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COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 07: Chris Gayle of the West Indies celebrates after winning the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 7, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
7th October 2012 was the day when the West Indies were crowned World T20 champions. It was a night to remember, not just for the Caribbean people but for the whole world. We have heard about the West Indies of the past. The 70s era was truly the time when the Caribbean side were a force to reckon with. It was the time when they boasted of legends like Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Clive Lloyd. This team did not have any superstars but it was fiercely competitive.
They definitely weren’t underdogs either: how can a team comprising of players like Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and mystery spinner Sunil Narine be considered a weak team by any means?
A strong West Indies cricket team was the need of the hour. But contract-related issues between the players and the West Indies Cricket Board proved to be a stumbling block for the maroon-clad side. So this victory was good for the game of cricket and was appreciated by fans from all over the world. Nobody is passionate about the game than the Caribbean lads: a look at the celebrations after the fall of every wicket makes you love this team.
You guessed the whereabouts of this team all the while. This might be the beginning of a new era in West Indies cricket. This era might not be of the fear and domination of the past, but would be more about passion and celebrations. It would involve competitive and fearless, but fair, cricket. You will never find a West Indian sledging a batsman after being hit for a boundary. This is what makes them darlings of the crowd. This World T20 has emphasised the arrival of the West Indies have finally arrived. It is good news for world cricket and really ominous signs for their opponents in future tournaments.
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 07: Chris Gayle of the West Indies celebrates with the trophy after winning the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 7, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Just have a look at the knights that adorn this team from Caribbean. Chris ‘Gangnam’ Gayle can make a mockery of any attack. He may be a chirpy character off the field but when on it, he is truly a marauder. He doesn’t believe in the common theory of taking singles and rotating the strike. He has his own philosophy, which is to send the ball as far from the stadium as possible.
Kieron Pollard, the man from Trinidad, is one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball. Such is the power behind his shots that his mishits also sail over the ropes. Then we have the man with a golden heart, Dwayne Bravo. He is a true all-rounder who can bat, bowl and field. Though he might not feature in the list of top all-rounders of the world, his commitment when he is on the field can never be questioned. Comeback man Marlon Samuels has always been in the news for wrong reasons, but this World Cup might be the beginning of a new chapter in his life, which will hopefully see him bring many more laurels for the WI team.
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 07: Marlon Samuel of the West Indies leads the celebration after winning the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 7, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sunil Narine, the mystery spinner from the Caribbean can find a place in any T20 team. It is quite ironic for we have a world-class spinner from the land which was once famous for churning out pace bowlers. His knuckle-ball has often mesmerized batsmen into playing false strokes, thus losing their wicket. He has one of the best economies in T20s.
Last and not the least, West Indian captain Darren Sammy, who has kept this team together and motivated them. He might not be as flashy as his counterparts but he has a great cricketing brain which he has showed time and again.
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 07: West Indies captain Darren Sammy lifts the trophy after winning the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 7, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The 2012 World T20 will always remembered for the Caribbean style of celebration. If Gayle brought Gangnam style dancing to our living rooms, his teammates were not far behind. Their WC final celebrations were a treat to watch.
The sun is shining. And the weather is sweet.
