Yet, three days before the final, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was uprooting the stumps after India defeated Pakistan at Mohali. He was calm, unruffled, unhurried. Dhoni had been talking about "peaking at the right time", and they did just that against Australia in the quarter-final. They fielded like devils, restricted the defending champions to a manageable score; when the going got tough in the chase, Yuvraj Singh yet again showed his mettle. Suresh Raina too put his hand up, and then carried that mood into the semi-final. That match didn't live up to the hype—it was a game of low cricketing quality. The pitch changed its character midway into the Indian innings, and the Pakistan players were possibly overwhelmed by the occasion and the noisy, partisan—but well-behaved—crowd.
The Indians were clearly tougher through the event, overcoming several testing situations. Except for the remarkable West Indians and Australians, favourites have rarely done well in the World Cup. India, slight favourites among six dark horses, joins them.
Fans in Mumbai celebrate the semi-final win. (Photograph by AFP, From Outlook, April 11, 2011)
This has led to the first all-Asia final. An Asian team has reached the final in each World Cup since 1992, Pakistan winning that year and Sri Lanka in '96. The three large subcontinental teams were runners-up in Australia's subsequent hat-trick of wins. Despite India's performance, it remains No. 2 in ODIs, but the Cup confirms that India has combined its financial and cricketing muscle to become the superpower of the small world of cricket.
In purely cricketing reckoning, this has happened because India rose when Australia fell after a very long time at the top. "Yes, Australia has fallen after the retirements of their great players of the last 20 years, even if they're still the No. 1 in ODIs," Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, former Indian captain, told Outlook. Australia never found their feet in this World Cup. Their pace attack was erratic, their spinners ineffective; Ricky Ponting, their anchor, was mostly broken; Shane Watson, the other batsman who has of late been winning them ODIs, couldn't carry the team. They are no more the brilliant, foul-mouthed, confident scrappers of the past.
But India too hasn't become the Australia of old. "I don't think we're there, I'm not sure if we're on the right track," Kiran More, former Indian player and chief selector, told Outlook. "Australia did it for 20 years, they won three World Cups, dominated Test cricket and redefined it. They beat each team at its home. We're yet to do that." He believes Australia's strength is their competitive domestic cricket structure that produces very good, though not great, cricketers. "The Ranji Trophy is the key to Indian cricket, not the IPL or ODIs," he says. "The Ranji Trophy needs to be more competitive, and the first step is to ensure the top stars play. Right now, we're not getting many competitive matches."
Raina directed the lower batting order against Pakistan. (Photograph by Reuters, From Outlook, April 11, 2011)
This is reflected in the fact that the same senior domestic players continue to be the best performers for years. More says there's great talent in cricket's hinterland, it must be found and nurtured, and states more than once that players like M.S. Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Munaf Patel, R.P. Singh and Piyush Chawla have come from small towns. "We do have the National Cricket Academy (in Bangalore), but we need to go deeper to identify talented boys, support and train them and give them opportunities," he adds.
The field needs to be expanded. For instance, at the stadium in Mohali, very tall—six-feet-three upwards—young Sikh boys wear the police khakis, and often seem more athletic than the players they're guarding. "Yes, these young men can be very good fast bowlers," says Pataudi. "But they're more into other sports in Punjab, like football, running, athletics, and should be encouraged to play cricket."
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More is concerned about the lack of bowlers. "I'm worried that there is no rush of bowlers, especially left-arm spinners and leg-spinners," he says. "And also the fact that fast bowlers slow down after emerging." Adds Pataudi: "We've had the MRF Pace Foundation for nearly 24 years. What has it produced? One can recall only Srinath as their product. We're going about it the wrong way." The right way, he says, is to produce wickets that don't kill fast bowlers.
But, as if by magic and skilful jugglery by Dhoni on slow wickets, India stormed into the final. It was estimated that close to a billion watched the later matches involving India. That would thrill the ICC and the BCCI, for eyeballs translate into revenues and, therefore, strength. Can the BCCI grow even stronger in consequence to India's strong show?
