O Captain, my Captain!

Writer's note - India Won the Cricket World Cup and the euphoria still remains high in my heart! The Captain truly made us believe and this one is dedicated to MSD!

It took me about 20 days to finally write about the historic win ! India had won the Cricket world cup and the last time the same had happened was a good 28 years earlier! I remember being excited about the pictures I had seen of Kapil Dev holding the WC Trophy on the Lords balcony, almost ten years after the event actually occurred. I even remember my cousins having a poster of the Captain and World Cup hero of 1983, Kapil Dev in their room. I had read of some and heard of many stories of courage and bravery of how the captain had led a side that nobody had given a second thought to as probable winners of the prestigious world cup. Fascinated, I had wondered how it felt to watch such an historic moment! The first world cup final I remembered watching was the 1992 one, where again a captain, Imran Khan had heroically led his team, Pakistan, to its maiden win!

By 1996 world cup, I was a cricket maniac like more than half this country’s population. We were the host nation and had a great side, we had our hopes! The way it was shattered is something that any cricket loving person in this country will remember with more than a little shame! Again a great captain, Arjuna Ranatunga guided his team, Srilanka, brilliantly to a victory that cemented Srilanka’s place as one of the finest cricketing nations.

In 1999, Steve Waugh, the Captain of the Australian team, not only won the cup for his team by winning against a formidable South African side that was the firm favourite to win the cup, but also apparently told a hapless Gibbs when he dropped Waugh’s catch ..that son you just dropped the world cup. Immense confidence in that semifinal match did not go invain, as Australia managed to hold on to that trophy for a record 3 consecutive world cups under Rinky Ponting the next two times.

Though in 2003, under Saurav Ganguly, the first Indian Captain to bring aggression into the side and a self belief that we can be world beaters too, India managed to reach the World cup final, Australia were a far superior team with the likes of Gilchrist, Hayden, MCGrath, Warne – each legends in their own right – still playing at their best.

2007 WC was the kind of disaster for the Indian team, that should be avoided mention if possible.

It was during this event that a promising and upcoming cricketer who had made an impression on the Indian psyche with his big hitting, powerful shots and long locks, had his effigies burnt and the foundation to his under construction house vanadlised by some fanatical fans swayed by extreme emotions. Strangely enough, this person was not the captain of that team nor was he the most important player of the team, there were other legends in the team. Yet the expectations from this individual was already sky high, the person was none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

When all the big weights of the Indian team like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble withdrew from the 2007 T20 first ever World cup held in South Africa. The Indian board sent a rookie team with a new Captain, MS Dhoni. Just like it was the case with Kapil Dev’s team in 1983, nobody gave this team the tiniest of chances to win the cup. Win, they did and in complete style, thus heralding a new generation of players into the Indian team.

The Captain, a small town boy with no connections, background or support had created quite an impression by his unconventional ways and cool approach. When he took over as the ODI captain and the test captain, nobody had reservations, as he had, by then, made quite an impression.

2011 World cup was special that way, India were one of the favourite teams to win the cup even over teams like defending champions Australia. With India playing host along with Srilanka and Bangladesh, the expectations were sky high. However as the tournament progressed, the lack lustre performance by the Indian team even in wins created quite an unrest in this cricket loving nation. MS Dhoni , by now an experienced captain was criticized for his team selection, poor strategies and lack of form.

The knock-out stages however brought hope, with India beating Australia convincingly and then winning against Pakistan comfortably though not comprehensively, still meant India had beat some of the best teams to reach the final. The final was to be against a very strong Srilankan side. Nothing less than a win and the hundredth International ton by Cricketing Legend Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was expected .

The Final itself was well worth a final, with the drama starting right at the toss, with both Captains thinking they had won the toss and a re-toss where MS Dhoni lost the toss, much to everyone’s dismay! However, though Zaheer bowled like a dream initially, the captain continued to receive flak for his team selection. Indian Team, not really known for its fielding were flying around the field stopping impossible to touch balls, especially, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, the best fielders in the team. Some fluid batting by Mahela Jayawardane saw the Srilankan side make a decent 275 that was the highest target that needed to be chased in a WC final. Needless t o say, this had never been done before and nor had any home team won a WC before and no team had lost after a batsman had made a century. The history seemed to indicate another disappointment for India

While chasing, when India lost the fabulous Virender Sehwag, there was still hope as Sachin Tendulkar seemed to be hitting the ball well. However when Tendulkar nicked a ball for an easy catch and India were 32/2 there was a stunned silence in the Wankhade stadium where the deafening noise initially had actually been the reason why the match referee couldn’t even hear the toss call. It was not just the stadium that lost hope, it was also a nation full of cricket loving people and others watching from all over the world. As Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, held on and played some wonderful shots, the hope seemed to slowly rebuild, run by run. When Kohli got out to a brilliant return catch by Dilshan, everybody expected an in form and 4 time man of the match winner in the tournament Yuvraj Singh to walk in.

Much to everyone’s surprise, in walked Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.. there was ofcourse some strong cricketing reasons for this, he would later say, the left and right hand combination, his ability to play spin better and a better knowledge of Murali’s doosra. However at that time, absolutely nobody would’ve even raised an eyebrow had Yuvraj Singh walked in. Yet in taking a decision so brave, in the most demanding of circumstances, Dhoni had earned respect of not just the commentators but also of the entire nation. As the nation watched, Dhoni played with resolve and confidence, not an iota of fear or worry on his face. The commentators , who were earlier criticizing his decisions , couldn’t help putting into words what every Indian was feeling then, here is a captain, who does not evade responsibility , instead leads from the front, like a true leader!

When Gautam Gambhir lost out a well deserved century owing to one bad shot, India were still a little away from victory, but when Yuvraj singh walked in, there was almost a surety that yes, we were nearing that elusive World Cup win, because our captain had made us believe in him. Even when a physio came in to sort out a back strain, even when we saw him grimace in pain , we knew, this man would not leave the field without finishing the game. Finish he did and how, with nearly 10 balls to spare and yes with a magnificent last ball six. That Six will remain etched in the hearts and minds of every person who has witnessed it. A few seconds to watch the ball as it soared into the gallery and a bat twist in the coolest of fashion, a smile as an emotional Yuvraj hugged him . I, like many others that day, that moment became a fan of MS Dhoni, captain cool, captain courageous!

As he spoke in the presentation ceremony, like he did in every other match, admitting to making mistakes even when his so called bad judgements had worked well, I looked on in awe. Now he admitted to knowing the consequences, had his judgement gone wrong! Like the modest person that he is, he stayed on in the sidelines as the great man Sachin Tendulkar was paraded around the ground on the shoulders of the team mates who had all dedicated that win to this great man.

To think MS Dhoni had been criticized heavily for stating before the WC, that he wanted to win the WC for Sachin Tendulkar! It was then considered a sign of overconfidence! When the captain had proved his detractors wrong , he remained the same, living in the moment, not getting carried away nor making brash statements filled with arrogance. The mark of a true man lies in the way he behaves when he is at the pinnacle of success. Here is a man like no other, a true inspiration!