Second to None- India’s Moment of Sporting Glory

Cricket today is literally a different ball game. The competition is bloodier, players are more injury prone and the stakes are the highest in terms of repute and reward.

As sweet as the Indian cricket team’s victory was in 1983, there’s something so momentous about winning the 2011 World Cup that almost all sporting achievements by Indians in the international arena pale in comparison. While this statement may not be fair to those who made sporting history, fact is, that cricket-crazy India cannot think beyond the Men in Blue. Cricket today is literally a different ball game. The competition is bloodier, players are more injury prone and the stakes are the highest in terms of repute and reward. But this is not what made this victory sweet. What made it glorious was that the team had to shoulder the burden of a billion expectations and dreams and perform imperviously. That the team had to redeem its image as cup-worthy after the last World Cup debacle, and they had to prove with every game towards the finals that it won’t let the nation
down on its own grounds.

Strong chasers, there was little doubt that getting 275 would be difficult but Lankans are not known as tigers for nothing. Also, an otherwise achievable score becomes overwhelming when it’s the finals more so when you lose your star batsmen Sachin and Sehwag in the early overs. But the team played like a well-oiled unit and lost no steam until the winning six tore the skies open. And what a way to announce India’s triumph. Dhoni’s captaincy, Tendulkar’s inspiration, Yuvraj’s fight back and a billion wishes, what a finale.