap of honour with Tendulkar and Kirsten on the young ones’ shoulders. What did Virat say? “Tendulkar has carried the team for 21 years. I think it’s time we carried him on our shoulders”.  Yes, Virat. You can say that again. Incredible.

I gotta say though. When Tendulkar edged that Malinga delivery, I had that sinking feeling in my stomach. This cannot be happening. We aren’t going to collapse again, are we? Another 4 years’ worth of wait? No, this cannot happen. A tiny part of my brain reminded me that my team had faced such tricky situations in the last couple of years, and handled it really well. What do I say of what happened after that. Writers better than me will explain how that innings was built by Gambhir and Virat and then Gambhir and Dhoni. I will only say this. Gambhir, in my book, deserved the man of the match as much as Dhoni did for this win. Just sayin’! Not complaining! The adjudicators could have given it to Sreesanth for all I care. As long as the trophy was given to Dhoni .

Let me just briefly jot down my thoughts on a few players in this team and their WC performances (in order of their batting) –

Viru – I find it incredible that a player like Viru has such an amazing Test record. He is just a slightly better version of Afridi for me in ODIs. But even so, a quickfire 35 from him can really dismantle a good bowler (like what happened with Gul). Makes it easier for people coming in after him.

Tendulkar – I have no words for this guy. Enough has been said. Rest assured I’m glad he has a WC gold medal for himself.

Gambhir –  This guy. This guy has nerves of steel. Mostly. On the rare occasion when that steel is melting away, he runs himself out in the ugliest manner. But otherwise, his presence on the batting crease gives me the sort of peace of mind that Dravid used to once upon a time (i.e. when he still played ODIs).

Virat- He is 4^th on my list here, and he should never ever bat lower than this number. You hear that Dhoni? I complained when he wasn’t sent out at #4 against England. I had my head in my hands when the same happened against SA. But Dhoni realised his mistake in good time, and all was well with the world. Virat is my hope for the future of Indian cricket. As long as he keeps his attitude in check. Don’t ever let me see that arrogant smirk on your face, Virat!

Yuvi – Was ranting to a friend a few months ago about how it was so painful to watch someone so gifted like Yuvi, so disinterested in his game. For someone who used to be an incredible fielder, to watch him move about listlessly on the field..it wasn’t a good sight at all. Whatever has reignited the fire in his belly, I hope it stays for years to come.

Captain Cool – Dhoni, dear Dhoni. Oh my dear Dhoni. Saved his best batting for the end, didn’t he? Everything we associate with his brand of batting. All those characteristic shots. That mad running between the wickets. Did I say Gambhir has nerves of steel? Well, this guy right here has nerves of Titanium (I hope I have my chemistry right here…don’t correct me if I am wrong. It’s ok. I make a living out of software stuff, not chemistry ).  The format allowed him a little leeway to test a few of his hypotheses and he made good use of it. Got the batting order and batsmen right (good decision to drop Yusuf, like I pointed out in my previous post). Almost good enough with the bowling line up too. And also discovered how the team was messing up with the Powerplays and worked that chink in the armour out. All in all, a job well done! And there are 2 distinct images of Dhoni I’ll take away from this tournament. One, that look of calm in his eyes as he hit that 6 to seal the match. And two, that giggling teenager at the press conference after the match! Gawd Dhoni, what was that all about??

Raina – He came in a little late but he showed his captain, and the team and us what we all were missing before he came in – electricity on the field that ends up lifting the standards of others in the team too. And an innings of a finisher that is aggressive enough, but lasts more than 5 balls. He played his part to perfection.

Zak – The unofficial bowling coach. The “Anil Kumble” of this team. Dhoni’s go-to guy. The guy to toss the ball to when things are happening. The guy to toss the ball to when things are not happening. The joint highest wicket taker of the tournament with an average under 18. ‘Nuff said.

