The Night of Celebrations, Joy and of being Proud as an INDIAN

Even if I give a prize of Rs 101, for correct answer of which night I am talking about, I will be a bankrupt man. Yes I am talking about last Saturday Night, 2nd April. The entire nation was waiting for that moment almost 28 years. Everybody wanted that moment to come desperately.

All were aware of our world class batting strength, but were also aware of its collapse everytime it was most needed. Somewhere in the heart everybody was feeling that "Yes, this time it ours". But the bad memoirs of 1996 Semi Finals against the Lankans and the 2003 Finals against the Aussies were still haunting.

So the time was around 11.00-11.30 when everybody was in front of TV, holding their breaths. The match that was going on, was worth of being called as a Final. Although the Indians were almost home, the Lankans were not ready to give up. The 46th Over from Malinga was the proof of that where he gave just 3 runs. But Mahi and Yuvi had different plans. As soon as Yuvi, gave MS Dhoni the strike on the 2nd ball of the 49th Over, everybody knew that its gonna end now. And MS proved them right. As soon as his bat connected to the ball, everybody, I mean everybody went up in a ROAR. The entire Nation was on its feet, dancing, jumping, shouting, running etc etc. Shastri's word, "And Dhoni Finishes it in style" would have gone to nobody's ears at that moment. The fire works were seen and heard all around. It seemed the Diwali is being celebrated in the month of April. YES, INDIA WAS FINALLY A CRICKET WORLD CUP CHAMPION AGAIN. As soon as we won, I remembered a dialouge from Hrithik's film Laqshya, when he is at Indo Pak borer, he says, "Janta to hamesha se tha, lekin aaj pahli baar mahsoos kar raha hoon, I am an Indian". On the same lines I wanted to say "As an Indian I always felt proud, but this time, this moment it has grown many folds".

It seemed the entire Nation had gone wild. People just came out on the streets, waving the Tricolors, honking their vehicles, shouting Slogans, congratulating each others, blowing whistles, trumpets. Some of them were climbing on buses, trucks, jeeps, which were stuck up in the traffic and dancing over it. The messaged on Facebook never stopped flowing. Everybody seemed to have forgot all their tensions, worries, issues etc.

And during the Victory Lap, when Sachin was carried over by the other Team Members, many of us had tears in the eyes. It was for this man, the team, every cricket fan wanted the World Cup to be won by India. Yours truly, before the world cup, had requested the Indian team to win it for the Nation and for Him (http://fromthedon.blogspot.com/2011/02/har-har-mahadev.html). I know they didn't read it but, the end result was achieved.

It was a match which you would always remember and tell your children and grand children about it. It was a match which would be discussed every time World Cup is discussed. No doubt, MS had a fabulous innings, but equally important was Gambhir's knock. Through out the tournament, he scored 50/60 runs but somebody or the other used to score more than that on that particular day, and steal the limelight from him. The best part of this match was without a doubt, the last shot which Dhoni hit. He had so much confidence in his eyes about what he is doing and they way he moved his bat after realising it was six, was just too stylish and awesome.

In the end, I would just like to pray to God, that let such a night be more frequent, which fills the lives of 100+ billions people's with Joy and Happiness at least for 1 day, which unites the entire Nation in celebration.

Har Har Mahadev!!

I am not waging a War with anybody, but since the Cricket World Cup is round the corner, I am trying my bit to encourage the Indian Team, The Men in Blue, The Dhoni Brigade etc. The Cricket World Cup started in 1975. Out of the 9 versions 5 of them were just forgetable for the India. India has won just 1 time in 1983. That time Akola didn't have TV and people used to follow cricket on Radio.

In 1984 Akola got the Television Transmission, and all the Cricket Fans were glued to the TV during the 1985 Benson and Hedges Mini World Cup which India Won under Sunil Gavaskar. Ravi Shastri was rewarded an Audi for his Man of the Series performance.

But there after then Indian Team has never given that joy to the country. We reached very near in 2003, but the Ricky Ponting Tornedo wiped out the Indian Dreams. I was told that in Akola before the finals huge arrangements were made in a Ground with a Giant Screen, Firecracker Chain of around 1 KM, Sweets, Loud Music etc etc. Not to tell all the Cricket Enthusiast of Akola had come to that ground, but unfortunately they got to cheer or celebrate only twice through out the match. When Gilli and Hayden got out. Thats it!! The entire rest match was a one side show of Austratlia.

In 1987 and 1996 versions,both in Indian Sub continent, we reached to the Semis and lost it badly. Irony is the Indian Team performed like champions in the match just ahead of these Semis in both versions. In 1987 it was a match against New Zealand in Nagpur, where Sunil Gavaskar scored his first and the only century in ODIs (yes, he just has one century in ODI) and in the same Match Chetan Sharma took a Hat Trick by taking 3 Clean Bowled and then we lost to England in Wankhede at Mumbai.

In 1996, we defeated Pakistan in Bangalore. The highlight of this match was a quick 30- 40 runs scored by Ajay Jadeja and then the spat between Aamir Sohail and Venkatesh Prasad. India did a great job and everybody was hoping for an even better performance in Semis which was at Eden Gardens, the favourite ground of the then Indian Captain Azhar.

The start of the Semi was the best that Indians could have asked for. Both of the Lankan Pinch Hitters Kaluwitharna and Jayasurya got out within 20 runs. The third wicket of Gurusinghe fell before 50, so everybody was assuming India to be in Finals at Gaddafi in Lahore. But then Man of the Match for Semis and Finals Aravinda Desilva came followed by the Captain, Arjuna and took away the advantage from India. Later from 98 for 1, the Indian batting line up did a "Harakiri" after the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. The famous Calcutta crowd started rioting in the Stadium itself and the match had to be awarded to the Lankan Team, who went on defeated Australia in the Finals.

It was this match, that turned off the Die Hard Indian Cricket Fan in me. Earlier I used to wach the entire matches of India, but after this match I just lost the interest. But the Indian Cricket Fan, doesn't die totally. Everytime the World Cup is around, my mind starts visualising Indian Team picking up the World Cup. And this time around, it has already started visualising India in Finals at Wankhede. Sachin hitting a Century and then Dhoni raising the World Cup and then handing over it to Sachin.

Come On Team India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gear up!!!!!! Put your best efforts. You need to win this WC!!! If not for the nation, If not for cricket fans like me, If not for anything else, at least Win it for the Master Blaster, The Little Master, The God Himself, Sachin Tendulkar.

He is the reason, why many of you are playing in the World Cup Sqad. He has been the inspiration for many of you!! And this is just the one feather missing from his Cap. So Go For It Team India!!!!!!!

Best of Luck! YALGAR HO!!! AAKRAMAN!!!! HAR HAR MAHADEV!!! JO BOLE SO NIHAL, SAT SRI AKAL!!!

LET THE WORLD CUP BEGAN