Back to work people!!!Having being away from the page, I was actually waiting to write a piece on our own Men In Blue, fr which I dint have to wait too long. Now as we all know the ASIA cup is without a doubt, the most prestigious Tournament involving the teams from the Sub-Continents. And finally after a decade and a half, we broke the Jinx. An accomplishment which Dhoni and Co. fairly and thoroughly deserved.
Ill go back to the time when India last won the Asia cup, the year was 1995. Infact, I had just started following the game during that period. Now when I recollect that win in the final in a very translucent manner, I was extremely fascinated by this tall Lanky medium pacer, our very own Venkatesh Prasad (VENKY) as economical as any of the seamers to have ever taken the field. 10 overs, 2 wickets for 32 runs. And 15 years down the line history would repeat, we would witness the same mode of winning, IE-The Seam Dept. Another thing that came to my mind was the gutsy display of the then Indian Capt and one of the most successful Indian Skippers Mohammad Azharuddin scoring a 90 in the final. Though we cud not see sum great batting this time around...and obviously, cuz not everyone is Azharuddin, apart from the fact when you get caught in the Match-Fixing Scandal and be banned for life (special attention Ajju), I myte add a 'LOL' to it, but that's besides point.
Coming back to this edition of the Cup, this really gave us the picture of our so called 'Youngistan' and their chances of being a part of the Playing 11 during the World Cup. Perhaps just Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina can book their seats for the 'GRAND-DADDY' of them all. One more selection blunder or mystery shall I say continues to haunt me. Ravindra Jadeja seemed totally out of clue while facing the Pace Bowlers, not to take the credit away the guy has enormous talent. The poor chap tried his level best to win the game fr the opposition in every match, but I guess not every player has the ability to be a Ravi Shastri. But on a very serious note, if Jadeja's playing in the team then his role needs to be sorted. Gauti once again showed why he is still one of the most valuable assets of the 11. A couple of brilliant 50's where batting wasn't easy at all, I think he was the unnoticed hero in this series.
The opening game against Bangladesh was rather not easy as the bowling dept looked sharp at times but at the end it turned out to be an easy win thanks to sum gutsy performance with the bat. Pakistan was supposed to be a threat, bt even that was sealed as the 'TURBANATOR' from Jalandher had a story to script his own, this time wid the WILLOW, the same willow that Sachin had gifted him during the IPL. Akhtar looked gasping for breath as his fitness still remains a cause of concern . One major positive fr Pakistan in this series was the timely "ROARING back to form' from Shahid Afridi as he got a couple of tons against the Bangladeshis and the Lankans.
The last group match against the Lankans was perhaps the only debacle in the series, bt perhaps even that too cud have been prevented had Rohit Sharma not run out of partners, and not allowing Maharoof to get his first Hat-Trick.
The final at DAMBULLA was a fixture every Indian had an eye upon. Can Dhoni and his men do it one more time, can they achieve this something that had awaited them for 15 long years, with the belief that perhaps this would add to the list of another DHONI Achievement, which only he was capable of doing. Well, the result had still to be seen.
Dhoni won the toss and without any hesitation decided to bat, perhaps knowing the fact that the stadium def lacked the Ideal Floodlights normally used to host a Day-Nighter. In came Gambhir and Karthik and with solid determination added on 50 fr the first wicket. Karthik specially was looking to be in the form of his life, smacking atleast couple of boundaries in every over once he got settled. Gauti's dismissal was caused by a literally outstanding catch at close in position. The batting came to its own as Karthik scored a well deserved 66.
Unfortunately, he gave away his wicket to the part-timer Kandamby as he lofted a full-toss straight to the hands of deep square-leg. Captain cool came in with a cameo if 38 as he too gave his wicket away to the part-time leg-spinner. Virat, Raina, Rohit Sharma everyone chipped in with useful contribution but the runs seemed to dry-up during the end of the innings thanks to full-length stuff from Malinga and Kulasekhara. Malinga with one of those Toe-Crushers caught Raina stone Dead infront of the stumps. The team ended up on a competitive 268 as chasing has never been easy under the lights and that day would be no different.
But for the score to really look competitive, the Seamers had to provide decent start and that is exactly what they dis. Praveen kumar got Dilshan in the very first over for a blob. Zaheer was literally unplayable at times as he was without a doubt in the spell of his life when he beat Tharanga almost every delivery and ended up dismantling his timber. They (both Praveen and Zaheer)actually reminded me of the legendary Wasim Akram and Waar Younus, as both of them were comprehensively making the ball talk. The two most senior and reliable batsmen were out at the middle, JAYAWARDENE and the skipper SANGAKKARA. Just when Mahela showed his intentions smacking Zaheer fr a couple of boundaries off consecutive deliveries. Ashish Nehra came in and struck Gold. Yes, the same Nehra who if you remember won us the super-6 game against England claiming an astonishing 6/23 in the 03 World Cup.
The 'FORGOTTEN HERO' definitely had more than just one wicket up his pocket. Matthews followed in the same over just after 2 balls and the next over from the man saw him get the all imp wicket of the Captain himself and the score read 51/5. The match although dint end up one-sided as Kapugedara got a stylish fifty and both Kulasekhara and Kandamby chipped in with useful contributions. Finally the Lankan innings wrapped up at a meager 187 as Jadeja claimed the last wicket, perhaps his only contribution to the team. The ASIA CUP was ours for the Fifth time, as DHONI and CO. proudly and happily lifted the trophy.
ASIA had been conquered once again. Next Target, the 2011 WORLD CUP!!!
wow champ you have improved greatly
ReplyDeletenow seriously I enjoyed reading this one though I would add that I felt it was a bit lengthy but still way better and more enjoyable than your past ones. the theme which you picked in the beginning of your piece that last win and this win comparison was cool especially Ravindra Jafeja and Ravi Shastri thing was awsome but I feel you should have stuck to it rather than starting to sort of analysing the tournament later in your piece as in the beginning I felt like reading it as it was something with a different angle and presented quite differently.
But anyway, your work this time quite commendable, way to go champ.