“India Rulz World!!” was my first update on FaceBook on 3rd April at 4:30 A.M. Those three sentences said everything. I was still pinching myself as I could not realize whether it was a dream or everything was real. MSD hitting the winning runs with a six, Yuvi and Bhajji crying like a small kid, The GOD of cricket was taken on shoulders by his teammates and even he committed the small crime on television by having a sip of champagne on screen. Yes we were the champions of the game which was considered as religion in our country.
Till 19th Feb whenever my elders got the chance they used to tease me by saying “Son, after playing and following cricket for almost a decade, you were not able to witness the greatest glory of the game which is very unfortunate”. When India won the World Cup in 1983 I was just a toddler and did not knew much about life leave alone cricket. My Dad and uncles still narrate the story of that historic day in June in 1983. But now I have my own story to tell and they won’t tease me again as my “TEAM INDIA” has rewritten the history just couple of days back.
I started following cricket in 1992 and became really involved with the game after 1996 World Cup. “Sachin Tendulkar” was the main reason I started watching and playing cricket. Blame it on Sachin that I am so engrossed with the game and follow it like a religion. Till 2nd April 2011, my most memorable day in Cricket was when “Team India” won Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah on 24th April 1998, it was like other tournaments but still the innings played by Sachin Tendulkar that too against world-class Australians was one of the best innings every played in the history of ODI cricket. There were many moments after that like Sachin’s 98 against Pakistan in 2003 World Cup and Team India winning the T20 World Cup in 2007.
But the best cricketing moment of my life came after a wait of 13 long years and what a moment it was. ‘Team India” winning the World Cup and fulfilling the dream of a Legend who has been carrying the workload of the entire team for almost 21 years. I still remember the heartbreaks of 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 editions. It is not the time to go back and share what happened in those years. But one thing was common. Every time “Team India” entered the tournament with the hope of winning it and ended on the losing side.
One player was in the Team in all the five editions. He is the best player on the planet and has all the batting records with him in the game. The only thing eluded him for over 21 years was to win the World Cup for his country. He came very close to achieve the feat in 2003. But destiny had written some other script for him. He had to win it in his own country, in his own city and on a ground where he was a ball boy in 1987 edition of World Cup.
Finally his dream, the dream of his teammates, the dream of the entire nation was fulfilled on 2nd April 2011 in Mumbai when MSD hit Kulasekara over long on for a Six. It was a moment to treasure for lifetime and what followed next was euphoria all around nation. There was no Hindu, no Muslim and everyone took the roads with the Tri-Color in their hands and started chanting “INDIA..INDIA”. India was celebrating Diwali in April and the celebrations are still going on.
I remembered after 2007 T20 World Cup which India won there were also celebrations all around Mumbai, but the celebrations on the night of 2nd April eclipsed T20 World Cup celebrations and probably 1983 celebrations. It was a very proud moment for a country which has hardly anything to cheer due to the present political turmoil.
The victory lap which I took in my friend’s car and when I waived the “Tri-Color” sitting along the window of the car along with my friend will remain with me for my entire life and till date it is the happiest moment in my life. Thank You “Team India” for giving the entire country a chance to celebrate and one final thing. Till 2015, every Indian can hold their head high while walking on the road wherever they go across the globe and say “We are the World Champs, Don’t mess with us”. LUV U TEAM INDIA.
- TEAM INDIA – World Cup CHAMPS 2011
- THANK YOU “TEAM INDIA”!!!
- PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN
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