Cricketpedia

India vs Sri Lanka in the World Cup Final.

On a “pulsating day”, where the “atmosphere was electric”, and with “billions of people watching” and “life was at a standstill”, India managed to beat Pakistan to get into the final. The stage is set for potentially the final ODI for the game’s leading run scorer and the most wicket taker.

Waking up at 1 in the morning, with my 7 yr old and 3 yr old in tow, we were up and ready to watch the game at a friend’s place. The news that India was going to bat took away any sleep in our eyes, as I started thinking of the next milestone for Tendulkar to achieve. For the next 8 hours, it was good entertainment, and Indians finished the day winning a match that both the sides didn’t seem to want to win.

Forgetting the spectacle, the game itself was rather low on quality and high moments. Matches like these remind us how difficult it is to perform at the grand stage, make us appreciate the Montanas and Federers. After Umar Gul got carted around the field by Sehwag, Wahab Riaz, who is the latest export from the Pakistani Fast Bowler Company, replaced Razzaq and got Sehwag out in his first over itself. It is a wonder how Pakistan keeps generating these fast bowlers, while India seems to create more and more clones of Mohinder Amarnath. We can take some consolation in that the only thing that happens to our fast bowlers is that they slow down to Venkatesh Prasad’s pace; at least they didn’t end up with Veena Malik or get caught with drugs in Dubai.

From then on, it was one heartattack after the other, as Tendulkar kept giving Pakistani fielders catching practice. The fielders, having had butter croissants just before the match, did their best impressions of Kamran Akmal by dropping everything. At one point, Misbah ran up to Afridi asking him whether he can drop his pants as well. The tension was rising, as was seen clearly on Aamir Khan’s forehead, which was shown a thousand times before the veins inside burst out and caused a delay in the game.

Tendulkar seemed to have a clear game plan. He gave a chance when Gambhir was on the other end, then one more when Kohli was there, and one more when Dhoni was the non-striker. It was as if he was telling the Pakistan team to choose their scenario, as to when they want the middle order collapse to start. Unfortunately, his game plan couldn’t be executed to perfection, since Yuvraj Singh came and went back immediately before Tendulkar could give a catch when he was on. Yuvraj immediately posted on twitter that his first ball duck was for a mysterious loved one, and the twitter world went amok. Was it for the pretty Zinta or for the manly Padukone? Only time will tell.

By this time, Tendulkar was running out of fielders to hit to. He finally decided to take on Afridi, and the young youthful captain held a catch. The country breathed a sigh of relief that God’s 100th century didn’t come in this fashion. Only after God departed did we know how difficult it was to bat on this pitch. Had Dravid been there, we would have known immediately. For the next few hours, no one hit a half century, till Misbah decided to up his average at the end overs.

The indian innings got over, was 260 enough? I had bigger questions to answer – What are indicative rates? Should I buy a house with Hamza? Is she a pure punjabi? How to choose between GujaratiMatrimony and State Farm, when both of them promise to find the love of your life? Anyway, it was time for some samosas, poha and chai.

Pakistani innings started, and the folks watching the game immediately panicked. It was not at the sight of Akmal or Hafeez, it was at the way Vivek Oberoi was shown by the TV cameras time and again. Memories of Kisna came and went as we pondered what to watch if India loses. Manmohan Singh and Ghilani sat glumly, waiting for some one to break the ice and introduce themselves. As time went on, it was clear that Pakistan had a plan to create a rift in the Indian team; make Ashish Nehra look so good that Indians would be scratching their heads about their cricketing wisdom. The commentary team, wearing similar shirts and ties that would distinguish them from the catering service workers, were now furiously searching for adjectives and were trying to will their sides to win. Rameez Raja was close to writing his will, he was so passionate about his country that the only person who was more passionate was Allan Donald in the New Zealand match.

Kamran Akmal got out and came back with Umar Akmal’s T-shirt, and no one could tell the difference. It was almost as believable as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to merge in with the aam aadmis. Umar Akmal started taking the attack to the Indians and panic was in the air. Indians were already running out of substitutes who could be in the field. Krish Srikanth was ready to come in for Nehra. Raina was also ready to field as a substitute till he realized that he was already a part of the playing XI. Indians were getting ready to lose, but Misbah Ul-Haq had other ideas.

Future generations that pore over history books and scorecards will say that one man top scored for Pakistan in a gripping semi final clash against India. One man was the lone warrior who scored a 50 and held up Pakistani chase right till the end. Misbah was playing for history; Let the world cup wait. His tactics were curiously reminiscent of Jadeja’s numerous innings in the 90s. He reserved everything for the final power play, when he would score 155 runs in the last 5 overs (figure it out, think last ball singles). Misbah had a point to prove and quickly got rid of Umar Akmal. By this time, it was clear that Allah would not be helping in this match, rather Guru Nanak had taken over.

The game ended on a whimper, with India winning by 29 runs. By this time, Rameez Raja was whinging like he got kicked in the nuts. Nehra remarkably was able to get his finger injured after his spell, wisely preventing the headline “Nehra dropped for Ashwin”. Our breakfast was done, and work had started. Non-Indians were sending out mails asking for status and bug updates, but there was steadfast silence from the Indian work force.

Thus finished yet another India-Pakistan “Greatest game in the history of the world cup”. Wahab Riaz went near the podium to pick up his Man of the Match, only to be told that he would get his turn in 2031 when he would play his sixth world cup.

The stage is set. The cameras are set. Ambani and Mallya will be there. Murali and Sachin will be there. Pro-Tamil organizations will have their panties in knots if Manmohan Singh invites Rajapakshe.

India and Sri Lanka are in the finals. Just as I predicted , twice. Let the best team (India) win.