Indian Cricket Team will now be addressed as ‘The World Champions’ every time they play a One Day International. I, along with other 1.2 billion Indians, can proudly claim of witnessing the epic event. Lucky are the people who screamed and cheered the team from the stands of Mumbai’s Wankhade Stadium.


Why is this so special?

The final game was not won because of Sachin Tendulkar. But it was won for Sachin Tendulkar by his young colleagues, some of whom were in nappies when he started playing for India. The God of Cricket has a World Cup win to his credit, an achievement that had eluded him for 21 years. A number of people might say Sachin failed to perform when it mattered, but any sane person would understand what he brings to the team. Gambhir, Kohli, Dhoni and Yuvraj did it with minimum fuss after Sachin and Sehwag, who we look up to during such big matches, got out cheaply. To chase 275 from 31-2, after the bowlers were hammered by the Sri Lankans, is a sign of a world-class team. Great innings from Dhoni and it reminded me of Steve Waugh’s innings against South Africa during the 1999 World Cup.

What does this mean?

A. The Indian team apart from becoming more famous has revived the interest in One Day Cricket, which has started to lose its sheen after the advent of T20 Cricket, especially the IPL.

B. It has dismantled Australia from the top and has given a new world champion.

C. It has given a billion people of a country, who are disgusted with numerous political scams, rising inflation and rampant corruption, a strong reason to jump in joy and indulge in unlimited celebrations.

D. Importantly, the win states that Indian cricket is in safe hands of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar can say good bye to One Day Cricket, peacefully (of course, I don’t want him to bid adieu any sooner).

Why India won? Apart from the players’ abilities, it’s the wishes, superstitions, prayers and hell lot of other forms of support that played a crucial role in this victory. For me, it all started when India were set to play the Australians in the Quarter Finals. Intensity grew with that victory and the match against Pakistan took temperatures to the maximum.

What I did? Bribed God — 108 rounds (Parikramas) around the local Hanuman temple if India wins against Pakistan. India won it and I finished the first installment on Saturday ahead of the finals against Sri Lanka. Same activity planned for the finals as well. But with 32-2 and target to achieve being 275, the number increased to 4 (4 installments of 108 rounds @ 1time per week). Now tell me with mahabhakts like me around why will India lose?

Now I can go and have my hair cut, give some attention to my family members, and of course, do some work during the office hours.

By the way, this is my 200th post. I have been waiting to post something special as part of celebrating that. What can be more special than this? Thank you Dhoni & Co.

The Indian cricket team is on a roll and for fans it is festive time. With last matches in every series becoming a practice game for the new comers, the Indian team never had such dream run for this long. Though there were a few long, good periods under Saurav Ganguly, the brutal force with which the new team is decimating oppositions is something that was never talked about in Indian cricket, and was seen only in teams like the West Indies (in the 70s and early 80s), and the Australians in the last one decade.

Indians were always gentle in their game as were most other nations till mid-1990s. The slam-bang approach in the ODIs- started by Srikkanth and Navjot Singh Sidhu, promoted by Sachin Tendulkar and popularized by Sanath Jayasuriya - was always associated with openers of a few countries and a few lower order all-rounders. But a team where all the batsmen compete with each other to rain powerful strokes is rare and the current Indian team boasts of such a lineup.

Look at the lineup. The batting is led by the audacious Virender Sehwag, a synonym for demolition and currently the most dreadful opening batsman, and the great Sachin Tendulkar, who is never tired of sending the ball to the fence and ruining the careers of bowlers. It is followed by the short and aggressive Gautam Gambhir who also knows to play second fiddle when Sehwag or Sachin is on song. Then comes the young gun Suresh Raina - the powerful left-hander with a wide range of shots.

The real trouble starts when prince Yuvraj Singh comes on to the ground. No ground is big for him and the balls keep sailing over the fence at his will. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who sometimes is seen at number 3, was once known only for his bang bang approach. But with his new role as the captain, he has also learned to bat through the innings. The list seems unending with Yousuf Pathan, the new hard hitting right hand batsman, following. He is akin to Lance Klusener of South Africa and can spur the scoring rate at any moment. They are followed by the hard hitting Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan who can bat as well. In reserve you have Rohit Sharma, touted as Tendulkar's successor, and Ravindra Jadeja, etc.

The recently concluded Sri Lanka series and the ongoing New Zealand series stand as testimonial to India's batting strength. Hope this team brings the World Cup 2011. Great going guys.