The Ghosts of World Cups Past

I have memories only from the 1992 World Cup onwards; when the cricket neurons in my brain were slowly growing and forming connections. That World Cup was an utter and total disaster for India, save for the win over Pakistan (our only win btw). Distinctly remember the last ball thriller against Australia with four needed and Steve Waugh dropping Venkatapathi Raju on the boundary-line but keeping his wits to get the batsmen run out going for the tie. Funnily enough, we were all thrilled to see Pakistan win, because even then “anyone but England” was the dominant feeling.

The 1996 World Cup was when I was probably beginning to understand cricket well enough to *get* the awesomeness of Jayasuriya’s assaults, Lara’s scintillating counter-attack against South Africa, and of course, the biggest…upset…ever (Kenya v WI). Was in the Chinnaswamy Stadium with my grandfather, watching probably the most titanic and emotional India-Pakistan encounter… ever (this year’s semis included) because, with all due respect, somehow, we managed to beat a better team.

The 1999 World Cup was probably the last cricket I saw with my granddad (even if it was just on the tv). Not surprising because he was already three heart attacks down and after the last one, his only request from the doctor was to get him to live long enough to see the 1999 World Cup (of course, in the hope that India would lift it again, but that was not to be). I can’t remember too many matches of this World Cup, but I do remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach during India’s embarrassing collapse against Zimbabwe. I’ve only ever had that feeling once afterwards, and that was when I saw the last over of the 2008 Perth Test Match. It’s the kind that brings stinging tears to your eyes.

The fact that the 2003 World Cup coincided with my AISSE XII Board Exams is neatly reflected in my “performance” in the exams. The match I remember the most is India v England featuring possibly one of the greatest bowling performances by an Indian in ODI cricket. Yes, Ashish Nehra you did write your name on the same wall featuring Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev. Though the match I had most fun watching was probably Australia v Kenya in the Super Sixes as 40 year old Asif Karim bowled one of the all time great spells of spin bowling in ODI cricket: 8.2-6-7-3! Against Australia!!

I have no memories of the 2007 World Cup. I am told that at the precise moment Dhoni was out LBW to Muralitharan playing back to a doosra, a vein exploded so hard in my forehead that the blood rushed into my brain and erased all memories of that World Cup.

You will forgive me if I confess to you that I did not believe India would win this World Cup at any stage. At 150 odd for 5 against Australia I did not believe. With just 260 on board against Pakistan, I did not believe. When Gautam Gambhir charged out of his crease in a stunning brain freeze in the finals, I did not believe. When Dhoni finally stepped out of his crease and set the ball in a long arc over the long on boundary… I still couldn’t believe. Years of under-performance, failure, crushed hopes and broken expectations had taught me to build defences against the inevitable disappointment, and it took me a while to dismantle the defences and embrace the feeling.

By the time I got the feeling though, perspective had reared its ugly head on the horizon, and before I knew it, Anna Hazare was a on a fast-unto-death in Jantar Mantar.