Congratulations are in order to India for its emphatic victory in the World Cup final in Mumbai.The team played extremely well during the entire tournament and is deserving of the trophy.West Indies need to emulate the way the Indians played throughout the tournament so they can return to the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s when they dominated world cricket.The joy of India's victory spread far and wide as people around the globe celebrated. Even in Richmond Hill, NY, Trinis celebrated India's victory at the sports club (Singh Roti Shop, for example).
Bonhomie and celebrations continue in India days after the victory bringing back memories of celebrations in the Caribbean when Clive Lloyd's West Indies won the first World Cup in 1975. Prior to the victory, I remember as a child the excitement listening ball by ball commentary, with no one moving from the radio in the semi final against Pakistan (that was saved by Deryck Murray and Roberts) and the final against Australia (saved by Lloyd and the great Kanhai after Alvin Kalicharran had set the team up for victories in earlier matches). West Indies played well during that entire inaugural tournament in 1975 as did India in this year's.
Some feel this year's matches involving India were just as exciting if not more than Windies matches in 1975.From the outset of this year's tournament, India was the favorite to win from the betting bookmakers.But Sri Lanka also performed credibly and deserve kudos for a well played game. There is no disgrace in the defeat. The match was evenly poised mid-way and could have gone either way. So the Lankans should be proud of their performance.This year's final will be long remembered as the great ones the West Indies played in the 1975, 79 and 83 finals (when India shocked Windies with a come from behind victory). No one had given India a chance of victory in 1983 but they pulled off the biggest upset and since then India has played quality cricket to become number one in all phases of the international competition.
From that victory to now, cricket has been elevated in India and the country is now the financial power house on cricket. Cricket is a passion in India. The country is cricket crazed drawing more fans than even Bollywood. In fact, even Bollywood stars are cricket fanatics with many of them owning shares in professional cricket teams of the IPL and the disbanded ICL.India's games are followed and watched by rich and poor, male and female, young and old. One needs to experience what daily life is like when India is playing.
Against big teams, the country comes to a standstill as nearly everyone not in the stands is before the TV or listening on radio. The tension is stratospheric. Last Saturday's match was tense and like the semi-final between India and Pakistan, it went pretty much down to the wire, just like the final between India and WIndies in 1983.In the semifinal, India registered an emphatic win against Pakistan.That match, which also saw fortunes fluctuate, was vintage cricket at its best. The bonhomie and sportsmanship displayed by the players of both sides was refreshing as was the cordial remarks from the Pakistani PM.
In the final, Sri Lanka started slowly but elevated its games quickly reaching a difficult but achievable target. Sri took the early advantage when India batted dismissing both Tendulkar and Sehwag early. But they were stopped by Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina and then Mahendra Dhoni with Yuvraj Singh securing the victory. The atmosphere at the Mumbai final was electrifying. The fans were supportive. We need these kinds of games and support for the West Indies matches so we can duplicate the great days of 1975 thru 1983 when West Indies dominated one day cricket.
Vishnu BisramVia e-mail
