Life does not follow a script đź’”
Flashback to March 23, 2003 — “It’s a short ball from McGrath, and Sachin Tendulkar has decided to pull, but he hasn’t got the connection he’d have liked. It’s gone high in the air, and it’s been taken by McGrath himself! India lose their most prized wicket, and the pressure is now on the other batsmen.” Millions of hearts skipped a beat. The inevitable was clear.
Fast forward 20 years, Team India dominates the World Cup, winning all 9 league matches, overcoming the Kryptonite New Zealand in the semi-finals, and entering the finals as favorites against the mighty Aussies — all of this on home turf with unwavering support.
I secretly hoped for Australia to win the semi-final against South Africa to avenge our 20-year-old loss. Revenge is the purest feeling! The ’90s kid in me is thrilled. This is our moment, perhaps the last World Cup for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Rahul Dravid, part of the 2003 losing team, led India to a dismal exit in the 2007 World Cup and is now the head coach. Yes! This is the Kabir Khan moment from Chak De! India, the man who played Kabir Khan is the stands. The script keeps getting better.
The moment arrives, India cruising in the powerplay. Rohit Sharma’s untimely dismissal silences the crowd. I never realized when Iyer came and went, but hope lingers! Virat Kohli remains. Rahul and Kohli, aware of the weak middle order, play it safe. Then comes the dreaded moment: “Oh, that’s a big wicket! Virat Kohli has been dismissed for 54, and India is now four down. This is a huge setback for India, and they will need their middle order to step up now.”
In the second innings, a catch is missed on the first ball, but three quick wickets once again give us hope. In the end, it was never meant to be! India tried and tried, but to no avail. The script didn’t work.
Life doesn’t follow a script. It takes one day to shatter your dreams. Some stories are better left unfinished, so we can learn and write new ones. Does that mean the sport is bad or the team worse? No, they say go through the darkest days; heaven’s a heartbreak away. There’s still hope, and like all great things, hope never dies! Until next time!
