I watched the cricket world cup 1996 with much excitement back in my 7th Standard. The game has changed a lot in the last 15 years. Power-play broken into 3, Free Hits and UDRS (Umpire Decision Referral System) introduced. Sri Lanka has become a cricketing power house while West Indies lost their bully stature.
Even the world out of cricket has changed a lot. Not to mention that American President is a Black and the best Rapper of the year is a White :)
Amidst all these changes a single man remains as he was, Sachin. A player who was bowling at him in 96, is umpiring (Dharmasena), players who played along with him in 96 and made debut after 96 have already retired and are doing commentary (Sidhu, Ganguly .. ) and refereeing (Srinath, Mahanama). Few others (Andy Flower, Kristen, Donald..) have taken coaching roles. But Sachin is still chasing the cup that counts.
Even the world out of cricket has changed a lot. Not to mention that American President is a Black and the best Rapper of the year is a White :)
Amidst all these changes a single man remains as he was, Sachin. A player who was bowling at him in 96, is umpiring (Dharmasena), players who played along with him in 96 and made debut after 96 have already retired and are doing commentary (Sidhu, Ganguly .. ) and refereeing (Srinath, Mahanama). Few others (Andy Flower, Kristen, Donald..) have taken coaching roles. But Sachin is still chasing the cup that counts.
Back during 96, the entire Indian batting was dependent on this man. I remember every innings of his in the 96 world cup when I followed the tournament ball by ball. Sachin was at his peak form back then. He has grown from strength to strength from there. I have to admit that Sachin is the greatest Indian batsman I have ever watched in my lifetime.
But I am doubtful that he might have to end his career without a world cup to his credit.
He has quality batsmen like Shewag, Yuraj, Raina and Kohli batting alongside him now unlike the 96 team where he was anchoring the entire batting line up. But the biggerst concern of team India is its bowling. They still don't have a quality bowler. Zaheer and Harbajan bring good deliveries many times but not all times.
The world cup so far has been tournament of dead rubbers. The actual tournament starts only now from the quarter finals. The favorites tag for being host already been stripped for its poor bowling show in the tournament so far.
I feel India does not deserve to win this world cup even though I want it to win.
But I am doubtful that he might have to end his career without a world cup to his credit.
He has quality batsmen like Shewag, Yuraj, Raina and Kohli batting alongside him now unlike the 96 team where he was anchoring the entire batting line up. But the biggerst concern of team India is its bowling. They still don't have a quality bowler. Zaheer and Harbajan bring good deliveries many times but not all times.
The world cup so far has been tournament of dead rubbers. The actual tournament starts only now from the quarter finals. The favorites tag for being host already been stripped for its poor bowling show in the tournament so far.
I feel India does not deserve to win this world cup even though I want it to win.
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