"I'm sure it will be a kind of boost for the BCCI, but it can't get any stronger, can it? It's about as totalitarian an organisation can get," says Mukul Kesavan, writer and academic. Kesavan is more interested in the domestic fight for the control of cricket. "Is this going to become a public sector-private sector fight over cricket's destiny?" he wonders. "I think so, and I think there will be a compromise. The private sector is not really interested in Test cricket; it's not that interested in any form of cricket except the IPL. And given how important (read money) this form of cricket is, it might become the pivot of a considerable struggle."
The World Cup, Kesavan believes, has been an unqualified success, and the ICC can rightly proclaim that. Except for the minor matter of the fan. "It's been a remarkable success, except for some very important things which would be done well in a civilised world, like ticketing and seating," he adds. "We have had fans clamouring for the few tickets available, and then waiting for hours to get into the stadiums. This is beyond the abilities of our cricket board to even begin to consider."
Sanjay Manjrekar says this team led by Dhoni is, like Tendulkar all his life, fulfilling high expectations. The administrators needs to follow suit.
| ALSO IN THIS STORY |
WORLD CUP The Indian PM's cricket diplomacy gambit has opened a window |
WORLD CUP Black humour alleviates rage as Pakistan copes with heartbreak |
 OPINION The pitch beat all in flight and turn. But India had greater self-belief. |
AUTHORS: ROHIT MAHAJAN
TAGS: CRICKET | CRICKET - WORLD CUP 2011 | INDO-PAK
SECTION: SPORTS
SUBSECTION: COVER STORIES
APR 02, 2011 02:39 PM 1 | Cricket is the heady dope, that the media uses to make us forget that our criminal justice system has completely failed, leading to the worst corruption ( and leadership crisis ), ever. |
APR 03, 2011 08:00 AM 2 | What was missing at the end of the fabulous match was Tendulkar putting the success of the team in the World Cup on the shoulders of the really deserving Captain. We are a nation obsessed with icons. Quiet hard workers get no credit. Most certainly not in the media. |
APR 03, 2011 10:14 AM 3 | The political who's who attended the semi-finals and finals. Now, that the game is won, they must be licking their lips at the prospect of attending the Poonam Pandey show. With the win, India is shining again. All issues of corruption, misgovernance, leadership crisis etc. can be put to the backburners now. |
APR 03, 2011 10:43 AM 4 | "We are a nation obsessed with icons. Quiet hard workers get no credit. Most certainly not in the media." - S Kocherla Brilliantly said!! The current cricket team is a living example of the magnitude of achievements that team-work, leadership, mutual trust and self-belief can deliver. Any other era, and the game would have been over at 31/2. Kudos to the team and the entire support staff. We should also not forget the contribution of Vengsarkar and his administration team that dismantled the shackles of zonal selection bias. |
APR 04, 2011 05:08 PM 5 | That the Indian cricketers are doing so well consistently for the last 3-4 years in all forms of the game just demonstrates the fact that it is INSPITE of the administrators. I agree with Kiran More that if we need to dominate world cricket for the next 15-20 years, than we need our top cricketers playing in the domestic ranji trophy. But, alas, BCCI is today the most powerful body in the world, i don't think anyone whose voice matters can do something which BCCI does not want to. 
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Mumbai: The ICC today rejected reports that the World Cup with the Indian team is a replica and maintained that it is the original trophy after controversy broke out over news that that it was a fake that was presented to the team on Saturday.
Media reports today said that the Cup given to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team was a fake and that the original was lying with the customs in Mumbai over non-payment of duties.
Following these reports, the ICC came out with a statement this morning saying that the trophy presented to the Indian cricket team is original.
"Contrary to some erroneous and mischievous media reports, the ICC can confirm that the trophy presented to India at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday was the original ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy and the one that was always intended to be presented to the winner of the event," the ICC statement read.
"There is no question that this was a replica. The trophy presented to India indeed carries the specific event logo of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and has always been the cup that the 14 teams were playing for," it added.
The ICC said the Cup in the customs' custody is the "perpetual trophy" which is used for promotional purposes.
