Though we won the World Cup in 1983, that victory was considered a fluke, as West Indies was so dominant those days. In a way it was right, for they thrashed us in the ODI series that followed the World Cup, as if to prove a point.
This time it is different. We went into the tournament as favourites, and lived upto the expectations. We took out the four time winner Australia, a resurgent Pakistan and a solid Srilanka in the knock out stages, no mean achievement. We were the dominant team and we deserved to win.
This World Cup proved that 50 over cricket is not dead and buried under the avalanche of T20. The final was a classic and the intense. This World Cup has given a fresh lease of life to the 50 over cricket. There is space for all the three forms of Cricket and perhaps even for the Day and Night Test Cricket with Pink balls that is on the horizon. Of all the sports, cricket has been reinventing itself periodically, and it is good for the game.
A redeeming feature of this World Cup was the death of bits and pieces cricketers who had helped lower the standards of this game over the past couple of decades. This World Cup was all about pure quality batsman and pure quality bowlers. India, which has been guilty of packing the team with bits and pieces unworthies, for once went back to the basics and chose batsmen who could bat and bowlers who could bowl, and none of the stupid 'guys who can bat and bowl a bit'. Indias 5 batsmen were all pure batsmen, though a couple could turn their arms a bit. Yuvraj and Dhoni were the difference - the all rounders. Yuvraj's form with the ball helped MSD to do away with Yusuf Pathan, who can be called the bits and pieces player. And we had genuine bowlers in Zaheer, Munaf, Nehra, Harbhajan, Sreesanth - none of them had great claims as batsmen. This development of specialists manning key slots augurs well for the future.
This WC has also silenced the White lobby which seethed at the financial clout of the Asian nations. They had sniggered at BCCI and other Asian Boards that we enjoy far more clout than we deserve purely on financial reasons, and not on cricketing reasons. The fact that 3 of the 4 finalists were from the Sub Continent, and India is the Test and ODI No.1, and holds the WC should shut the naysayers up once for all. The power of world cricket has shifted to the Asia.
While celebrating the WC win, we should remember that while it is tough to reach the top, it is tougher to stay there. We need to plan ahead. A replacement for Gary Kirsten must be found as quickly as possible. We also need a good bowling coach. Sachin has achieved all that he can in the ODI. Surely, he will hang his boots from ODI shortly. This will extend his Test Career also. At any rate, he wont be a permanent fixture in the ODI team in the short term - he might play an odd match here and there. Sehwag, Gambhir, Kohli, Raina, Yuvraj, Dhoni will ensure the batting is not found wanting. But we need to strengthen our bench. It is time to have a look at Manish Pandey, Ambati Rayudu and Cheteswar Pujara - all technically brilliant players and wonderful fielders to boot. There is no point in going back to Rohit Sharma or Robin Uthappa. Let us look ahead. Bowling is a cause for worry. Despite his poor performance in the WC, Sreesanth is the most technically sound bowler. We are tired of his tantrums but that is something a good mentor and a mental conditioner can take care of. Remember, Zaheer was a hot head once, and look how matured he is now. The medium pace cupboard is bare for now. We have to take a gamble, induct couple of promising ones from those available and groom them. Surely, Ashwin should be given a longer run in ODIs and Pragyan Ojha should be there too. He is the best left arm spinner in the country, though his fielding is below par. Maybe this IPL should throw up some good spinning options.
A very satisfying victory and a World Cup well organized. And thank god it passed off without any major terrorist incidents. And Bombay deserved this victory after the harrowing experience of 26/11.
For a country that has heard nothing but bad news on the economic and politcal front during the past one year, this is a cause for cheer. But let us not allow any politician to gloat in this victory. This was achieved by the Cricketers, and them alone. Also, spare a thought for BCCI. The much maligned Board did provide the right facilities to the team by way of support staff and a bunch of no nonsense selectors.
It is a nice feeling to be on top of the world and for me the victory has still not sunk in.
Let us savour it while it lasts.
