The Echoes of Victory
I was not in the country when India defeated South Africa to clinch their second T20 World Title, in Barbados, West Indies. However, the victory echoed far and wide. A young boy of Egyptian descent, studying in a school in London congratulated me on India’s victory and that how he had been supporting India for his Indian friends right through the Championship. No wonder, the Men in Blue, by their sheer performances had gained supporters across the World.
The Knock Was Getting Louder
The victory in Barbados was nothing but a culmination of a decade of fine cricket in all its forms by the Indian Team with amazing consistency. The team had been knocking the doors of a World Title for far too long and in the end smashing it in style to lift the T20 World Cup Trophy. The inevitable was round the corner. With several semi final finishes, two World Test Championship Finals, an ODI Final to boot a few months ago and of course a number of bilateral series victories both home and abroad, the Indian Team had been brilliant and ahead of the other teams by mighty strides.
Epic Celebrations in Mumbai
The celebrations in Mumbai were nothing short of spectacular akin to the ones seen on the streets of Buenos Aires when Lionel Messi’s Argentina were crowned Football Champions of the World. The sight was rare undoubtedly. The open bus crawling through a sea of fervent fans and impassioned supporters of the blue brigade. The event not only celebrated India’s World Cup triumph but also its domination of the sport in no uncertain terms.
A Renaissance
It has been a Renaissance of sorts for Indian Cricket and though the sport was always the most popular in India it never scaled such heights of accomplishments as seen today. A lot of things have been done right and need to be looked into.
A Fitter than ever Indian Team
This Indian Team does not carry unfit players and therefore to be able to a part of the team, the player has to be supremely fit. With carefully calibrated medical treatment and rehab, the players have been looked after by the board which has resulted in Bumrah and Rishabh Pant (to name a few) to recover completely from career threatening injuries. The fitness standards are high to live up to the demands of the modern game and an ever expectant Indian supporter.
A Brilliant Fielding Side
Asian Teams were never great Fielding sides, but India has proved it otherwise. In Ravindra Jadeja they have the finest in the world and the others are not far behind either. The standards of catching too have been phenomenal with the Suryakumar Yadav effort to dismiss David Miller in the all important Final (potentially a match winning catch) being a reflection of the effort put in by the Indian players on the field.
A Fearless Cricket DNA
Fearless Cricket has been a game changer for India. IPL bred young batters have been belligerent in their batting style. Their clean hitting has subjugated many a fine bowler in the world. This approach without doubt has made the Indian Team fine travellers and their success abroad in varying conditions has been the outcome of this changed mindset.
The Best Bowling Side in the World
At the moment Jasprit Bumrah is arguably the best bowler in the world and Kuldeep Yadav the most feared spinner. In between Shami, Siraj, Ashwin, Jadeja, Chahal, Arshdeep and not to miss Hardik Pandya can easily walk into any international team. The bench strength too is top class. This is a real blessing for Indian Cricket and seeing the youngsters coming in, the supply of good bowlers is not going to dry out anytime soon.
A Selfless Rohit Sharma at the Helm
Rohit Sharma has been a revelation as the Captain of India. He has led by example, has taken risks on his own, has played selfless cricket to ensure that the team benefits, sacrificing instead, personal milestones. He has kept the pot boiling, the passion running and his cool demeanour has worked as a glue in keeping the team together in all formats of the game.
(A robust Domestic Circuit, the IPL and sporting Pitches have played their role too in India’s success story).
This Indian Team hardly has any weak links or fissures very similar to the once dominant Australian Team. With a World Title after a good 13 years, this team is capable of adding a few more going forward.
The jinx has been broken, the inevitable has been achieved.
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