"The trophy seized by Mumbai customs is the promotional, perpetual trophy which remains in the keeping of ICC at its headquarters in Dubai. It carries the generic ICC corporate logo rather than the logo specific to the 2011 event. That trophy will be reclaimed today and will travel back to Dubai with ICC staff as was always intended," the governing body said.
Meanwhile, Customs officials painted a different picture and admitted the ICC did not pay the duty to obtain the clearance and that the exemption notification could not be given in time. Speaking to a leading national television channel in India, Mr.Dutta Majumdar, Chairman of the CBEC said, 'when the trophy first came into the airport for clearance, the officials were not aware that it was the world cup trophy. We had to wait for the tournament director Mr. Ratnakar Shetty's letter to give the clearance. But, Mr. Shetty asked us to keep the trophy with us and send it back to Dubai when indicated.'
The big question now remains why the ICC and the tournament director hesitated to pay the required duty and bring the trophy to the stadium for the final. Agreed only a replica is given as per practice with the ICC but the perpetual trophy should also be kept in the stands and that is just as important a norm. Will the ICC answer this please?
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Who should be held responsible for this big big bungle?
A. ICC. They should answer the nation
B. Government of India. They should have got it released the next minute India won the World Cup
Lorgat rubbishes World Cup trophy row
Mumbai: ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat sought to put an end to the controversy over the trophy presented to India after the World Cup final, saying the winners got the trophy that was intended to be delivered to them.
Media reports had said that the Cup given to Team India was fake and that the original one was lying with the customs in Mumbai over non-payment of duties but Lorgat termed the reports as disappointing and said there was absolutely no issue regarding the trophy.
"It is very disappointing that media reports do not represent the fact. I have spoken about match fixing at Ahmedabad and now it is disappointing to know about the trophy. India got the trophy which was intended to deliver to them," Lorgat told reporters.
"Since the 2003 World Cup, we have two trophies, one is the replica which is used for promotional purposes and that perpetual trophy has been going in and out of India for the last six weeks and it is back to Dubai.
"The original trophy we had at the field of play on Saturday and that is the trophy that matters and that is with Indian team," he added.
He also confirmed that the next edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will feature 10 teams, and the format could be like the one that was used in the 1992 edition.
Lorgat also said that the introduction of the much talked-about Decision Referral System (DRS) in the mega-event proved to be a successful one.
"DRS was successful. It has improved umpiring standards by more than five per cent. There has been no blatant errors or no complaints from teams over decision that could have affected the outcome of the match.
"And the spectators in the stadium valuing the DRS make it a lot more entertaining," he said.
Lorgat also clarified that no amendment has made to the controversial 2.5 metre rule.
The ICC CEO also vowed to do everything possible in order to keep the sport clean.
"We want the game to be clean at all level. That is one thing we don't want to compromise. We are doing our utmost to free cricket of match-fixing."
Source: PTI
World Cup replica with Indian team: BCCI source
It has never happened in the 36-year history of the World Cup compeition. The winning team being given a replica of the most coveted trophy for the game on earth. But, that has happened now and shockingly. Reports suggest Team India were given a replica of the world cup trophy. If true, it is a shock that could douse the wild celebrations in the Indian subcontinent.
Mumbai: The Indian cricket players can't seem to put it down it but the World Cup trophy they have with them is actually just a replica as the original is still lying with the customs.
"The original is lying with the Customs," said a BCCI source without elaborating.
When contacted Customs sources, however, said the Cup was with them for non-payment of duty of 35 per cent of the original value.
"We will release it after payment of 35 per cent customs duty after its valuation," they told PTI.
The Cup, meanwhile, has been in the forefront of the celebrations by the entire Indian nation with players even posing with it along with President Pratibha Patil at the Raj Bhavan yesterday.
The captain of the winning team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been photographed and caught on television cameras carrying the replica to the iconic Gateway of India opposite the team hotel yesterday. Man of the Tournament, Yuvraj Singh, has been kissing the replica repeatedly in delight.
Source: PTI
Cheers and Jeers: India are World Champions!
Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck the winning runs as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to bag the World Cup title after 28 years. Take a look at some important moments from the historic final in this feature.
