Tears are all we got!!
Published by manish March 24th, 2007 in Random.
(Pictures courtesy : Indiatimes)
It was the game the entire country was looking forward to. At 1900 Hrs Indian Standard Time, the so called Men in Blue marched into the cricket ground in an all important game against their neighbors and arch rivals in the recent past, the Sri Lankans. Like everyone else in the country, I was also quite excited by the thought of a win and the country making it to the Super 8s or the next level of the tournament. However just like the pictures above the specters of losses in important games came back to haunt us and destroy the dreams of 1.1 billion people. This is India’s worst performance ever in any world cup, two huge losses in a space of 1 week is a little more that what an ever optimistic cricket fan can digest.
What is funny is I am still unable to digest the fact that India is out of the cup. Since morning yesterday I could sense an air of optimism and confidence in all the people around me. Everyone was fairly confident that the Indian team will snatch victory and see themselves through to the next round.
When I left office at 2230 hrs, I asked our guard Satyendra if he thought India will win. Sri Lanka were batting at that time and sort of struggling, so he replied yes India will definitely win, but quickly added, “Even if we win this match so what, to win the world cup you have to win every match hence, and I don’t think our team has it in them to go all the way so it hardly matters”. How quickly perceptions had changed in a matter of two weeks. I echoed Satyendra’s feelings too, but still prayed to let India win this one match and then the Indian team will come into their own.
Sri Lanka set India a target of 255 to win, 255 in 50 overs for a batting line up which boasted of a combined experience of more that 1000 matches should have been attainable. But that was not to be. Wickets fell in a heap, to careless shots. The bowlers gained in confidence, but the hopes of an Indian victory were still there. The mind and heart were just unable to accept the fact of an Indian loss. At 112 for 6, when Dhoni fell all hopes were shattered. No one could rescue us now. It was nearing 0200 hrs and I thought I will retire to my room and give my tired and dejected neurons some rest. A tear rolled down my eye as I closed my eyes. The TV outside was still blaring, but the sound was getting fainter. It was getting drowsy and quiet until I fell asleep and so did India’s chances in the World Cup.
You might be being too hard on yourself. The team will move on from here hopefully having learn’t that digging in and battling hard is the only way to win.
I was not sure of winning the world cup by India, but like other Indian cricket fan, I was not sure of this kind of result too. Now Indian cricket is going on the Indian hockey path. They are not at that level, like other teams. Even before the start of WC they were not in top 3, in ICC ranking. Now let’s watch, what kind of kho-kho BCCI will play after this great loss for Indian cricket.
Although I am not a Cricket fan, I still bother to know the final result of such big events. And loosing this match was sad, specially when people all around seem to be sooooo crazy about cricket and cricketers.