It’s blue versus blue on Saturday, but only one team will be bleeding at the end of it. Lankans get ready to bleed!
February 20, 2011 was the day India started off their World Cup campaign with a blistering innings from Sehwag who single-handedly blew the Bangla tigers away with a care-free 175 in no time and with that washed away the nightmarish memories against Bangladesh in the previous edition of the World Cup.
India won the match, but not without a few scares to go with it. From there started the journey to the summit, scaling new heights and fighting off challenges was going to be the order of the day and not to forget the ever so polite Indian fans always at the back of their heroes.
All the players had to step up to the plate and make sure they did their bit in ensuring India has a smooth run and make it to finals, but as usual the Indian team is known to give its fans surprises and one such occasion was the India England match where the Men in Blue fittingly put up a strong target on board and would have felt half the match is won but Andrew Strauss had other plans for the Sub-Continent giants and after the dust was settled, some pockets of the country experienced mob mentality and madness at the performance of the Indian team who threw away an easy opportunity for a victory and finally the match ended in a tie.
After this minor set back the next big challenge for the Indian team, the mighty Proteas, as many considered this to be a cracker-of-a-match, and it did not fail to disappoint. India, as usual, got off to a whirl-wind of a start and were 87 for no loss in ten overs and all looked hunky dory in the Indian camp. The batting powerplay is taken for a reason and that being to go all out against the bowling attack, but in India’s case it is sign to lose wickets and lose them quickly. A billion people watched a monumental collapse as the Indian team lost 9 wickets for a mere 20-odd runs and were bowled out inside 300. The Proteas looked under control during the run-chase and made sure they got past the total by the skin of their teeth.
After the loss to South Africa, the Indians had to bounce back and make sure they made it to the next round, and that they did -- thanks to all-round performances by Yuvraj Singh bagging four Man-of-the-Match awards and stirring the Indian ship to safer shores.
In the next round, waiting to be let loose were the Kangaroos and this was going to be a battle of epic proportions. A place in the Semi’s and bragging rights were up for stake. India waited with baited breath as the top two teams in the world were going at it and it was edge-of-the-couch entertainment as India got past the mighty Australians and set a date with Pakistan in the Semi’s.
India versus Pakistan, World Cup Semi Final, Prime Ministers from both countries sitting next to each other, political big weights, celebs, aam janta, national bandh of sorts and utter madness and hysteria surrounded the match. Need I say more? India won the match and now it is Mumbai-calling and most importantly World Cup calling.
Can Dhoni do a Kapil?
All the best team India!
Satish Perumal
Sports enthusiast
