Thank you India!

 

A fond memory

For all the Indian cricket fans, today is an unbelievable day. Winning at The Gabba, Brisbane is a surreal moment.
                India is a top class team which has a good win record. It’s away test record is also improving in the past few years.  Then why has this become so special that everyone wants to appreciate the team for it. Because it is as much about the fight as it is about the win. It is as much about the character as it is about skill. That is the reason India’s win in Natwest series in 2002 is unforgettable. That is the reason India’s win against Australia in Kolkata test is a legend of sorts. Courage, character and attitude the team has shown in the series and especially in the final test will forever be a fond memory.
                Without 8 regular players of the side, Indian team seemed to be in trouble.  Most expected India to fight to save the match team at Gabba, where Australia has not lost in the past 32 years. But against all the odds and all the expectations, India which was playing away from home with a bowling attack which had combined experience of 4 tests before this match after losing the toss, after conceding a lead in first innings, after being asked to chase on a 5^th day pitch pulled off a remarkable chase.
               This win will be etched in memory for a long time.

Yes, we can!

Sport is a microcosm for life. We love the sport because we feel all the relevant emotions. There is probably no emotion that a sport cannot give us. Anxiety, nervousness, pain, joy, beauty, adventure, courage, confidence, regret it has almost everything.  The match at Brisbane is no exception.  Courage of Shubman Gill when he setup the tempo with initial runs, grit that Pujara showed when he was repeatedly hit on the body, character of Pant who didn’t lose his calm under pressure, confidence of Washington Sundar and the whole team which did not  lose belief whatsoever. It was more thrilling than any movie. It was more entertaining than a reality show. It was more inspiring than listening to any motivational speaker.
                     We all have our back against the wall in our life in some way or the other. We fight battles that seem against the odds. Blows on the way, taunts from people, failures here and there make us lose the hope and give up the battle. It may seem win in the far future may not be worth the effort. That you may rather stay comfortable, enjoy the moment and let the time take its course instead of fighting.
                    We are reminded today that with great perseverance and grit, miracles do happen. A young Indian team has shown us that we can swim through the ocean of uncertainty, wounds and obstacles with confidence, which is unshaken by criticism or failure and hope, which is uncompromising and ambitious. We are reminded today of the greatness of struggle. A fight with character is a joy in itself. That one moment of triumph is worth all the pain in the world. 

Thank you Indian team for showing us the sport of highest quality and giving experience of indescribable euphoria.