And Cricket It Is !!

It's been exactly a month. Many topics floated across the mind. None actually made me sit and take notice. Till today, that is. Finally, it's the first love of my life that made me blog ‘CRICKET’. It's a wonderful feeling, this.

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Thursday , 31^st March.

Emotions were still high and I was haven’t yet got over with the hangover of the India - Pakistan semi-final clash. I had four glasses of Chilled Beer that day and it wasn’t been of any use – I think! How could it be? You all might have seen Pannilal Chowk that day.!!

My mood swings intensified and somehow managed to produce some kind of tarot prediction for the semi-final and I was lucky to sail through with a relatively hard work on my intuition.

Oh lord, what am I going to do now? I terribly need an answer, a good prediction if India is going to win or not. At the very start of the tournament, we discussed that, “Sri Lanka will win the world cup.” 1.2 billion Indian fans – ‘as per the new census’ released today, please don’t be disappointed. I know 1.2 billion Indians are not all grown ups and not all of them have internet access and above all, there is still great percentage of illiteracy and they won’t be reading my prediction.

But the ones, who will be reading it, keep your hearts steady, cool and calm. This is just a game and somebody has to win and someone has to lose.

Saturday, 2^nd April.

While Brushing my Teeth and simultaneously reading the local newspaper which covered the Front page with a big photo of two captains followed by image of Cup.. ‘Ab bas 2.30 baje ka intezar’ My question in the morning was, “ Will India, win the World Cup?” The answer was according to my first intuition – the toughest hurdle is over but still hard work has to be done. Sri Lanka will pose a tough challenge but good times lie ahead for India. India will smile, laugh and be happy. Does that mean they will win? – There are at least 55% chances.

It may be an intuition or may be they were my emotions for the country. Only time will tell. Not only I, number of peoples had posted that India will sail through to the finals on Facebook - and they did. But until the result came out, I was unsure what intuition was and what sub-conscious feeling was.

Overall, the Lankans had a good total on the scoreboard and we can’t take them lightly. They will be playing with great positive energy, zeal and enthusiasm.

I was bound to think of Sachin Tendulkar… If he’ll hit his 100^th century, then the momentum is bound to shift in India’s favour definitely. But, what if ‘Murali’ will show his magic on the last innings of his cricket life? But will India capitalize on that? – Yes.

They say the heart is usually right and my heart was with INDIA ! 

All's well that ends well. We Finally won the World Cup. And I've rediscovered my passion for DD National, if it ever existed. I bow to the blatant disregard towards commercialization, Prasar Bharti. At least more cricketers are seen on the field than off it on advertisements during the telecast! And I could actually watch the first delivery of every over!

Like bubbles rising to the surface in a glass of freshly poured champagne, the stadium erupted with joy. Men in Blue were running around in circles of incredulous joy while the Lankans slumped to the ground, surrendering to the celebrations all around. They had yet again come so near, only to be left standing without the ring…the eternal best-man at his beloved’s wedding.

While the world around him whipped up a frenzied whirlpool of emotions that threatened to pull him in, resisting its pull for a few moments more, all by himself at the centre of the wicket stood that man from the other end. Looking up at the dark night sky, beyond the hot white light of the floodlights, the man whispered a silent prayer of thanks. Though they might still call him a God, the cross had finally lifted. India had finally won the World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar was free to be a man again. A 5 ft. legendary genius getting may be the last chance to live his dream.

Days like this will be etched in our memories. A day when the richest couple in India were looking in awe like college teens. Oh!! It was a day when billion hearts were beating together. Another day adding to the gratness, that is Mother India. Don’t know whether we will see 2013 but for atleast a billion out there, we crossed April 2 when we wrote our name in sky as a world champions!!!

I’m always proud and privileged to be an Indian.!.!