Saturday, April 2nd, Wankhede Stadium - A day to Remember
By Deepak Moorthy
Getting ready for the grand occasion
I was pursuing my graduation in one of an engineering colleges in India. Me and my hostel mates jumped out of the college to watch the grand finale in my friend’s house. A gang of around 12-15 were sitting in front of a small tv in a tightly coupled room. Foods from my friend’s mom was an added advantage.
Sri Lankan Innings
Sri Lanka had won the toss and kumar elected to bat first to put some pressure on Indians with a fair belief India had never won a final match against SriLanka chasing down a total since 2000. The crowd were really great and since it is the home ground to my favorite sports icon Sachin Tendulkar, the crowd were on their feet from ball one to make this a grand occasion for the master blaster. It is also the last game for the legend Muttiah Muralitharan. With the Srilankan openers losing their wickets in quick succession, it’s a stage set for Sangakkara and Jayawardene to deliver once again for the lankans. With plenty of experience and doing this continuously for decades, lankans need nothing more than these two great cricketers flourish the innings.
Jayawardena and Sangakkara
It’s once again the duo of Sanga and Jaywardena, who showed great temperament and composure and steadied the innings with some delightful stroke plays. It’s the golden arm of Yuvraj which took the wicket of the captain Sanga. India were almost back on track with two quick wickets, but it lasted only for a while. A magnificent century from the Sri Lankan legend Jayawardena and some blistering shots from the lankan all rounders set a huge total of 274. The numbers were not that large, but a target of this in a World Cup Final is never an easy task.
Indian Innings
With the whole crowd chanting the Sachin Mantra “Sachin, Sachin..”, all eyes were on Sachin Tendulkar. Will this be a grand occasion for the 22-year cricket career or a career without the World Cup glory. Sachin and Sehwag were on the crease facing the most dangerous bowler Lasith Malinga. The second ball of the innings got Sehwag out for a duck and there was a silence around the stadium. Gambhir and Sachin steadied the innings with some blistering straight drives. As soon as Sachin was striking the ball well, Malinga struck back with Sachin getting an edge to Sanga. Sachin’s world cup was over and the whole stadium was in silence.
Sachin’s dismissal
This was the saddest feeling I ever had while watching Cricket. My favourite star who I considered as a role model and loved watching him play cricket since my childhood got out without delivering when the team needs. While a millions of dreams shattered away, me and my friends couldn’t continue watching the match. We went for a small walk with some sort of pain but still with a little hope we could win. We did some prayers in a little temple nearby during our walk and returned back to watch the updates.
Gambhir’s composure
Gambhir and Kohli gave some momentum to the Indian Innings but kohli fell soon. Gambhir played a gem of an innings when the team desperately needed a big score from him. Everyone were expecting the competition’s man of the series Yuvraj Singh to the crease but to everyone’s surprise, in came Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captain. He had handled so much of pressure in winning games for India over the years, but it was the final and everyone needed a mind blowing innings from the Indian captain.
Dhoni and Gambhir
Similar to the first innings where Jayawardena and Sanga managed a partnership, now it was the turn of the Indians. With both of these batsman steadied the innings with quick singles and some blistering shots, India got some momentum back. With the last drinks of the tournament India required 110 from 18 overs. Gambhir and Dhoni paced their innings superbly with half centuries before Gambhir got out for a well-made 96. A needless shot to get out, which might had been a best century of the World Cup. With Dhoni struggling a little bit with a back injury, he managed to stay fit. Yuvraj Singh came into the crease with just 52 needed from 52 balls.
Dhoni finished off in Style
Yuvraj steadied the innings without sparing much balls to settle down which he did entirely throughout the series. India were cruising to victory with some blistering shots from the right left combinations. With just 5 needed from last 2 overs, it was the Indian captain Dhoni who finished off in style with a huge six over long on. With Ravi Shastri’s commentary, it was just the icing on the cake moment. India had won the world cup after 28 years. Dhoni! You Beauty! The crowd were jumping in joy and so did we. What a match! It’s a perfect end to a perfect world cup.
A billions of Celebrations
Indian’s were running out from the dressing room with joy. Sachin came running with a lovely smile. He carried the Indian Team for last 22 years and now it’s time to carry him on our shoulders said the Indian team and carried him around his home ground. Everyone in the dressing room dedicated this win to the legend and it was a perfect end to the long lasting worldcup of Sachin. Yuvi named the Man of the Tournament and India lifts the World Cup in style. A fairytale ending!