The Team – They only lost to SA. And that wasn’t a loss handed over the plate either. They were part of the toughest group. They had an incredibly hard path to the finals. Beating Australia and Pakistan is no joke. They stuck together. Someone was always at hand to do what was needed. Whether it was an innings of calm that was required, or a cameo. Whether India needed some wickets ASAP or they needed to stem the flow of runs. The fielding lifted towards the end too. I mean if you see Nehra flying about, you know there is something special going on on the field. This was the culmination of years of hard work. By the team, and their support staff too. Which brings me to…

Gary Kirsten – To you sir, I can only say Thank you. Thank you for giving my team 3 years of your life, away from your country and family. Thank you for building my team and doing everything you can to make them believe. You’ve given us the number 1 ranked team in tests. You’ve given us the number 1 ranked team in ODIs. You’ve given us the World Cup. I shouldn’t ask for more. I am incredibly sorry to see you go. Best wishes for your future endeavours.  If I could, I would give you the Bharat Ratna. Uh, would you mind coming back to give a “handover” of Project Team India once we have a new coach?? Please? Pretty please??

Nope, I’m not done yet.

I had to walk halfway to get to Southall yesterday coz the roads were all cordoned off. With an injured foot to boot. But it was so worth it. The fireworks, the naarebaazi, the flags, the vuvuzelas, the march on the Broadway. Southall screeched to a halt on Saturday, as did other parts of London (I’ve heard it was not possible to get out of East Ham train station after a while). The cheers went on even on public transport, no consideration for fellow non-Indians on board. The Met Police might have anticipated something like this, but I’m sure even they would have been surprised by the extent of it. Who knew there were so many noisy Desis around, eh?

I should mention the Sri Lankans too. They were worthy opponents. Mahela played a sublime knock. I was really surprised to note his final strike rate was over a 100. Never realised when the gears shifted to such an exent. And more than the Akhtars and the Aussies, I feared Malinga. And he did give us a glimpse of why he is feared. Those 2 wickets would have given millions of Indians a queasy feeling, including yours truly. Those yorkers, man, how does he do that will such regularity?? I guess the pressure got to him at the end, but nothing should take away from his achievements. And what about Murali the Magician. You either call him a master craftsman, or a chucker. There is no middle ground. I chose the former. And I will always remember the sheer joy on his face everytime he got a wicket. Jumping about like a little child. His last match ever did not do justice to the calibre of the man. He wil surely be missed, and not just by the Lankans.

Final thoughts – My dad has his ’83 story. I finally have one of my own too. And be sure of one thing. I’ll watch re-runs of this match till every detail is etched in my brain. And I’m going to bore my kids and their kids, the other people’s kids with stories of how we won this World Cup.

It was a 28 year wait this time around. One gets the feeling that the wait will be much shorter for the next one.

To all you Team India fans who’ve been with the team through thick and thin, enjoy and savour this victory. They’ve done it!!

Mumbai Ka King Kaun?? INDIAAAAAA……..

To me the World Cup showcased everything an ODI can be, given the right situation. The powers-that-be would do well to pay heed to the signs too. There is no need to tamper with the format. No pink balls, or innings splits or anything. For starters, good pitches, meaningful matches, and  adequate support for Associates will help muchly.

Tomorrow is a day of importance for an Indian cricket fan. Besides the fact that this is a chance for us to regain the trophy after 28 long years, it is also going to be Tendulkar’s last appearance for Team India at the WC.  Tendulkar has always done well for India in all WCs (except 2007, I guess). Let’s hope the team is able to rise up to the challenge of tomorrow and give him a WC send off in style!

 It will also mark the end of Gary Kirsten’s innings with India. After John Wright retired I was very sceptical of ever finding a coach who would be able to match his contribution to the team. But Gary has been great. It is very heartwarming to see how the players acknowledge his work with them and are sorry to see him leave. Scepticism raises its ugly head again every now and then, now that Gary is retiring. But I hope we are able to find someone as suitable to replace him. Needless to say though, the new coach has big huge shoes to fill.

