That catch, this match

A triumph that will remain in India’s collective memory, the T20 World Cup victory means much more

Indian cricket fans needed this. Cricketers in tears as the reality of triumph sunk in, the streets of India buzzing late into the night with wild parties and wildly joyful social media posts – fans needed them all. For many of them, dealing with the grim realities of life, real good news is often in short supply. But late on Saturday night, their troubles seemed to be swept away. Life was touched by magic. This is what sporting triumphs do, in any country lucky enough to experience them. The T20 World Cup came to India at a time when the country, across class, caste, region and language, really needed a unifying moment of joy.

Like monsoons replacing heat waves, cricket’s triumph also brought relief, ending a drought. For too long, India had been monotonously and regularly exiting, either in the semi-finals or by failing at the final hurdle. Questions were rightly asked about the team’s temperament in big knockout matches and its ability to handle pressure. This tournament gave a resounding answer: “Yes, we can do that too.” Victory came after beating Australia (World No. 2), England (defending champions and World No. 3), South Africa (World No. 5) and familiar foe Pakistan. It doesn’t get more comprehensive than that. We were World No. 1 before. But without the glittering trophy, it meant little. Now we are a deserved World No. 1.

Such a triumph does not come without meticulous homework and careful planning. Coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff deserve credit for nurturing a talented team and instilling a self-belief that did not leave them even in the most difficult moments. The same goes for the BCCI national selectors for picking a side that, despite a few controversial choices, was in tune with a larger plan and vision. This was a true team effort. But if there is one cricketer who stands out in this fine team, it is Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah, coming back from a debilitating back injury last year, is a living example of how high craftsmanship can become sublime art. How he does what he does is a mystery – another way of saying he is a sporting genius.

Finally, a word to the South Africans. Their cricket was brave and beautiful. They didn’t choke. It’s just that sport can be cruel, sometimes by millimetres – as happened to Miller when SKY That catch. That catch, that match, will always be part of India’s collective memory.

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