The World At Our Feet

Anhoni Ko Honi Karde
Honi Ko Anhoni
Ek Jagah Jab Jama Ho Tino
Rajni
Ghajini
Aur Dhoni!

This SMS doing the rounds yesterday, based on the famous song from Big B's Amar Akbar Anthony, said it all. With everyone from India's superhero Rajni, who can do no wrong, Ghajini (Aamir) who can remember nothing from the past and can only look straight at action in the future, and Dhoni, the captain of captains, coming together as a nation with a single dream, this Indian team beat all odds, all naysayers, all statistics, all history, and some very strong competition to lift the World Cup for the second time after 28 years.

I was just an 8 year old back in 1983 when Kapil's Devils beat the Windies in a very big upset, and with no TV at home, have faint memories of watching the match at my cousin's place. Like my daughter today, I understood when folks got out, I knew my 4s from my 6s, but mid wicket and silly mid on made no sense. Well, frankly, some of it still makes no sense to me! :)

Those faint memories, and the visual of Kapil lifting the WC, have now been irrevocably replaced by Dhoni's men in shining armour, bleeding blue, sweaty, grimy and teary eyed, from a battle well fought, and well won!

What a journey it was... India started well posting a huge score against the Bangladeshis in their opener, backed by a scintillating almost-double century by Sehwag, but the bowling looked scratchy, giving easy runs and seeming pretty harmless. Wins over Netherlands and Ireland were a given, but the team needed to fight for it. India fought back brilliantly against the English, but couldn't snatch a victory and had to settle for a tie. Against South Africa, the Indians looked set for a massive 400+ score, but capitulated in an inexplicable collapse, losing 9 wickets for 29 runs, and lost the game. With a victory against the West Indies, India came second in the group, setting up a semi final clash with the Australians.

Australia had beated India mercilessly in the 2003 finals, but Dhoni's men put those ghosts to rest in a clinical performance that ruined Ponting's career forever! Against the Pakistanis in the semis, the PM invited his counterpart for some peace initiatives, but the Indian team mercilessly mowed down their opposition, reducing them to dust. And finally, in Mumbai, on the night all India came to the party, they showed just why we are T20 champions, Test team No 1, ODI Team No 1 and ICC World Cup Champions.

It wasn't an easy feat by any means, and started out with a huge controversy when Sangakkara claimed a different toss than he had called, and even when it was audible on camera, Dhoni and the match referee gave in and a second toss was called. Sangakkara won the second toss, and elected to bat. A billion Indians were crestfallen - after all, only 3 out of 10 times, a team batting second had won a WC final. Add to that the fact that no host country had ever won. However, the Indians started positively, Zaheer's first spell included 3 maidens and a wicket, reading 5-3-6-1. India got rid of the feared Dilshan, Sangakkara and Tharanga with reasonable efficiency, but Mahela Jayavardena played a gem of an innings of 103* and gave Lanka a smashing 60+ runs in the batting powerplay to post a very dangerous 274.

No team had won in a WC final chasing anything more than 250, and India's hopes rested on a electrifying start by Sehwag and Tendulkar. However, just on the second ball of the innings, Sehwag was out, LBW to Malinga, and the nation was stunned into silence even before they had settled into their seats for the chase. Tendulkar looked calm and composed and hit some delectable shots, but fished outside his offstump at an outswinging Malinga slingshot, and India was in deep trouble at 31 for 2.

That is when the two Delhi lads took charge, Gautam going on to hit a masterful 97 while Virat batted beautifully for his 35. When Kohli departed to a C&B to Dilshan, in walked the captain Dhoni. He had not done too well as a batsman in the WC, but in the match of his life, he stood up, walking out to the pitch with his usual swagger, intent on proving a point. He started out very cautiously, nudging the ball around for some quick singles, and some scampering, and then slowly started cutting lose. India never lost sight of the RR, always kepeing it under 6, and when Gauti was bowled to a rare reckless shot at 97, Yuvraj joined his captain in the middle. There were to be no further hiccups, as the Indians went about their final 50 runs with ruthless efficiency. And if the Lankans thought they had any chance after a brilliant Malinga over brought the equation to 30 in 4 overs, Dhoni and Yuvraj ended their hopes in the next Kulasekara over with two smashing boundaries. Dhoni then followed with two fours in the next Malinga over, and finally, it was only fitting that Man of the Match Dhoni hit the winning runs through a massive six with his Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh at the other end. Dhoni ended with 91 not out in 79 balls.

As the nation erupted in a wild frenzy of celebrations, the men in blue were reduced to tears by the sheer bigness of the event - these brave men who had fought and bled through the past 50 days or so, were crying like babies. It was a moment that will be cherished forever.

Sachin had missed his 100th 100, but this Wolrd Cup was a fitting tribute to a living legend. As Kohli put it brilliantly, he had carried Indian cricket on his shoulders for 22 years, and today, it was only fitting that his team carried him on their shoulders around the stadium! Gary Kirsten, on his last assignment (he returns to SA now back to his family, having declined to continue his coaching engagement any more), who gave Indian cricket his all, was also carried around the stadium in a fitting tribute to him and his contribution in giving this country this WC.

As we left the theatre, blasting Chak De, Jai Ho, Hum Hindustani and De Ghumake from Samara's speakers, flags proudly waving from inside and outside the car, half its occupants sitting on the window sills, we were joined by hundreds of thousands of Indians... again, there was no caste, creed or religion today - just one identity - Indian! Even as hundreds of cops patrolled the streets to ensure there was no trouble, people poured out in their vehicles, while onlookers cheered and waved as if everyone of us had hit those winning runs! And for once, the cops simply smiled and clapped as vehicle after vehicle went by, people perched on the roofs, sitting on the window sills, and popping out from the skyroofs... everyone had come to the party.

And three hours later, when we returned home at 230 am and got our weary selves into bed, we finally made peace with it - India was world champion, and the world was at our feet!