Yes, that's exactly how I felt, when Bhajji tried the most uncouth of reverse sweeps to complete the final rites of India's loss to Pakistan. I was just left wishing why this match wasn't some untrue nightmare or why the rains couldn't just somehow actually come poring from nowhere even till as late as the 38th over of our innings (yes, we were ahead in terms of runs till then: Pak's 200/3 Vs. Our 218/5).
But after all, that's what sport's all about - not just learning how to win, but more importantly about learning how to accept a loss, and taking it in your stride with grace and with lessons learnt. No wonder, that's why such an attitude is referred to as "sportsman's spirit" and "being a sport". No other phrase can communicate this so succinctly and correctly if it is disassociated from the meaning and spirit of "sport".
So well played Pakistan, but don't lose heart India - you were good too, except the last 10-12 overs in both innings.
The proverbial butterflies in my stomach didn't take too long to disappear once the match began. But as the match progressed after the good first over, my stomach reported that the jittery, butterfly feeling had now given way to sharp, shooting pains. And as the batsmen took heavy toll of our incompetent bowling (with the exception of Nehra and Pathan), the pain spread from the stomach further towards the head and the heart.
It was absolutely mindless bowling - that's my only complaint. Too short, too leg-sidish, too amateur, too inconsistent and just too easy for international level.
Believe me, I didn't mind RP Singh's first over where he was smacked for a couple of boundaries - atleast he was bowling it up to Nazir. If you just have to be hit, you'd prefer to be hit for either a cheeky lemon-cut boundary (moral victory) or atleast a good shot where you make the batsman use his skill to hit a good one - and that's mostly possible on good-length/just short of length bowling.
So I was still ok with him erring on the fuller side and not on the shorter one. Yes, he overpitched, but I was willing to forgive him because a) it was his first over and b) even if he was overpitching, it showed he was atleast trying to put the ball in the right areas.
With the short ball (mind you, this was not the short-pitched, chest-high stuff), you just don't give yourself a chance because the batsman has ample time (especially on a belter of a surface like Centurion) to judge the length, the movement, and to make room for himself and play+place the shot to his liking.
Though he was too stiff and too slow than he should have been, what I really liked about the rest of that first over from RP was that despite being hit for 2 fours, he did not stop pitching the ball right up. I'm no expert and I might well be missing a trick but I don't know why the commentators did not acknowledge that part (prolly coz it didn't fetch him a wicket off those balls then!), but atleast to me, that was spirited, focused and really good bowling - undettered by the same kinda balls being hit for fours - neither did he drop his shoulders in that over, nor his length.
His bowling stats won't reflect that alright, and he should have tried just-short-of-good length instead of good length but him sticking to good length instead of too short was also acceptable to watch for me. I was happy to seem him get his due when he got Younis Khan out, poking at a just short-of-a-length delivery. It was a pity therefore, that he did not stick to good length/just short of good length bowling for the rest of his spell.
What followed thereafter, was splendid batting alright from Messrs Malik and Yousuf, but the bowling left a lot to be desired. Whichever team's supporter you may be, it's safe to say it was absolute mayhem from the 35th over onwards - whichever way you look at it.
Anyway, congratulations to Pakistan and well tried India - atleast in the batting, we didn't disgrace ourselves. Chasing such a huge total against a quality attack on a tough pitch, I liked the fact that we had a match on till well into the 92nd over of the match - all the more credible since we did not have the services of Yuvi and Viru. Sachin showed he too is human after all, and can fail sometimes. But most of our batting firepower acquitted themselves fairly well.
We could have easily collapsed in a heap below 200 or tottered to some meaningless total with meaningless, insane batting. Chasing 303 against Pakistan (not just another game/chase, right?!) on a pitch like this, with Sachin gone and no Viru+Yuvi, come two dot balls and there'll always be the temptation of going berserk. But I loved the way we applied caution with aggression, Dravid holding one end up, Gautam playing a gem and getting out the only way he could have got out, Raina providing the necessary impetus and thrill towards the latter half, but alas, it just wasn't meant to be.
And I just realised what a joy it is to see your team maxing on the free hits - with boundaries and sixes - sheer delirium!
I remember a time when Gambhir smote sixes and fours off consecutive free hits - what joy! Try telling that to the bowling team's players/fans.
But still, the team that played better cricket on the day was Pakistan and they were deserving winners this time. But we still have faith in you Team India, and it's time you guys now vent your disappointment/frustration/anger over this loss on Australia and West Indies. You need to take the wind out of their sails and by a handsome margin too, to make it to the semis.
Go on guys, we still love you!
