As always I refused to switch on the television on April 2nd 2011. Why, because India was playing Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup 2011 finals. What has that got to do with me? Simple answer, one of the many superstitions associated with Indian Cricket. I believe with proof, that every time I watch the Indian team playing they loose. The cup had been alluding us "the Indians" for some time now , goddamn 28 years and that is a long time by any standards. Obviously I did not want to be the cause of pain for 1. 20 million Indians.
Not exactly a follower of cricket I am aware of the basics of cricket. Every world cup I would plonk myself in front of the TV hoping that ndia would win be counted amongst the best cricketing teams in the world . But alas, 28 years it was the same disappointment, except the disappointment grew many folds every time. So this time around I decided to stay aloof and to save myself the pain of another horror of a defeat. But, for some reason a tiny voice inside me screamed aloud that maybe, maybe India would win and the semis only added to my belief, but with India one can never tell.
So when the finals finally started my television was off and I refused access to anybody out of fear that they would go straight to the sports channel. I would take a peek once in a while but my excitement got better of me and I was glued to the TV for the last 3 overs.But when the score card showed 271/2 I simply switched to a saas bahu channel just to be on the safer side. And boy did India win or DID INDIA WIN? Euphoria at the stadium on winning the WORLD CUP was passed on by some invisible meidium and I jumped and yelled and cried and threw stuff around just missed cracking our new LCD TV. Thank God, I missed.
Then it was only DD National channel, Dhoni's face on the screen and his eyes followed the ball he had hit, which was well into the stands. The winning shot, a six.
The whole stadium erupted like a volcano dormant for a millions of years and finally letting out steam with full force. The crowd, the team, officials, the victory lap, Sachin Tendulkar carried around the stadium. I bet everybody wanted to be part of the lap. "WE" had won the cup. Prizes were given out , finally the cup was handed over to the Indian team.
What I remember the most is the look in Dhoni's eyes after he executed the "winning shot"and the smile that followed. The confidence and strength that one look emanated was remarkable.Thinking back there was probably a tinge of hope in that look, I don't know how many people noticed it. The ability to work under pressure, execute every action logically with confidence and forge ahead in the face of severest criticism and doubt are outstanding qualities.
Cricket has always been a force to reckon with in India, now that we have the "CUP" we as a nation have to learn from the Indian team to stick together and play hard till we win. Kudos to the Indian team and 1.21 million people for believing in this band of boyz.
