India - ICC Cricket World Champs 2011 - It can't get bigger than this!!

It seriously can't get bigger than this!.

What the entire world saw on 2nd April 2011 was nothing less than magic. India played their best cricket ever. The Indian fielders were literally cheetah's on the field running behind the ball, and jumping around like never before. Bowling was almost perfect leaving aside the last 3-4 overs. And when it came to batting, I have never seen such concentration, and grit on the part of the Indian batsmen ever before this historical night and occasion.

The winning stroke of 'six' hit by M S Dhoni, I need to admit, was the most beautiful cricketing shot I had ever seen. It was truly a master-stroke. Honestly, it deserved to be the winning stroke. As the ball went up in the sky towards the stands, the expressions of people plus emotions were of a kind never seen or felt before. The feeling was incredible, to say the least. Tears were pouring down, not just from the eyes of the players but also from the eyes of the audience - on the field, and on screen too (including me)!. Never before have I cried at the end of a sporting event...For a moment, I felt numb and the very next moment I was in a different world - an adrenaline rush and heartbeat faster than any instrument could even measure it!

I am sure every Indian felt emotionally closer to each and every team member after the victory celebrations and the TV interviews of the players live from the field. The players were so candid on camera that it felt as if we know them personally. They would have been in different high altogether being a part of the playing squad, but trust me the general public's emotions post the victory were nothing less than the kind of celebrations and emotions we saw from the team on the field.

Virat Kohli, the youngest in the team, I thought said the most matured statement when asked by Sanjay Manjrekar about how it felt to carry Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders - 'Sachin has carried the burden of the entire nation for 21 long years, it was time we took him on our shoulders now'... I suddenly felt connected with Virat, as he was speaking my mind, and am sure everyone's mind. It was not just the victory itself, but even these small little statements and emotions of the players which made the entire occasion so special and memorable.

I can go on writing pages about this victory, however there are 2 people in the Indian team without whom I think this victory would not have been possible. About the judgement day, I felt Gautam Gambhir's innings was spectacular, and did not get much adulation by the media as much as it should have been. Obviously, Dhoni's knock was equally important, but the weightage is high for the captain's knock instead of being equal with Gambhir's knock. Mind you, Gambhir came in when India was 0/1 in the first over itself. Going on to make 97 and the very important partnership with Virat deserved to be highlighted more. I suppose, if he could have got those 3 extra runs, he would have been judged as man of the match - but anyhow that does not mean, we take importance out of his 97.

The other person who deserves to be lauded even more is the coach - Gary Kirsten. It is a tragedy that he wont continue further as the coach for the Indian cricket team. I think Gary deserves to be given an award by the Indian government and sporting authorities. There have been many great coaches in the cricketing world, but only few are exceptional. He is one of them. It is not an easy task to coach players who have already established a name for themselves, manage their egos, and further find a space to tell them where they can be better!. Gary - Thank you for bringing a smile to every Indian's face.

As I said, I could go on writing... but I feel, nothing can beat those emotions which still get alive the moment you even think of Dhoni's winning stroke. Close your eyes, and re-live that moment. You don't need a you-tube to watch it again! It's stuck in our minds and hearts, forever.

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Sidharth Mehta,

from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi - UAE.

P.S - Needless to say, pump your emotions in the comment section!

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