Before the World Cup began, India were billed as one of the favourites. There were few cricketing who felt that India didn't have what it takes to become World Champions. He argued by saying that India's bowling was like a struggling juggler with only Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh to bank on.
In the initial stages, India didn't give an impression that on the eve of the grand finale, they would emerge triumphant. But they almost miraculously survived the scare after their lone loss to South Africa followed by their unexpected tie after amassing runs in excess of 330. Once again India's over dependence on Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh once again got exposed.
This time, it was different from the previous teams that participated in the World Cups. One reason being their over dependence on the dimunitive genius of Sachin R. Tendulkar. India came into this premier one day tournament with a tag of best batting line-up in the world. They lived up to their billing perfectly.
So what or rather who was the catalyst that unified the team which boasts of an illustrious batting legend of Sachin R. Tendulkar, explosive Virender Sehwag, tenacious Gautam Gambhir, wily Zaheer Khan, feisty Harbhajan Singh in that line-up. But to me, the real difference was the return of the rejuvenated Yuvraj Singh as an all-rounder! He batted with gumption and showed glimpses of explosive batting that has made him the darling of the masses.
He did not just shine with the bat but he shined as a bowler as well. He ended up with bucketful of wickets. Everybody in the team, coach and support staff knew that this is the last time that they will see the Master Sachin R. Tendulkar in the action. To bring all the players together like brothers in arms, they wanted to win this World Cup for him as a tribute to the greatest batsman this criketing world has ever seen. In the end, that worked wonderfully well for this determined Indian team.
This time around, India had the best skipper in Mahendra Singh Dhoni aka M.S.D. who led from the front. In India, captaincy is a crown laden with thorns. And how amazingly he galvanised the team as one in partnership with an affable, ice cool coach in Gary Kirsten. After having led India to their inaugural T-20 World Championship in 2007 along with leading Team India to the numero uno spot in the Test arena.
Truly, it was the beginning of a fairy tale journey to the top of the pecking order in the criketing world. This Indian team unlike their predecessor raised their game when it mattered the most. Every Indian in India and abroad began day dreaming from the Quarter Final stage onwards. They faced a formidable yet a familiar foe in Australia, the reigning World Champions even though they are on decline. Team India went past one hurdle on the brilliance of Sachin R. Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and everyone else chipped in with their invaluable contribution.
Next up was the mother of all matches between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan. Media went into overdrive by labelling it as war on the cricketing field. This match generated tremendous interest among the general public. This match certainly lived up to its billing. India chose to bat and Virender Sehwag went ballistic against Pakistan's premier fast bowler Umar Gul by hammering him for four fours in an over. Their fielding was magnanimous to say the least as they dropped 4 catches of Sachin R. Tendulkar! As the old cricketing adage goes 'Catches wins Matches'.
Master scored a scratchy but useful 80 odd to maintain their stranglehold on Pakistan with 5 wins out of 5.
With semi-final done away with, India took on one of the favourites in Sri-Lanka. Media made a hash out of this final as well. It was champion off-spinner, Muttiah Muralidaran's swan song just as it was the last world cup match for Sachin. Media exploited it fully.
Final had that controversial twist with Sri-Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara called the toss and amid the boisterous Mumbai crowd, he deceived everybody with his call. Even match officials and on field umpires could not hear Kumar's call clearly. He chose to bat and put up a formidable total of 270 odd. And given the grandeur of the occasion, it was a fighting total thanks to Mahela Jayawardene's classic century!
India's innings got off to a worst possible start with slinga Malinga scalped 2 huge wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin R. Tendulkar. The boisterous crowd went dead silent and understandably so. India's super strong batting line-up was put to test. This time around, they rose to the challenge like they often did in the recent past. India's young turks, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli were involved in a crucial 4th wicket partnership. It not only steadied the ship, but gave self confidence to the Indians with their steadiness. The former scored a macth turning 91 runs before he got out.
Then skipper Dhoni walked in with more than pne hundred fifty runs to go for a famous win. He walked with a stride that exuded confidence. Dhoni ended up playing a match winning and World Cup winning knock under pressure. He scored the winning run with his trademark swagger six. With Yuvraj yet again played with great maturity was at the other end when Dhoni's mavericks rewrote the history by eclipsing Australia's stranglehold on the World Cup. 'Cometh the hour, cometh the man'. Dhoni proved it with his best innings of his career.
It was destined to be Sachin's world cup after all. He played magnificently throughout. When he was given the lap of honour, the crowd went ballistic with chants of India and Sachin.
India are world champions! It's time to rejoice! The macth had a dream ending with Sachin adding the elusive World Cup to his list of many glittering achievements in his career spanning more than two decades and still going stronger than ever!
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