What an evening it was? A bunch of young men brought a whole nation in front of their TV sets for close to 8 hours, all for a game of cricket. Is sports capable of doing this? It can and it can specially for the Subcontinents’ denizens.
Thursday’s quarterfinal between India and Australia was significant for many reasons. About 8 years ago, a resurgent Indian team marched to the World cup finals amidst severe criticism and backfire after their initial performances in the league stages. Hope and spirits were exploding like Japan’s Nuclear reactors when India met Australia at the Wanderers in South Africa. After initial losses and a shaky start, India had arrived with new found confidence especially after the game against Pakistan, a match, which will go down as one of the most fiery World cup matches ever. India looked very convincing in the Super sixes and the semis and the finals was billed to be an occasion for the Indians to extract sweet revenge for the loss in the league match against Australia. however, as fate would have it, the match proved to be nothing short of a washout as Australians simply made mince meat of Indian bowling and then went on to clean up the famed Indian batting clinically. That day will never be forgotten for the millions who watched it with bated breath. I was in college those days and remember going to the auditorium where the match was being screened. We were all painted up with the tricolors and were hooting all along till the match started. Once, Adam Gilchrist got into his groove, the silence was deafening in the entire hall. To top it Zaheer’s attitude was treated withcompelte disdain. Then came Ponting and he simply clobbered away. Australia made 359 and the Indian batting just withered away wilting to the pressure. However, that day gave rise to an animosity of mammoth proportions against the Aussies. India- Australia matches have been nothing shorn of war ever since, making it equally if not more interesting that India- Pak matches.
So, what better a stage than the world cup again. india got a chance after 8 long years. However, not many things were going in our favor. Shaky performances, sting-less bowling, sloppy fielding , India was definitely struggling. So was Australia, with a not so formidable side like the last 3 world cups but then Australians being Australians don’t give up easily. Except for the loss against Pakistan, Aussies were clinical in their performances. Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson were doing a wonderful job and so was the fielding department. There were concerns over the batting but it was quite balanced with Mike Hussey and Shane Watson in top form. All they needed was Ponting and Cameron White to pitch in. we all know how much Ponting loves Indian bowling attack. India on the other hand, was gearing up slowly. Ashwin’s performance was very encouraging, so was Yuvraj Singh’s. Zaheer seemed to be at his best ever with tricks overflowing from his hand.
The sides were evenly matched and what was needed was TRUE GRIT. Aussies are known for their never-say-die attitude, so if India had to win, it had to match it up to them.
The events that unfolded during the match will remain etched in memory. From Ashwin’s first over, Shane Watson’s wicket, Brad Haddin’s rampage, the subsequent wickets, Ponting’s masterly century and final total which was competitive. Then came the Indian batting, Sehwag’s early fall, Sachin on song, Ponting’s call for a review for a grounded catch, Sachin going down, Gambhir conjuring up a nice half century, the goof ups from Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, Dhoni falling to a brilliant catch and then finally Yuvraj and Raina holding on their nerves to see India through.
If this match does not give India the much needed boost they needed, then we can be sure of being smacked around by Pakistan. The oft-repeated record of a no-loss record against Pakistan in World cups doesn’t really matter as Pakistan thrives on aggression and confidence. They have one of the best bowling attacks and know the subcontinental pitch very well. All they need is a respectable total to defend or a below-par total to chase down. They are capable of that with their supremely unpredictable nature. They have resonated the world cup with their fire and hunger, evident from the mathces against Sri Lanka, Australia and West Indies. They have shown the same attitude as Imran’s Tigers of 1992. They topped their table in their pool and are just 2 matches away from making history.
So, its going to be a battle of nerves again. The team which has the cooler head will win and I pray it be the Indian ones.
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