Indian Time

Wednesday 4 April 2012

INDIA'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD CUP TRIUMPH 2011

Certain shots are history makers and fortune twisters, especially for India in the context of One Day Cricket. Of course thr biggie, struck with machoism, that not just changes the result of a game, but also brings broader significance for the future to come. The last ball hit by Javed Miandad off poor Chetan Sharma was more than Pakistan’s win over India, it virtually decided the winning side for atleast next 10 years, everytime the subcontitent rivals face off. MS Dhoni, the mighty Indian skipper, scripted his name in the history by striking the same, but this time the turn was to take Indian team to the glory that nation have been waiting since last 28 years. India were underdogs against the unstoppable West Indies in 1983 final encounter, and on that very day, practically everything fell in the place when India were defending a bellow modest total on a good batting strip against one of the greatest team ever in the team sport. History almost got repeated on 2003, until the rampage called Ricky Ponting just hammered India’s hope. On the 2011 edition of ICC World Cup, the Wankhede Stadium witnessed the history being recreated, and fairytale finally came true for the billion populated nation. It was the night to remember for the rest of the life, and MSD had struck the hit of his life. It’s the memory that never fades aaway, and ESPNCricinfo has shouldered the responsibility to make the event alive forever for the cricket lover, with the analysis of all the ball by ball covereage of every match played. Every ball bowled was throughly analysed, every run scored was discussed from the experts point of view, every move made by playing captains was presented in such a manner that it becomes everyone’s take to understand. Cricket is not just about bowling the ball, scoring the run, saving the runs; it is something that is associated with the broader life outside ground. India, where every sport can take a backseat when comapred with Cricket, this analysis is of more relevance, and Sealed with a Six The Story of How the World Cup Saved One Day Cricket is just about that for the cricket lover. In true sense, the world cup win meant India are the world champions for the next four years, but climbing the peak is somewhat easier than remaining there for long. A champion team has more responsibilities than otheres, they have to prove everytime that they are worth of the status they have gained. And since India, with it’s huge marketing potential is the epicentre of global cricketing administration, this singinificance is more valid. Especially in the conext of one year anniverasry of India’s win over Sri Lanka to clinch the 10th edition Wotrld Cup title.

Going back to down memory lane, it was the moment of all possible specialties for everyone. Tendulkar, who was vital to India's success in the World Cup a year back, said that he will cherish the memories of the triumph throughout his life. "Time flies but memories last forever. What a day it was!!! 02-04-2011," tweeted Tendulkar as the country came celebrating the first anniversary of its second World Cup triumph.His opening partner Shewag, who made a habit of opening the scorecard during the world cup with a boundary off the very first ball bowled, also had joys to circulate among everyone, and so did the other members of the squad. However, the most touching moments, in this one year span saw the man of the tournament, who “ actually mattered when it matters” , Yuvraj Singh, being diagonised with a rare germ cell cancer.Spirited with the pep-talk by Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, the champion delivered something more than special on the big occasions. He chipped in with useful runs at the crucial times(the innings against four time world cup winner Australia in the quarterfinal match could easily be the innings of a dream for any cricketer), put a check on the run scoring pace when with the ball, and his ball with the golden arm provided India with the much needed breakthroughs. Often criticized for his flambyont lifestyle and inconsistency in form, it was turn for Singh to stop his critics with the champion like performance.The reader of Sealed with a Six The Story of How the World Cup Saved One Day Cricket gets a clinical analysis of his performance, but rather than that, it introduces the reader with the human side of Yuvi. As a result of a troubled childhood, Yuvi wasn’t someone who has had a golden childhood period to live. The uncertainty over family issues, the traumatic experience of his parents sepeartion impacted Yuvraj a lot in his personal life, and that external life was responsible for his inconsistency in the field. Late nights, lazy attitude in the field, link ups with Bollywood models, Yuvraj had every non-cricketing issues against him, and just like a champion, he chose the playing arena to answer all the criticisms. It was his performance without which India could never be able to celebrate it’s world cup triumph glory. As India complete the first anniversary of the World Cup triumph, Yuvraj described the feat as a "cherished and special moment"."Couldn't have asked for anything better. I didn't expect myself to play as well as I did in the World Cup. I was coming with not great form and I wasn't timing the ball how I wanted to," he said in an interview posted on his twitter account about his thoughts on the World Cup anniversary. Post World Cup, Yuvraj went through the toughest phase of his life after he was diagnosed with cancer. But he is now recovering from the fatal disease after having been discharged from the hospital in Indianapolis, US on March 18 following the completion of the third and final cycle of chemotherapy. This one year saw Indian cricket missing it’s brightest son on the field at the World Cup, but after having done the chemotheray courses, Yuvi can expect to start his rehabilitaion program as early as possible, so as to quicken his return to the area where he is best at.

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