This Cup Is Mine

Giving a tough fight to our distant neighbours, India impressively won against Pakistan, leading the nation towards the magnanimous Cricket One Day World Cup 2011 final against Sri Lanka. And then, as Oracle Bejan Daruwala had very rightly prophesised, history recreated itself when the Indian cricket team lifted the World cup after 28yrs of waiting...that too winning it on our soil and in my very own city of Mumbai. What more could we ask for huh!

Height of Ecstasy
It was a volcanic blast of patriotism and pride that erupted on that winning day, the 2nd Apr 2011. Winning the world cup brought 1.2 billion Indians together as one nation irrespective of the diverse cultures, languages spoken, social status, and religion prevalent in secular India. Look at what eleven men of the Indian cricket team have done to this nation! They have not only won the World Cup for us but, they have united the nation giving it a long lasting ecstasy that no other drug can give. And as lover boy Enrique Iglesias would say, "I'm addicted, I'm out of control, but you're the drug that keeps me from dying." This is exactly what the cricket drug has done to Indians all round the world. We are still reeling in euphoria and this feeling is still sinking in. The India that was celebrating with fireworks, whistling through the vuvuzela, dancing to the World cup signature tune, draping herself with the tricolour flag, and hugging each other till eternity is the real India which erupted in national harmony since a long time. Even I saw the real India on that very glorious night. Frankly...it gave me goose bumps!

Our maiden World Cup win was in Y1983. The difference however was that, we were the underdogs then...the apple of no one’s eyes. But today, things have changed...tables have turned. India is not only brimming with her cricketing glory but also with her brilliance showcased in each and every sphere of life. After this huge win, the emotionally gripped Kapil Dev, the captain of the Y1983 World Cup winning squad said that the team that he captained is different from the Team India of today. Today’s team he said were under tremendous pressure and that they are better players that the players of 1983. What more could Team India 2011 ask for!

Demigod of Cricket
As a young boy, God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar always dreamt of winning a World Cup. The World Cup 2011 win by far was the best moments he had been waiting for since 21 years. It might have taken this master blaster two decades to see this glory, but happy are those youngsters in the team who got to see this big day very early in their life...some of them hardly a year old in their careers.

Beyond Cricket
Supposedly, the gentleman’s game (Cricket) may not be India’s national game (Hockey), but this game has got more focus, resources, infrastructure, funding, passion, and dedication than any other game played in India. Thus making it one of the most sought after careers among young India.

There is hence an urgent need for our sports cabinet to rethink their strategy towards inducing the same passion towards other sports in India, including games like hockey, tennis, shooting, boxing, sprint, badminton, to name a few. India is brimming with talented young men and women who would love to make a sporting career, provided the sport is driven with the same motivation like cricket. Indian parents still dream of making their child a doctor or an engineer, and hence it is now time for us to think beyond these conventional careers.

Where is Poonam Pandey?
In the midst of all the excitement that has still not sunk in, everybody is on the lookout for maiden stripper, Poonam Pandey who has gone rogue after India’s win in the World Cup. Before the world cup, Poonam promised to strip every piece of clothe on her skin to celebrate India’s win. But it has already been two days after India’s glorious win and the mysterious lady is gone missing. So, here is a call to readers...if you happen to find or see Poonam Pandey in the vicinity or in around your circles, please report it as soon as possible. The whole of India is waiting for her to do her thing.

Post script
On a lighter note, there is this hilarious joke doing the rounds that I would like to share with you. A Sri Lankan was sitting at the corner of the street slurping tea from a saucer. Looking at him, a passerby asked him why is he drinking his tea in a saucer...and prompt comes the reply...India took away the cup. LOL

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Before I sign out, as I always say take very good care of yourself and God Bless.