Giving a tough battle to our distant neighbors, India impressively won against Pakistan, leading the nation to the magnanimous final of the 2011 One Day Cricket World Cup against Sri Lanka. And then, as Oracle Bejan Daruwala had so aptly prophesied, the story was recreated when the Indian cricket team lifted the World Cup after 28 years of waiting … which also won on our soil and in my own city of Mumbai. . What more could we ask for huh?
Height of ecstasy
It was a volcanic explosion of patriotism and pride that erupted on Victory Day, April 2, 2011. Winning the world cup brought 1.2 billion Indians together as one nation, regardless of diverse cultures, languages spoken, social status, and predominant religion. in secular India. Look what eleven men on the Indian cricket team have done to this nation! They have not only won the World Cup for us, but they have united the nation by giving it lasting ecstasy that no other drug can. And as the boy lover Enrique Iglesias would say: “I’m an addict, I’m out of control, but you are the drug that keeps me from dying.” This is exactly what the cricket drug has done to Indians all over the world. We are still reeling in euphoria and this feeling is still sinking. The India that was celebrating with fireworks, whistling through the vuvuzela, dancing to the characteristic melody of the World Cup, draping itself with the tricolor flag and embracing itself to eternity is the real India that erupted in national harmony long ago . Even I saw the real India on that glorious night. Frankly … it gave me goose bumps!
Our first World Cup victory was in 1983. However, the difference was, then we were underdogs … the apple of anyone’s eye. But today, things have changed … things have changed. India is brimming with not only its glory in cricket, but also its brilliance in each and every sphere of life. After this great victory, Kapil Dev, the captain of the Y1983 World Cup winning team, excitedly said that the team he captained is different from today’s Team India. Today’s team, he said, was under tremendous pressure and they are better players than the 1983 players. What more could the 2011 India team ask for!
Cricket Demigod
As a child, God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar always dreamed of winning a World Cup. The 2011 World Cup victory was by far the best moment he had been waiting for in 21 years. It may have taken two decades for this master blaster to see this glory, but happy are the young people on the team who were able to see this great day very early in their life … some of them are barely a year into their careers.
Beyond cricket
Supposedly, the gentlemen’s game (Cricket) may not be India’s national game (Hockey), but this game has more focus, resources, infrastructure, funding, passion and dedication than any other game played in India. Hence, it is one of the most sought after careers among the youth of India.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for our sports cabinet to reconsider its strategy to induce the same passion towards other sports in India, including games such as hockey, tennis, shooting, boxing, sprinting, badminton, to name a few. India is teeming with talented young men and women who would love to pursue a sports career, as long as the sport is carried out with the same motivation as cricket. Indian parents still dream of turning their child into a doctor or an engineer and therefore it is time for us to think beyond these conventional careers.
Where is Poonam Pandey?
Amid all the excitement that has yet to subside, the whole world is on the lookout for the first stripper, Poonam Pandey, who has gone rogue after India’s World Cup victory. Before the world cup, Poonam promised to remove every piece of clothing from his skin to celebrate India’s victory. But two days have passed after the glorious victory of India and the mysterious lady has disappeared. So here’s a call to readers … if you find or see Poonam Pandey in the vicinity or in their circles, please report it as soon as possible. All of India is waiting for her to do her thing.
Post script
On a lighter note, there is this hilarious joke doing the rounds that I would like to share with you. A Sri Lankan sat on the street corner sipping tea from a saucer. Looking at him, a passerby asked him why he is drinking his tea from a saucer … and soon the answer comes … India took the cup away. LOL