Bleed Blue - World Champions 2011

April 2, 2011 will go down as one of the most celebrated day in Indian Cricketing History. A long twenty eight year wait of a nation obsessed with cricket is finally rewarded handsomely. The men in blue have done it. They exhibited hunger, passion and full commitment to the job. In fact, it has nothing less than an exceptional display of skill, integrity, team effort and courage to win the most coveted cricketing trophy. The tears of Joy, the roar of victory and a set of overwhelming emotions were at the display when the final line was crossed, when the final ball was lofted towards the long on boundary for a six. It was a six that will remembered and cherished for a long time. The years to come might fade the visual representation of the view but it wont be able to touch the feeling and the experience that this victory has brought. It was a feeling beyond words and believe me, it is not an over statement.

Looking back, one can say that the 'Men in Blue' were always tipped off as the favorites to win the cup but nothing came easy for them. They played against a spirited Ricky Ponting in the Quarter finals. Definitely, it was some brilliant display of bowling that restricted Australia to two hundred and sixty. But a team like Australia always had a reputation of asphyxiating the opposition in chasing this kind of a score. That was why it was not easy and required composure from likes of Yuvraj and Raina to see India through. The reaction of a pumped up Yuvraj was enough to decipher how badly he wanted to win. A win, at that level, meant that India was getting ready for what was declared as 'The Mother of all Clashes' - India v Pakistan. The media was having a field day. They had the got the best story of the world cup. Corporate India was supposed to be on an official bunk. Projectors and Big Screens were being set up to witness what could be a golden day in history for Indian Cricket. So was the excitement, nervousness, anxiety and hope among the supporters that a defeat was unacceptable. This was supposed to be a true test of composure and ability to handle the pressure. After a lot of nerve wracking and nail biting moments, Team India managed to emerge as victorious and registered a date with the destiny.

So it was today, the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, where India needed to perform and win it for Sachin, for themselves and for more than a billion Indians. Today just reaffirmed the reputation of India as a cricket crazy nation and it is quite evident that there is nothing as Cricket that has the ability to unite and uplift India as a nation. And Men in Blue did it. The 'Captain Cool' and the 'Second Wall' answered the call of the duty and made the country revel in moments that will last a life time. Thanks a lot for all the efforts that you guys put in and congratulations for the victory at the biggest stage. Enjoy Team India !!

Revel in the moments of glory because you guys are the deserving champions. You did it !!!

Australianism Prevails

"Australianism, means singleminded determination to win - to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. It means they have never lost a match - particularly a Test match - until the last run is scored or their last wicket down." - John Arlott

The semi final between Australia and Pakistan was a true exhibition of the attitude known as Australianism. It was sheer class, mental strength and ‘never die' spirit that zoomed Australia into the Final of the competition. Once again, Australians proved themselves and delivered the goods when it mattered the most. It was just another match where the result could have easily gone against them but they snatched an improbable victory from their opponents.

After the match, I kind of felt sorry for Pakistan. Although they played poorly throughout the tournament but they performed really well in the Big Match. They batted superbly to host a Target of 192 in 20 overs and followed that with an excellent start. They did all right things that a team does to defend a high total. They got rid of Warner and Watson early and reduced Australia to 67/4 in 10 overs. Their spinners bowled their heart out to make the chase look impossible. Australians looked on the verge of being knocked out of the world cup. The edge was becoming thinner and thinner with each passing ball and an Australian defeat looked inevitable. But as one would expect from them, The Australians held on to that thin edge. They had that last ray of HOPE that never leaves their sides till the last ball is bowled. The task was arduous and they pursued it relentlessly. White started the onslaught with his lusty hitting and gave Australia the momentum they were looking for. But even after his marvelous innings, the goal looked far way from their reach when they required 48 runs in 3 overs with 6 men down. Their hopes were lingering on one Batsman who has been the epitome of consistency, Mike Hussey. Mike Hussey had delivered most of the times when the team required him and he did not disappoint his team mates this time as well. Some big sixes, superb running and cool batting reduced the equation to 17 of last 5 balls with Hussey on strike, already playing the innings of his life. Pakistan employed their best bowler in Ajmal to contain the deadly hurricane but things fell apart for them miserably. Couples of sixes, a sliced upper cut to fetch a boundary and final blow over mid wicket for a six were all that Australia required to pull out one the best international T20 chases. Hussey completed a miracle and expressed Australianism yet again.

Kudos to the spirit and attitude that form the core of any Australian cricketer and sets him apart from rest. And all the best to England for final game because they will need all the luck they can afford. There is no doubt in their ability and form but they will have to produce something special to stop the Australian juggernaut. No matter who wins in the final, we can be sure of one thing that the final will be played among the two best performers of this World Cup.

Cricket World Cup 2007

hey blog.. it is over.. Word cup 2007 and Australia has emerged as world cup champs once again.. Great team..

I'm following Cricket from world cup 1996.. it has been a game full of excitement,joy,sadness and some unexpected results. This world cup had some of the most unexpected games I've witnessed ever. Bangladesh had upset victories over India and South Africa.. where Ireland stunned Pakistan and Bangladesh.. I do admire Ireland because they played really well within their limitations... They gave tough fights to England, Newzealand.. Two mighty Asian teams India and Pakistan had an early exit from the tournament..

Apart from upsets, this world cup saw 4 wickets in four balls from Lasith Malinga of srilkanka (against south africa.. what a match that was !!) and six sixes in six balls from the bat of Hershelle Gibbs against the Minnows Ducth. We saw World cup's fastest century from Metthew Hayden of Australia and some fierce hitting from the likes of Yuvraj singh, Mark boucher, Hayden, Ponting, Styris, Kallis, Smith, Gibbs etc etc.. Also Some great bowling from man of the series Mcgrawth, Murli, Tait, Hogg and Malinga.

This world cup also witnessed the greats like Inzamam-ul-haq, Brian lara and Glen Mcgrawth for the last time on the grounds for one day internationals as they said good-bye to ODI Cricket..

This world cup, unlike its previous editions, saw lesser competition in super eights and also local crowds.. But, all in all, it was Cricket that at last emerge victorious once again from wonderful Tournament...

Hat-trick By the Aussies...

hi blog....
Well, this post is a bit off track as it has nothing to do with my experience with Mumbai but Aussies have earned it..

Ya, Aussies have completed their hat-trick of cricket world cup wins on Saturday, 28th of April,2007.. they were as ruthless as ever.. magnificent..marvelous.. Amazing.. great.. unbeatable.. mind blowing... bla bla bla. I will not be having adjectives to describe what truly this Australian team deserves because there is nothing in words which can describe their dedication and attitude towards the game. It does not matter to them who the opposition is ? they are just the same.. with the killer instinct.. True champions.. even the great carribian team of Clive loyd will have to admire them for there attitude and ruthless nature.

They have extremely talented players which can come more than handy when the true need is there, like Gilchrist provided what was needed in the Final..It was the way Gilchrist played.. he looked like an alien from some other planet who made cricket look so easy where others find hard it to start.....

The Australians take care of every department of the game whether it is fielding, batting, bowling, running between the wickets, it does not matter... And where the Aussies are far far ahead of the others is their mental strength.. They play to win and they know they can and they will..
Hats off to Australia...