World Champions!!

Last night was big for everyone in India. It was India v/s Pakistan in the World 20-20 finals. Noone has thought that either team would make it this far in the competition, especially the way they had departed from the recently held World Cup. Both India and Pakistan had a torrid time there. But this time both teams had played brilliant cricket. India after struggling early in the competition emerged as a potent force beating the likes of England, South Africa and Australia to reach the finals.

This was the big day. The stage was set. India and Pakistan in the finals. This was unprecedented.

India posted a mediocre 157 in their alotted 20 overs. It looked an easy target for Pakistan but RP Singh had different plans. He took 2 inside the first 5 overs. And a brilliant thorw from Utaphha got the better of a limping Imran Nazir. The game was evenly poised. Then Joginder got Yunus Khan to mistime one arial shot which went straight to Yusuf Pathan. It was really on now. It was time for Irfan Pathan to join the party. One over from him saw the backs of Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi. Misbha and Arafat were left to do the repairs. Arafat played a few shots before Irfan ratteled his stumps. Misbha was a lone ranger now. But he was not giving up. He hit Harbhajan Singh for 3 sixes in the 17th over. Next over, Sreesanth got a beating from Tanveer who hit him for 2 sixes before being bowled. It was upto RP Singh again. RP bowled a good over and got Gul. Now Pakistan required 13 of the last over and Misbha had the strike. Dhoni had to make a call. He showed trust in Jogindar Sharma. The plan was to bowl outside the off stump. The batsman could only hit him for a square drive and Dhoni had it covered. The 1st ball was a wide. The 2nd a dot. 3rd ball, Joginder tried a yorker which became a full toss for Misbha. Misbha made the most of it, hitting a straight six. Now its was 4 balls and 6 runs to get. Joginder had the bowl. Misbha moved outside the offstump to play the scoop one over fine leg but the ball got the better of him and he was caught by Sreesanth who was standing inside the 30 yard circle. The stadium erupted. One could see tricolors all over Wanderers.

It was a nail biting finish but Dhoni and company kept their cool and raised the cup. A complete thriller. 20-20 at its very best. 2 arch rivals had fought it out on those 22 yards with one coming up just short of the other. Both teams had displayed their skill at this game.

Hope India keeps the winning spree going. We will next face Australia at home. The team will be riding big on confidence and Dhoni, the new captain, will be really charged up.

20-20 is On! Are we up for it

Its been a week since the 20-20 world cup has started. And this time around India has somehow managed to get to the Super Eights.

My big worry is: are we prepared for it? As a cricket playing nation we are the last one to acknowledge this format of game and our big three.. Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid has decided not to participate. That leaves the current captian Dhoni with limited number of options. I really dont know how we will fare in the super eights. And, I will have to admit that we look weaker than most teams participating in the tournament. Lets hope the boys turn the tables around and prove to be the dark horse of the tournament.

I sound a little too hopeful, but then I am Indian.....

Chak De India!!

I could not help but notice how our nation has been doing well at all the major sports recently.

Our hockey teams, both mens and womens teams are on a roll. The mens is doing so well that they r trashing other teams by a ton of goals.

Our football team is also doing pretty well with its new coach.

And cricket, yes, just last night we drew levels with England after being 3-1 down in the seven one day match Netwest series. And we have already conquered the test series. It was a spirited performance by the men in blue while they had to chase a mammoth total of 313. But the Young India brigade (Ghambhir, Dhoni, Uttahapa) kept its head cool and we came out victorious.

Has SRK's Chakde India really done a magic or its just that everything is coming right just at the right time. Whatever, we are rolling and i hope we keep doing so....

Chak De India....