2nd April 2011. Finally the day arrives. Very happy that the wait is over, excited that we are gonna win the Cup but at the same time, apprehensive that we are facing SL.
We paint our faces with the Indian flag and wear Blue to support our team. The venue of the epic final is our own Wankhede Stadium at Mumbai.
First innings, SL score 274.
Not an easy target to chase, our hopes dwindle a bit but we are all watching it with our families, friends, cousins. We try to console and boost each other's morale.
All hopes are on Sehwag and Sachin to give us a great start. To make us believe that this is our time now. Sehwu goes for a duck and Sachin leaves for 18 :|
World's every expletive is being directed towards Malinga by every Indian cricket fan.
Shattered and broken, I give up. I wanted to break my tv set. I was almost in tears.
Gambhir and Kohli are on the crease. When experienced players didn’t stand a chance, I wasn't counting on these two young guns to fire. How wrong was I?
They make a partnership of 83. A flicker of hope arises in 2 billion peoples’ hearts.
I tell my mom not to leave the room. I stop texting. Everyone stops texting me. All facebook notifications and updates have stopped. A silent plea to all my friends, "Don't you dare jinx it". Somewhere a friend is not allowed to change his seat, someone is not allowed to go and take a leak, someone is banned from the tv room and the deluge of such superstitions go on. 2 billion hearts unify and pray for a miracle.
52 to win from 52 balls.
Yuvi and Dhoni are on the crease. We know that we can do it. We suddenly start trusting India more. As if, 31/2 never happened. It is as if when Sachin fell, we didn’t curse our heart out "Arey yaar, India ka kuch nahi ho sakta".
We try not to raise our spirits too high in case they are shattered again. Iss baar agar armaan tute, toh jhel nahi paayenge.
35 to win from 36 balls.
Dhoni escapes a run out. SL go for the UDRS for a lbw appeal against Yuvi but its turned down. Heartbeats are racing. India is getting reckless. We don’t want anything stupid to happen. Our prayers are intensified now.
27 to win from 24 balls.
Dhoni and Yuvi hit 4s. We are back on track after scoring 11 runs this over.
16 to win from 18 balls.
Malinga has the ball. Dhoni hits two back-to-back 4s. Revenge is indeed sweet !
5 to win from 12 balls.
We know the victory is near but we don't expect this. Dhoni goes for the helicopter shot.
Indians all over the world - silence. No reaction. It’s unbelievable. Did he just do it ?! Did we just win the match ?! The Cup ?! Am I dreaming? All these thoughts come alive in the span of a nano second. How amazing is the human brain ?! :D
The goosebumps set in. Finally we realize, yes WE DID IT ! After silence, comes the eruption. Thunderous wallop ! The roar ! We cry, we hug, we laugh, we are open mouthed, we cheer, we shout, we scream, we applaud, we grin and then back to shock again :D
India are the world champions.
That 60 secs of my life, when Dhoni hit that six and the overwhelming emotions after that - the most precious.
The victory lap: Sachin is being carried on the shoulders of Virat Kohli. He holds the Indian flag aloft. He can't stop smiling. The lap continues. The flag waves. The crowd roars.
Kohli speaks: Tendulkar has carried the burden of nation for 21 years; It was time we carried him.
The presentation ceremony: Dhoni is the Man of the Match and Yuvi is the Man of the Tournament.
Dhoni gets the cup, the team is with him in the podium and fireworks begin. The Indian team roar and roar.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is now holding that cup that eluded him for so many years. And he screams in joy. What a night !
We beat Aus in Quarters and Pak in Semis.
How many times did we beat our two most rivalled opponents in the World Cup and go all the way to win it ?! Will it happen again ?! Maybe. Hope never dies. But I know everyone will agree with me on this - Woh pehli baar ka nasha kuch aur hi hai ! :D
For life, WE BLEED BLUE !!!
