Skip to main content

The 2009 IPL Champions....

Sunday evening. The Deccan Chargers scripted what can possibly described as a 'work of art'. And walked away with the IPL trophy. The World was amazed, and couldn't help admire.

While I sat and debated, for the nth time - whether 20-20 was the way to go, or if the traditional test matches and ODIs were the 'true' form of cricket, I sat and watched the game.

And I was immediately reminded of India's moment of glory - at Lords - 1983. When team India lifted the Prudential Cup. And were declared World Champions.

And I saw similarities. India, in the 1983 tournament were the underdogs, much as the Deccan Chargers at the beginning of the 2009 IPL.

But India came around from behind. Slowly, but surely and steadily. So did the DCs. And India excelled when it mattered, just as the DCs did.

1983 was also a fine example of a captain leading by example. Kapil Dev came in to bat against Zimbabwe, when the team was on a near collapse at a dismal 50 odd runs for the loss of 5 wickets (?). And he took over control of the situation. As if it was a matter of life and death. And then came a brilliant knock from the bat, of and unbeaten 175. India won the match and went on to the semi finals. Which was impossible, till the captain came in, and made the difference.

I thought about Kapil, when I saw Adam Gilchrist bat on Saturday. What a similarity. Adam, batting against Delhi- easily the best team in the IPL thus far. But he had made a firm resolve. And he believed in himself and his team when no one else did. Proving to the World that at that level and standard of the game, cricketing talent alone matters little. For there is hardly any difference between one player and the other. What matters is the grit, the determination and the resolve to make the difference when it matters the most. A single minded focus to achieve the goal against all odds.

And when I saw Adam bat, I was reminded of Kapil. Both captains. Both made a difference in what could have easily ended in their team's exit from the tournament.

And then the grand finale. A brilliant display of teamwork. The DCs emerging out of a crisis, when their captain went out for a duck. Massive and valuable batting contributions by Gibbs and Symonds.
And then the two consecutive wickets by Symonds which changed the game just when Bangalore was set to take the match. The brilliant catch by Harmeet Singh. Everyone played a role.
It reminded me of Krishnamachari Srikant, Yashpal Sharma at the batting crease in 1983. Taking on the mighty West Indians who had never before conceded the Championship - till 1983. And the brilliant bowling attack by - Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath and Roger Binnyand even an 'unheard of' Balvinder Singh Sandhu.
It was all about team play 26 years ago. And it was all about team work yesterday.
And the belief - that against all odds - they can do it.
They did - and how !

Comments

  1. You are right..An 'inspirational Captain and 'Teamwork' is the key in this sport..maybe all sports..lol..maybe in everything else in life as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Memories of the 1971 War.....

1. Flight Lt. Vijay Kumar Wahi - 10144 F(P) Vikram Wahi was my class mate in Class V, in 1971. When the Indo-Pak war broke out in December 1971, our Class V final examinations were on. Many 'fauji' families had to grapple with the stress of these exams, with the war as a backdrop. There were two papers each day, and between them, during the break, I remember seeing the Air Force's fighers landing close by at Palam, after a Combat Air Patrol sortie... On the 7th of December, 1971, we - all 10 year olds were busy writing whatever we had crammed, in our answer sheets, when all of a sudden, we noticed some commotion at the back of the classroom. We saw Vikram Wahi, breaking down, and sobbing away inconsolably. We ten year olds did not quite comprehend the problem, and got back to our answer sheets. That was the last we saw of Vikram Wahi. Till this day, I do not know where Vikram went, and where he is. On the 6th of December, Vikram's family received the news t

The Great Indian (CWG) Tamasha...!

Less than two weeks to go. Teams from some Countries are already here. Is Indian ready - for what is easily one of the biggest events she has ever hosted in her history? An show that every Country would pride itself in putting up. A show that every guest attending would remember for a long, long time... Less than two weeks to go. Construction in stadia and the games village is still incomplete. And whatever is supposedly complete - some towers in the games village which houses the living apartments for the participating teams - have been clearly and unambiguously been certified as 'un livable'. Because animals are roaming around inside apartments and 'shitting' on top of the beds. Electrical systems are faulty and therefore there is danger to life. Yesterday, a foot bridge meant to be used by the team members and officials collapsed, injuring 23 people. A foreign journalist manages to purchase explosives - enough to organise 200 different explosions, stuff all of

“Remember - upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all”

The title of this post is a well known quote of ‘Alexander The Great’ . Very apt - at a time when a good part of the Country’s population has been swept with the sentiment surrounding Anna Hazare’s ‘fast unto death’ as a means to force the Government to get the Lokpal Bill moving. People of all age groups and from all walks of life came forward to support Anna Hazare’s battle to eradicate corruption. All these people are convinced that all Netas and Babus in this Country are completely corrupt, and all Indians have suffered at their hands. This is the time and the opportunity to being them to book. So all these people gathered at India Gate, shouted, cursed the corrupt politicians and the government, raised slogans. And when the Government ‘gave in’ to the demands of the fasting Gandhian, it was victory for everyone ! According to this group, something really good had happened, at least a beginning, and now there was hope. “How naive people could be?” – I had thought then, and now. W