24th December 2009. Still remember the evening – Sri Lanka batting 1st at Edens, had scored 315 and India lost Sehwag and Sachin in quick succession...what I managed to witness after this was historic...Gambhir and Kohli fought back and how...giving us probably a first glimpse of the team which was geared to fight till the end, which could win matches without the explosive Sehwag and the God Sachin...
Cut to 2011...India meeting SL in finals yet again, only this time, it was the final frontier – the World Cup...The sequence to the finals for India – beating Australia in quarters and Pakistan in semis. 1st thoughts – a sense of déjà vu. In 1996, India beat Pakistan (in quarters though) and then got a thrashing at Edens in the hands of Lankans. Let the ending be different this time was all I could think of...
Come back to today's game and again, the similarities with the 1996 World Cup surprise you...India fielding 1st (though Sanga won the toss...how? that’s a different twist :) ). An awesome spell from Zaheer (the demons of 2003 had finally been laid to rest, forever) and super fielding from India meant Lankans were kept on a tight leash and scalping 2 early key wickets was enough to bring smiles all around. 1996 – Jayasuriya & Kaluwitharna (I think), out in 1st over and Edens had erupted. What followed next from Aravinda D Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga was akin to what Sanga and Jayawardene managed today – stitching together a partnership effortlessly. SL managed 264 in 1996 semifinals. Today, they added 10 more. Last time also India lost wickets in quick succession with Sachin fighting a lonely battle. That’s where the similarities end...
Chasing 270+ against a quality opposition as the SL is never easy and when we are talking out the WC final, one can safely add 20 more runs to the total just on account of the mental pressure...In the game versus Pakistan, Sehwag took the sting out of the famed Pakistan attack by taking Umar Gul to the cleaners. Such was his dominance that Gul never really got back his rhythm back in that match. That’s Sehwag for you. And that was exactly what was needed from him today. But that was not meant to be...Malinga produced a blinder spell and Sachin soon joined Sehwag in the dressing room...what happened next was a 24th December...Virat and Gauti came together yet again...exactly like last time, no clamour to hit the big ones...collecting singles and keeping the scoreboard ticking was what was needed and eventually materialized...then Kohli departed to a good catch by Dilshan and in walked Dhoni...criticized throughout the tournament for his batting skills or the lack of it, he had a point to prove today and boy, how he proved it...the sound of his bat connecting the ball was pure music and it was a delight to watch him play like his old self, while Gambhir consolidated at the other end. This was the perfect time for India to demonstrate how strong it’s famed batting line-up is and what a perfect demonstration at the biggest platform of all!
The best bit – Dhoni in the post match presentation saying he was sure to be asked the following questions:
- Why was Sreesanth chosen?
- Why was Ashwin not chosen?
- Why wasn’t Yuvraj, the in-form batsman, sent in at No. 5 once Kohli got out
Had only heard and seen bits of 1983 exploits, but having witnessed history live on TV is a different feeling all together. The tension, excitement, goosebumps...Kohli choosing to remain standing reminded how Srikkanth was forced to remain standing the day Kapil scored 175 at Turnbridge! Way to goTeam India for bringing back the self belief and the smiles :) The entire nation BLED BLUE tonight !!! Aha World Champions...love the feeling of that...Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka…what the heck, the entire world, take a bow :)
