Cricket WC: A billion prayers for India's win
First Published : 02 Apr 2011 01:50:16 AM IST
Last Updated : 02 Apr 2011 08:09:54 AM IST
MUMBAI: Cricket does get intestinal. Guts. This four-letter word, at once both concise and comprehensive, is demanded of both India and Sri Lanka. Who dares wins.
This is about overcoming the nerves, anxiety and pressure dripping through Saturday.This is about the final of the 2011 ICC World Cup. Glory is so near. and yet so far away. And the opportunity to seize the moment might never present itself again.
The tentativeness that forces a conscious attempt to avoid mistakes and thereby often results in defensiveness and negativity must be shunned. This is not a contest for the lilylivered. The meek will not inherit the earth.
For MS Dhoni and his band of brothers-in-blue, as has been the case in the world of sudden death from the quarterfinal onwards, 'M' remains the name of the game.
The challenges of Motera and Mohali have been conquered; those of Mumbai remain.
Lying in wait at the Wankhede Stadium are not only the demands of a slow-spinning track and the claustrophobic anticipation of the home crowd but also three of the most unorthodox and dangerous practitioners of the art of bowling.
In Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis, the opposition has in its ranks what could yet prove to be the decisive difference in this battle of tournament cohosts.
Indeed, it is one thing for the Indian batsmen to know what to expect and quite another to deal with it in an effective manner at showtime.
As difficult to overcome for the team will be the physical and mental hangover of the taxing semifinal clash with Pakistan.
The congratulations and celebrations that have followed, though inevitable, are avoidable distractions that dim focus and intensity.
While the odds favour India 6/10 to Sri Lanka's 13/10 the cold fact is that the mission has not been accomplished as yet; all that has been secured is a berth in the title-deciding round.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes stand to lose £500,000 if India wins the trophy.
For Indian cricket and its millions of frenzied fans across the globe, the pain of losing will far exceed what money can quantify.
Now, XI men face the task of meeting expectations.
আমাদের লেটেষ্ট আপডেট গুলো পেতে আপনার ই-মেইল দিয়ে সবাস্ক্রাইব করুন
আলোচনাআলোচনা ইমুটিকনইমুটিকন