Twenty20 Championship… FINAL: India vs. Pakistan 2007

A torrent of emotions is running through me today. Woke up with the hope of seeing India rising again and with a hope that Indian Cricket does have a future, however tiny it may seem, after the retirement of the three legends of the current Indian cricket.

As every Indian, I too felt despondent at the exit from the world cup, not so much for the exit but for the way the exit happened. With Dravid relinquishing the responsibility of skipper, felt even lost as I felt no one is willing to take this Indian team into their arms and cuddle and protect them from the demands of modern day cricket. To say that it is OK to lose as long as you give your best. With the wall crumbling, felt that the anchor is lost. And it felt good to see that all hope is not lost and the young India is shouting and beating its heart with a rare passion and saying Chak De India… calling to attention to all those who wrote off the team.

I could not digest the shock of Dravid’s decision, however perfect it may be. Though it is early to comment on the captaincy of Dhoni, it feels fresh to see the team without the seniors and the big names creating ripples on the news front.

The dream final, yet to unfold, promises to be a seat-edge thriller. With the drama and passion of India-Pakistan match, with the ferocity of a world cup final, where teams are battling against the remnant memories of ICC World championship, this match promises to be breath-taking. And yet again, India proved the world wrong. Written off, isolated, without a coach and the batting greats in the team, there was not much to ask for. But they rose above the expectations, like a ball hit hard on the ground… only to reach higher rewriting the script and it couldn’t have been written better.

Yuvraj, a person with talent that was promising and a rare skill came unleashed like an inferno, blasting everything that came his way. Playing with an adeptness of sourav and Sachin, he moved into an iconic status over-night. It is scary, this kind of star-dom. Left out of the team, this persona of good talent, who kept fighting for his place in the team, now looks ahead into his role as a finisher in the ODIs and to lend a credibility to batting in tests. But only if he continues to keep knocking on the door does the opportunity open up to him. He now created an opportunity and it is up to him to reach the heights he dreamed of, when he started playing this game.

Taking it one day at a time, the resurgence of Indian cricket sounds promising. This new child of cricket seems entertaining and more demanding and only time can tell its influence. As the current life style, short and demanding, this is only for the fittest of the sport, with a will to hold their nerve.

Wishing India success…