'Coinfusion' at the toss
So Kumar Sangakkara cannot figure out head or tail of the moment. Eh? How is that possible? After all, he made the call once Mahendra Singh Dhoni flipped the coin? Either way, the toss was done for the second time, with the Sri Lankan skipper winning the re-toss and electing to bat first. Ravi Shastri's piece-to-camera though was as he would say 'on the money'. What a start to the 'cointest'.
The first wicket of the World Cup final
Upul Tharanga became the first batsman to lose his wicket in the 2011 World Cup final, after he edged Zaheer Khan to Virender Sehwag. The left-armer bowled three maiden overs in a row before conceding his first run to Kumar Sangakkara. Zaheer, Sreesanth and first change Munaf Patel did well to keep the Lankan batsmen quiet as the first ten overs saw just 31 runs being scored. The Indian fielders were on their toes, saving some valuable runs with their well-timed dives.
Sangakkara caught by Dhoni. Retribution?
After Dilshan fell to Harbhajan Singh for 39, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene got together for a 62-run partnership for the third wicket. Yuvraj Singh though broke the stand, after Sanga tried to cut the ball, only to find the ball being edged to counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Retribution for what happened at the toss? That question aside, this was an important wicket as Sangakkara was looking good during his knock of 48.
Samaraweera & Kapugedara fell quickly
Thilan Samaraweera's miserable run at the World Cup continued when he was trapped lbw by Yuvraj Singh after scoring 21. He almost got away though, as Simon Taufel ruled him not out, before MS Dhoni called for a review. The ball pitched outside off, but hit him in line. Sri Lanka 179/4 in the 39th over. Three runs later, Chamara Kapugedara chipped a slower ball from Zaheer to Raina at short cover. At 182-5, with ten overs and a delivery remaining, the Lankans were in a spot of bother.
All hail Mahela Jayawardene!
Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten 103* was instrumental in the Lankans raking up 274/6. The 33-year old brought up his score off just 88 balls, with 13 fours against his name. The right-hander used his supple wrists to good effect, exploiting the gaps to his advantage, to bring up his 14th ODI hundred. Everytime MJ was on the verge of a milestone, his wife Christine played 'peek-a-boo' with the cameras, only to break into applause when he hit a four to bring up his century. Well done!
63 runs off the final five overs!
The final over from Zaheer Khan saw 18 runs being scored, with Thisara Perera going berserk hitting two fours and a cracking six off the last ball of the over, to silence the crowd at the Wankhede stadium. The batting powerplay was exploited clearly at Zak's expense, who was India's best bowler until till then- gave away 44 runs from the three overs he bowled at the death. Sri Lanka finished with 274/6 off their 50 overs. Do the math.
Lasith Malinga's double strike silences Wankhede
The second Lasith Malinga trapped Virender Sehwag leg-before-wicket off the second ball of the innings, the crowd went quiet at the Wankhede stadium. 'Slinga' returned in the seventh over to have Sachin Tendulkar edge to Kumar Sangakkara for 18. Not too sure if someone has invented an instrument to measure the sound of silence. India 31/2.
Gambhir and Kohli to the rescue
After losing Sehwag and Tendulkar early, India needed the batsmen to put their heads down to work and move on. The Delhi duo- Kohli and Gambhir did that exactly with a 83-run partnership, that took India from 31/2 to 114/2. Tillakaratne Dilshan however took a stunning return catch to send back Kohli for 35. India 114/3.
Gautam Gambhir's invaluable knock
The left-hander struck 97 off 122 balls to guide India through some turbulent times after they lost both their openers with just 31 runs on the scoreboard. Gambhir kept his cool, hitting nine fours in a mature knock to put India in a position of strength. Though he fell short of a century by three runs after being bowled by Thisara Perera, he had done his job. What a player!
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits the winning six!
The Indian skipper had come in for some flak for his run drought so far. Dhoni however saved his best for the last, scoring an unbeaten 91* to take India home to victory. Walking in to bat with the score at 114/3, with some distance to cover, the 29-year old kept his cool forging important partnerships with Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh to put India on track. The 'Jharkhand Jadoogar' then finished off the match in style striking a superb six off Nuwan Kulasekara to give India their second World Cup title.
Source: India Syndicate