Back to the final – I don’t know who holds the edge, who is the better team on paper and all that jazz. I cannot predict who will win it tomorrow. It is a difficult choice. Both teams have their own strengths and weaknesses. Hard to tell who will be able to soak up the pressure better. What I do hope for is a contest worthy of a final (unless of course India wins, then I don’t mind a crushing defeat for the Lankans!). Is 2011 going to be it for India? We shall soon know. Good luck to Dhoni and his men!

..we know they didn’t create any opportunities in the second Test. I was disappointed. I thought they might go for an early declaration and make a game out of it, which they didn’t. I felt that they are not as aggressive as a No. 1 team should be.

A little rich coming from someone whose team was part of this monstrosity. And why would India want to inflict additional pain on its bowlers knowing how “positive” Sri Lankan cricket is generally. Much better to get some batting practice for the bowlers too, right? Coz that is the only skill that comes in handy on most subcontinental pitches.

It’s important that we play aggressive cricket.

Hahaha…you are kidding me, right? Aggresive cricket…I will not be holding my breath for that dear Mahela. It’s not something you guys do, so don’t joke around.

Even in the previous Test we went for the kill.

You have gone for the kill? What is the “kill” here? Test matches, bowlers?

Go back and do what you do do best. Make centuries on flat tracks. Oh, congrats on breaking Don’s record btw.

Mendis gets wickets in this game. He gets selected for Tests 2 and 3. The Indian batsmen launch a savage attack on him and the 2008 series is avenged for, the way it was supposed to be.

Are they batsmen, are they bowlers, are they in the team to just make up the numbers, does the captain not like the other players warming the benches? Why were Jadeja and Pathan playing against WI after repeated failures?

Were these mistakes repeated just so that the stubborn captain could try and prove that his tactics and team selections were actually a work of genius, and just did not work in the match against Australia for some reason? Is this one of the reasons why we are almost out of the tournament??

Why…why…why would the batsmen in a team, who are supposed to be “the strength of the team” no less, not even try and apply themselves when chasing a decent score? Twice in a row?

Screw you Men In Blue. Pfft. I’ll follow the girls instead. You would do well to take some inspiration from them yourselves. Two S/F appearances in two T20 WCs. (Dear reader, did you see what the girls did to SL today, yet?

Btw, the senior members of the One day team have rebelled big time against BCCI. They can’t stand playing SL anymore, so they’ve pulled out of the Triangular tournament in Zimbabwe altogether. I know. I know. The BCCI is trying to avoid this scandal by saying stuff like “We are resting the seniors” etc. But trust me. That’s all boo-hockey. Revolt is in the air.

They have been having an affair for a long time now. These seemingly “casual” meetings here and there. It reminds me of Monica and Chandler hiding their relationship in the beginning, with the whole “Oh, you are doing laundry tonight? Me too!! Let’s do it together” thing.

Only,  it isn’t half as funny as those guys were. My feelings are aptly summarised here.

Stop, seriously.

What do you do then if you lose out on the record by a whisker? You are pained, you throw your bat about in disgust, you are extremely disappointed and tell everyone as much. If you are Sehwag though, you go out with a smile on your face. You acknowledge the fact that there was a record for the taking, that you missed an opportunity, but are not overly concerned. “There is always a next time”, you say.

I like that. There is a certain amount of selflessness in this approach. I like the fact that Sehwag is not too concerned about making and breaking records. It tells me that he will not alter the natural flow of his game just because he is near a milestone. Good for the team!

Congratulations and well done on the 293, Veeru. Veeru aur Jai (victory) ki jodi bani rahe!

Sri Lanka arrive in India after a gap of four years with thoughts of opening their test account there. On the other hand, Indians probably have revenge on their mind, after Ajantha Mendis messed with the heads of their world class batsmen last year, and sent them to a 2-1 defeat. The other issue that keeps coming up of course is the number 1 spot on ICC rankings…which is a bit much because regardless of who wins this series, South Africa will surely pound England later in December and reclaim their #1 spot. But that’s ok. There is test cricket on the menu finally, and India is playing..after what seems like an overkill of T20s and ODIs, what more could I ask for?

