The feeling is yet to sink in. Maybe if I sit to write down, it may really feel like it!!!
No matter what the world says now, however much people want to comment on our victory in only sub-continent in last few years or that we are unworthy of being called best test team. We are the WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! Agreed that this is not the best format for a World Cup but on the way to glory, India still beat Australia, Pakistan and SL, who were arguably the toughest oppponents that any team can face in the knock-out stages.
Though it has still not reached the levels of invincible Australian team of the last decade, this team can easily be labelled as “toughest team to beat” in the present era. The last three matches have been a prime example of fantastic team effort as every player has come to the party and contributed at some stage or the other. I believe that this has possibly been the greatest success of the team, which has historically relied on 2-3 players. Or shall I say just one player who has given his everything in last 20 years!
Ever since the debacle in 2007 WC, every cricket following Indian just had one wish – let us win the WC for Sachin! This was the only accomplishment that had eluded him and was possibly his biggest disappointment till now. However, all the record books were set straight with this fantastic achievement and seeing him erupt with tears of joy was probably the best sight in the history of cricket. Virat Kohli aptly pointed out that this man carried the burden of nation for 21 years and it is a high time that we pay him back. As a fan who has been following cricket since early 90s, Sachin holding the trophy was really an emotional moment for me and I guess I can speak for the entire nation who had seen Sachin waging a lone battle when everybody around him kept falling apart. Even today when India had such a formidable middle order (which finally proved out to be brilliant), entire nations’ hopes were pinned on Sachin. Everyone in the country was expecting Sachin to score his 100th international ton in the final and at the fall of his wicket, half of the Indians had given up hope of winning the match. Such has been the pressure that this man has handled in last 20 years and only God (read Tendulkar) knows for how many more years! However, he has taken everything in his stride and possibly has enjoyed the game more than any other cricketer. The hunger for the game has never diminished a wee bit and he still would go out tomorrow for a practice session to improve and become a better batsman.
Also, let us not forget the contribution of the greats of last decade who progressed step by step to bring Team India to the level where we are today. Dhoni has been one of the outstanding modern day captains, however, the credit of developing the present lot of players goes undoubtedly to Sourav Ganguly. The architects of Indian win in this WC – Yuvraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan, etc – are all products of Ganguly era. As young players, they were supported and backed to every possible extent by Ganguly. He was the one who converted these young, brash individuals to mature, match-winning cricketers and they are reaping dividends of that. And then we had Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble – the two pillars of Indian team for a long time around which the whole team revolved. Those were the stalwarts who brought the belief that we can compete with the best teams on their soil. It has been a long effort of these individuals (and a few others) that has culminated to the present level of Indian cricket.
However, India still need to keep their feet on the ground. Over the next one year, they play two tough test series in England and Australia, which will be a good test for Dhoni & Co. There will still be doubters out there who would say that the team still needs to win consistently outside the sub-continent to be really called as World Champions. But, all that is for another day. This is the moment to remember for rest of our life. Let us just live in the present and enjoy the moment!!
