It is time to cherish the superb memories of 2011 once again. India won the World Cup 2011 beating Sri Lanka in the finals but words are less as every Indian cricket fan remembers the India-Pakistan semi-final clash which was even more than final. But the only thing that we can say about the mother of all clashes is that in the end it was the ultimate victory of the true sportsmen spirit which was displayed by both the teams, despite being the traditional arch rivals and after the too- boasted hype which was given by the media to the much most awaited match, which both the teams took as another game. The cricketing fans all over the world and especially throughout the subcontinent, witnessed some of the unforgettable moments which will never ever fade out from the hearts and minds of true Indians and Pakistani citizens and cricket frenzy people.
To be very honest, whenever we encounter a clash of India and Pakistan, all we expect is the heated atmosphere with the players from both the sides getting in some sledging and much-visible arguments which according to the fans is the real fun and exciting elements which set the true feel of the titan clash. Who can forget the Sachin- Shoaib encounters which crossed the limit of bat and ball fight most of the times extending to words and gestures most of the time or the high tempered Shahid Afridi giving all the possible gestures to take on the Indian players. But in this match, what we witnessed was something which has made the both teams boasts proudly of the great game of cricket they have played; and we all know that out of the two sides, one has to win and the other has no option but to face a defeat, what actually matters is the true sportsmanship which becomes the real virtue and jewel in the crown of any player and his character even when he is off the field. I have tried reviving some of the worth mentioning moments which we the people are going to cherish forever in our lives and feel proud for the years to come whenever we will witness these two nations playing together.
Magical moment 1
Once again our PM was not able to hide the anxious and nervous cricket fan hiding inside him as he stood up from his seat when his view was hidden by the people standing outside his VVIP box, and even the security people beside him were not successful in convincing him to sit down during the crucial match points, as it was not the PM but an Indian cheering.
The other scene which made almost everybody feel the nerves was the constant nail biting done by superstar Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao and the way he was giving the depressing gestures on the fall of Indian wickets made the million hearts feel the patriotism hidden in this superstar.
Our Little Master completed the half century and it was none other than Pak Captain Shahid Afridi who came up to shake hands with him and congratulate him. A gesture which was never expected from the man known for his on-field aggressiveness Shahid Afridi.
Sachin got five lifelines which were indeed miraculous but it was not the sledging we saw between the two teams at that time, despite the too tense atmosphere, but it was the heartily jokes and laughter conversations which were going on between Afridi and Sachin as Afridi smilingly said to Sachin, ‘iss baar aap phir bach gaye’.
Seen Preity Zinta, Neeta Ambani and Vijay Mallaya many a times clad in their IPL teams jerseys and cheering? But the true feast to the eyes was seeing three of them together along with Vivek Oberoi with the intense in their eyes to see their nation win, not the state. The tricolor dupatta and bangles of Zinta were rather too scenic.
Have a look at all the videos and photos of Sonia Gandhi from the day she entered India as a daughter- in-law of Gandhi clan and bet me you will never see her hands up in excitement, her fists tightly joint giving the clear signal of Indian victory along with son Rahul Gandhi who too displayed something more than his formal clapping with his ecstatic gestures.
Magical moment 8
Now the grand finale, which made us shower all the blessings and prayers on Ashish Nehra, the guy who got the maximum abuses from the cricket fans for the messy last over against South Africa in Nagpur; the way he after taking the catch of dangerous Shahid Afridi immediately told the umpires to confirm as he was doubtful of the clean and perfect catch, made us feel the proud of being an Indian, even more than the happiness of winning a match, keeping in view the situation that how important was the wicket of Afridi was for us! Hats off to Nehra for this awesome display of the true values on which our cricket stands!
In the end all praises to Shahid Afridi, who after the worst expressions in the dressing room after the fall of 10th wicket, came out so supportively on the field, his hands clapping endlessly and congratulating India team and thanking the stadium spectators for the great support. The politicians, superstars, corporate house owners, bureaucrats and the cream of the elite present there were something more than their profession that day that is the INDIANS.
So in the end with India playing the great hosts and accomplishing the true meaning of atithi devo bhava, what we will cherish is the victory of the sportsmanship by both the teams which acted as a cherry on the cake of this biggest and the grandest Indian victory ever.