A few things have changed since these 2 countries played each other last. Ganguly and Kumble no longer represent India at the International level. Vaas doesn’t play for Sri Lanka anymore. Bowling well and taking wickets has become incidental to Harbhajan Singh..his primary role is that of a batsman now. Sangakkara is showing a lot of “aggression” on the field these days, so unlike the “gentle, mild-mannered Sri Lankans”. And Mendis seems to have lost his mysterious aura, so much so that he doesn’t find himself in the team every now and then.

It should be an interesting series. As Sangakkara said, there are reputations to be made. The bits that interest me are all related to India (yeah, I’m pretty one-dimensional like that)

Will Dhoni show the courage to give Harbhajan the boot finally?

Will Yuvraj cement his place in the test side?

Will Tendulkar enter the 21st year of his career with a good series?

Will Sehwag and Gambhir shrug off their indifferent ODI form and shine?

Will Dravid do well?

Will India’s pacers find their bearings?

Will M&M be mauled? (Yes please!!)

We’ll know pretty soon.

Onto Match 1, Day 1 then..aka The Review.

From 32/4 to 385/6, Dhoni must be a relieved man. By the time I got up today, India’s score was around 120/4. Not the greatest of starts, but I was quite pleased to see Dravid’s half century then. Didn’t realise until much later just how big a hole India had dug for itself earlier in the day, courtesy them being generous to another debutant some newbie with like the longest name ever….honestly guys..you have got to stop doing that!!

(Update – Just got to know that W’s debut match was in 2007, against England..Thanks NC)

(And dear Mr. and Mrs. Welegedara. I know it is probably none of my business, but…Uda Walawwe Mahim Bandaralage Chanaka Asanga Welegedara…seriously??)

Dhoni and Yuvi must be pleased with their effort. They both needed that. I was surprised to learn that this was only Dhoni’s second Test century, and that too after a gap of almost 4 years. Hmmm..chalo, der aaye, durust aaye. (Better late than never)

With Bhajji’s ability to hold the bat (5 of his 7 50s have come since 2008), I suppose 450 should be gettable at the very least. That should be a decent enough 1st innings score. I don’t know how helpful the pitch will be for bowlers tomorrow and the day after so let’s see how the Indians fare on the field.

So then, are you ready for the Yahoooo yet??

Saving India the blushes today, and in some style, was THE MAN..with a very confident innings, a SR of more than 70 and hitting a 6 too! Could my Monday GET any better?

Days like these make me want to go back to school/college days when it was so much easier to just take a day off and sit glued in front of the telly on match days. I can probably see highlights after I get back from work, but it is not the same as watching it live. Sigh…I’ll soothe my soul with this stuff in the meantime…

SP @ Bored

Cricinfo

Trevor Chesterfield @ Cricketnext

Trying hard not to get carried away, but please RD, could we have some more?

Don’t write me off an as infidel yet! Like any good Indian I still believe we will beat the crap out of Pakistan tomorrow. But in general, the team is not inspiring much confidence this time. I can’t quite put my finger on what’s wrong (It’s not you…it’s me). Important batsmen are injured. Bowlers are off-colour. Fielding has been meh for quite some time now. The Compaq Cup (touted as “preparation” for CT) didn’t exactly rock my world. And the lesser said about that warm up against NZL the better.

As an aside, I get very uncomfortable at the thought of India playing NZL in multinational tournaments. I think we don’t have a very good record against them in such matches, warmup or regular. Some Champions Trophy final(the 2nd edition?), T20 WC 2007 come to mind. Can anyone confirm this? Do we always/mostly lose to NZL in such tournaments?

Anyway, what I need to see is a confident win over Pakistan. Sachin, Rahul…show us what you are made of. Yusuf Pathan…please justify your place in the squad. The fast bowler brigade…get a grip! Remind us again why you all were being touted as one of the best in business and a balanced attack  not so long ago.

Go India Go!!