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Mahendra Singh Dhoni watches his winning shot, which will be rememberd for the ages, fly over the ropes
I sat there on the bed, waiting for it to end. I was always sure we had it in the bag. It was just a matter of time before Team India stepped up to the plate and claim the deserving prize.
Dhoni always had my faith even through the bad phase he’s been going through, and seeing him face Kulasekera with four to win, I sensed something insanely epic was going to happen. Just a couple of minutes before, I had said, “It would be amazing for Dhoni to be the guy who finished off with a six which won us the World Cup”. And I was proven right as my predictions prevailed and my prayers were answered. The force was with me yesterday.
Captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni coolly side stepped and thrashed the non-living bitch out of the ball into the stands. Correction: The force was with India last night.
It’s in situations like these, I wonder how to react. Yes, I ‘wondered’ after we won the World Cup. Much like Dhoni, who just stood still after hitting the six. Just stood still. Picturesque, a symbol of ruthless calm and composure.
I clapped. I walked onto Carter Road, which by the way, was probably the most epic place on Earth after Wankhede last night. I watched people dance and scream. For some reason, I couldn’t join them. I just reveled in the atmosphere and absorbed the energy and burst massive crackers in my head. That’s the best I could do.
This win was probably the most efficient in World Cup finals history. The only hiccup was the loss of Sehwag in the first over, and the country suffered a massive cardiac arrest when Malinga got Sachin.
Otherwise, Gambhir and Dhoni eased their way to the total. It never looked threatening. With all that’s been said about India throughout the tournament, we pwned Sri Lanka yesterday.
And Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Words really can’t describe the man’s genius. I’m sorry, The Man’s genius, after he deserves Godly praise. He is the epitome of the gladiatorial spirit that we come to expect from sportsment and seeing him weep made me emotional. Virat Kohli probably delivered the quote of the decade when he said, “For 21 years Sachin has been carrying the burden of our nation. Today, we carry him on our shoulders”, before doing the same. Absolute legend and a man made for hyperbole! India deserved to win the Cup just for this man.
Let’s be honest here. Yesterday was all about Sachin. All of us wanted a Sachin hundred and his failure was probably why I wasn’t as pumped as I should have been after the win. I know there’ll be many many opportunities for the Little Master to to get his 100th hundred and Sachin will reach the landmark without a doubt.
I woke up with a sense of immense satisfaction today morning. I’m pretty sure the whole of India did. Provided they slept at all.
World Champions: India. Take a bow Men in Blue!!
