World Cup 2011: A moment to remember

When eleven talented, dedicated, emotional, motivated and determined people, with an opportunity at hand, decide to prove themselves, there probably could be no force powerful enough to stop them. And the outcome of this passionate effort is before us- the Cricket World Cup of 2011.

Just two days ago, the world witnessed a dream coming to life, that ended in a joyful truth. And what a dream it had been. Shared by millions, over the generations, by the most experienced to most naive, by the cream and the milk. This was the one dream that made people think about India as a nation and not as an aggregation of states. And when the dream turned into reality, it seemed that the diversity had molded into unity, all the different religions had merged into one, all the languages expressed just one emotion, and the land of a billion people had formed a country.What more could have been asked for? 

I am one of the unknowns from the crowd who were glued to their TV screens trying to capture each and every moment of the dream-come-true journey. For the first time since I left India 3 years ago, I felt so miserable not to be a part of that crowd who could cheer every ball and every run of the match.  It is then when I realized what it meant to be on the Indian soil.

My time started here at 3.00 a.m. when the pre-match presentations began. There was not a second of the glamor I wanted to miss, and I woke up after a 2 hour sleep, fresh and full of vigor. The National Anthem was overwhelming as ever, and instilled the sense of pride to an even greater extent. I was happy, proud, and confident, just by the thought that I had believed in my team throughout the tournament, and today I was watching them play the finals. Yes, it was my team. It was every Indian's team.

The uproar in the stadium was stupendous, as expected. I, as all other people not on-site, perhaps can never feel the same energy as they do in the stadium. But today was a different day. Thrill, anxiety, and aggression was flowing through our nerves. The way Zaheer kept the Sri-Lankan batsmen inside the trap was pumping up our blood even more. Sreesanth selection was always dubious, and he did disappoint, but then, the team spirit had also turned me into a positive thinker. And I believed in my team.

The Indian batting started with a blow. But as long as Sachin is out there, the entire cricket watching nation feels safe. This was the big match for him, and everyone believed that he would be giving his best performance. And then there was the scene most uncalled for. Sachin was declared out at 18. As if a wave of shock had blown away the cheers. Not only the screen was silent, the people watching the screen would have their hands on their faces. I had them on my head. The score was 32/2 India.

The Indian team with its performance had earned the reputation of the best batting side, and I believed that. But the score on board, the target to achieve, and the pressure of the final, can have ruinous impacts. The middle and lower order batsmen had often fallen like a pack of cards, and with the situation upfront, the heart would have skipped a beat. 

Then the way the match took form was a spectacular to watch. The composure of Gambhir, the support of Kohli, and then the quiet aggression of MS and Yuvi, made it look like a cake walk. They looked like the most patient and richly experienced batsmen the cricket arena has ever seen. With every run they took, the target became more and more achievable. And the end was a classic. The six hit by Dhoni and his swinging the bat in a gladiator style, had marked not the end of a match, but the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Indian cricket. India had emerged as the World Champions the second time after 28 years.

From this stage, it is hard to express the emotions that overflowed from my heart. It was nothing different from what rest of the Indians would be feeling, but I am sure the experience is unique to its own. In the excitement and jumping and dancing on the victory, I missed seeing the ecstatic moment on the field, but I managed to see it in the replay. Dhoni had a confused expression, and I somehow understood it. Yuvi was shedding his tears of joy, and all of us could feel his heart. All eyes were looking for Sachin, to get a glimpse of happiness on his face on this long waited achievement. Expressions of joy, somewhere in the form of dancing, and somewhere in the form of tears were spread all across the stadium. The team was seen to lift Sachin and carry all around the stadium with the Indian flag waved everywhere. Sachin was rapt amidst this honor and satisfaction all coming together. He had his share of joy with his kids coming down and walking with him on the ground.

All of us knew, it was 'THE' match for Sachin and team, and all of them had fought very hard to get it. But then, Kohli made the statement of the day, which, inspite of several articles mentioning it, I can't help writing down:

"We did this for Sachin. He has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time that we carried him on our shoulders". 

I always had it in mind, that Sachin would give in everything this time to get the title, and the team would do their best to be with him, but put that into words, it was an amazing feeling. The entire team had played for Sachin, to make his dream come true. They had shared his dream. 

I celebrated and celebrated. I wanted to be with Indians, to share that joy. I drove with my friends in the car, with the theme song playing in full volume and waving the Indian flag. I felt so proud. I felt satisfied.

Its been several hours since that moment, but it is still so much alive. And it will always be. I feel lucky enough to have witnessed this moment in my lifetime. I miss the Indian news channels and the newspapers that keep the moment vivid. But every time I open my laptop, the first thing I want to see is a picture of the jubilant moment, a statement made by a team member on the victory, an article written on this achievement. My team has done their job, they have excelled in their play and have made their country proud. And I have learned the lesson of my life: Patriotism is all about quietly doing your work and excelling in it. If it makes you proud, your country will be proud of you.