COOL BLUE MEN...STAY COOL TO WIN
There's something about India
and World Cups in South Africa. The last time India played a
World Cup here, it reached the final.
Australia were too good in that 2003 final, but this time
there was no denying a hungry Team India, minus big names but
overflowing with infectious exuberance. Holding their nerve to
win a match that made a rollercoaster ride look like a yawn,
the team won the final by 5 runs and wowed the world. Then it
was time for a victory lap around the field, tricolour held
proudly aloft even as skipper MS Dhoni bared his chest.
It was a fitting finale to a tournament that has been high on
thrills, and a fitting triumph for a team that believed in
itself when hardly anybody else did. Led by a cool captain who
urged them to just enjoy themselves, the players went out and
had a blast — and soon, all of India had joined the party.
Even after scoring a mere 157 in their quota of 20, when the
cool blue men walked in the middle to field their body
language suggested 'We will win', while the opposition seemed
tense with shoulders down and frowing faces.
"I'd like to thank my young team, which has been amazing,"
said a beaming Dhoni after the match. "No one expected us to
win, and now we deserve a big celebration." What made him
choose Joginder Sharma for the final over?
"Bhajji wasn't sure, he wasn't getting his yorkers 100% right.
I thought I'd give the over to a bowler who wanted to make a
mark at the international level. It really didn't matter to me
if we didn't win, because we'd given it our best," said Dhoni.
Rival skipper Shoaib Malik thanked the people of Pakistan "and
Muslims all over the world" for their support before
acknowledging that "we played badly and the Indians bowled
superbly."
The BCCI, quick on the ball, announced a bonus of $2 million
to the team and Rs 1 crore to Yuvraj Singh for his six sixes
in an over. Generous? Not when you consider that the players
have restored pride to Indian cricket.
Many have also redeemed themselves. None more so than man of
the match Irfan Pathan, bowling again with the swing, verve
and canniness that made him such an exciting prospect before
he underwent a horrendous slump in form. He's back, and
clearly loving it.
"We deserve it, specially after what happened at the
(50-overs) World Cup," exulted Irfan. It was a doubly special
day for the Pathan family, with Irfan's elder brother, Yusuf
Pathan making his debut after Virender Sehwag was ruled out
with injury.
