The people were not there to see a cricket game. They were there to cheer for India’s victory, not to praise the great cricket the Australians were playing.
2 min read 11/20/2023, 10:20 PM IST
Nothing is scarier than when a lot of people are completely quiet, not even taking a breath. wasn’t at the World Cup final, but I watched it on TV and felt sad when India lost. I felt really sad as an Indian, but as a cricket fan, I was amazed at how well the Australians won the championship and ended India’s dream run. Pat Cummins and his team did something that many thought they couldn’t do – they defeated the tiger in his own home. I clapped, feeling sad, but knowing it was just a game, not a battle.
Pictures from the Narendra Modi Stadium, filled with thousands of people, told a powerful story. Even though most people had stopped talking, the loss made them unable to speak, taking away attention from the Australian celebrations. In this sad time, we forgot to recognize the other team’s great skills and tactics. It seemed like the Indian team was not only defeated, but also lost what made them who they are.
The night before the game, this is the best Indian white-ball team ever. Most people agreed with a strong yes. I met a rich Indian cricket fan who was taking part in a debate about the World Cup final on a news channel. It is believed that he is rich because he bought the cricket bat that Dhoni used to hit the famous six in the 2011 World Cup final. He spent a huge amount of money, about 1 lakh pounds (around Rs 1 crore). He had been to many World Cup finals and now wanted to go to Ahmedabad, believing that India has a good chance to win another trophy. He thought the team was strong and that Modi’s presence was inspiring.
His strong belief in Modi never making mistakes, connected with his faith in the Indian team, reminded me of another cricket fan I met after India won against Afghanistan in Delhi.
I remembered the steam coming out of the energy of the many people at the Jaitley Stadium that day. I wondered how they would feel if India lost.
The year 2003 is different from 1996. Today’s cricket fan is more aware of politics, and they believe that they are invincible not only in cricket but also in other areas of life. In this new India, even sports look like part of a story where it’s hard to tell the difference between confidence and fooling yourself.
Many people went to Ahmedabad stadium on Sunday, November 19. They believed that cricket and their political leaders were working together so well that losing was not possible. However, Australia had other ideas. They carefully studied and examined what India was good at and what they were not so good at, as well as the condition of the playing field and the mindset of the home team’s fans. They showed off their skills, planning, and strategy in India, which made the strong Indian team look weak by showing their weaknesses. Fear and stress, not there before, suddenly appeared. The loud crowd quieted down as the Indian prime minister arrived, and India was in a mess. ( Also Read Dua Lipa Set to Take the Stage at ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Closing Ceremony ).
The Australians were in control and beat the Indians easily. The people weren’t at the game to see cricket; they were there to cheer for India’s win, not to praise the great cricket the Australians were playing. Even though Modi was there, they still didn’t feel better because they thought he would make India win. Their world fell apart, their dreams were broken, and they must have felt cheated, not being able to appreciate a four, a six, a high score, and a win against all odds.
The Australian captain said he would feel more energy if the crowd was quiet. The stadium went quiet on Sunday night when Cummins lifted the trophy. This might have made the Australian captain happy, but it made India look less impressive to the world.
