We Are The Champions!

Left office at a quarter to 5 yesterday evening. Outside, the road from EC to Forum is jam packed with bumper to bumper traffic. The Silk Board flyover is clogged with traffic on one side. The line of vehicles stretches from Silk Board to near the SBi ATM near Friends' Fast Food in BTM. It's the worst fair weather jam I've seen in Bangalore. Why? 'Cause no one & I mean no one wants to miss India take on Pakistan in a World Cup final & are returning home early, that's why!

Sid SMSs, "We have reached, tum kab aaoge?", Arni & him are home already. Call up Soumya, turns out the dude didn't go to office today! Reach home just in time for the first over. India win the toss & elect to bat. Things are looking good. Ajay drops in to complete the audience we had during the semi final against the Aussies. The show has begun.

India begin well, but lose their way in the middle overs. The expected belligerence from Yuvi & Dhoni never comes. Shoaib is a shrewd captain. Asif is bowling well. Gambhir plays superbly & Rohit finishes well. 157 .... about 30 less than what would have been unbeatable, I say to myself. Still, I think of 1983 .... India defended 187 off 60 overs. We still have a chance .... but it'll need intensity, a lot of it.

India begin well, but Nazir is going great guns, until a scorcher from Uthappa uproots the stumps before his bat is across the line. The 1st turning point.

India dries up the boundaries. Irfan makes Shoaib & Afridi succumb to the pressure .... in the same over. Brilliant!

Ajay is celebrating. Sid & me ask him not to. It won't be over till it is. Arni is maintaining the calmness of a monk. He says we'll win .... wish I could be so sure.

Misbah starts blasting out of trouble with wickets falling all around him. Ultimately, it's 13 required off the last over, India need 1 wicket to seal it. Joginder bowling.

1st ball is a wide. 12 required off 6.

2nd ball is a dot ball. 12 off 5 for Pakistan.

3rd ball .... Misbah saunters down the pitch & hits it straight down for 6! Arni & me look at each other .... this is so not good man. 6 needed off 4!

As Jogi comes down to bowl the next ball, I have my Amitabh Bachchan moment with the upar waala .... look, I've never prayed to you for victory in a cricket match, but if ever you're going to listen to my prayer, I want you to turn this one our way ....

4th ball .... Misbah steps forward again, but tries the flick over the keeper's head this time .... the ball flies high .... very high .... it hangs in the air as if in slow motion in a John Woo film .... the commentators have gone silent.

Looking at the height it seems destined for a six .... until Sree Santh comes into the picture! His arms outstretched, mouth open .... he's positioning himself for a catch .... take it, take it, and I'll never make fun of a Keralite's accented English ever again! A short fumble, but he holds on .... it's over! India have won! Ravi Shastri is ecstatic on the commentary!

Sid is mouthing his expletives at the Pakis, Ajay is spewing his behen ke .... lines, I'm screaming, embracing, pumping my fists, jumping all over the place, the moment is a whirl .... call up Sittu, call up Jolly, call up Home .... yes they know, they've seen it all .... I've seen it all .... I've seen India win a World Cup final, beating the arch enemy, beating the Aussies, beating the South Africans .... this is something I'll hold on to for life.

Outside, on the roads, a group of guys take out an impromptu victory celebration .... we contribute our voices from the balcony. Crackers bursting, it's a huge moment, I wish I was back home, Arni & me can only wonder what it must be like back there.





By God, they have done it! The script couldn't have been written better.

Here's the link to all the stories on cricinfo, & something interesting that took place during the presentation.