The true story of fire and ice

The true story of fire and ice

It was April 2005. 

I was in my 7th standard.

I was riding my bicycle fast, to go to a near by medical shop. No, not to buy anything but to check on the score, as we had a power cut. Sehwag got out. He should have been little careful, missed his century. Idiot. I was cursing him in my head. I just hope the rest of the team manages to make a respectable score now. 

It’s time for me to go to ground and play cricket. We played for sometime and came back to check on the score once again. There he was on the little television set at the corner in the medical shop. He had a long hair and boggling with joy. ‘That’s his first century, he is the new wicketkeeper in Karthik’s place’ said one my friend. He was stout tall and with wide shoulders. He looked so different from a regular international player. He looked callous in attitude. 

‘What’s his name’, I asked, he replied ‘Dhoni’. 

That was the first time I saw you. You were full of energy, but frankly I never thought you would make a long career in international career, let alone becoming a legend. 

But this small town boy soon made a name for himself and cemented his place. And man that Pakistan tour was unforgettable. You were a storm. Unstoppable. Suddenly we had a new Sachin in the team. But who knew back then, you are destined to be the Dhoni. The Dhoni. 

Many youngsters became your fans. Even the teenage girls who were studying intermediate and never watched a cricket game, had a huge crush on you. You brought a lot of new spectators and followers to game. 

Many cricketers were known to people because they played cricket. Many people knew cricket because you played it. That itself was an incredible feat.

2007.

I was in my 10th standard.

We had the best team in the World Cup. We will win and this would be the final World Cup of Sachin and Sourav. 

We already lost the match to Bangladesh. We need to win this match against Sri Lanka to stay in the competition. We already lost best players of the side. Then came the man with long locks. Murali had the ball, this is the match. Dhoni vs Murali, lied the fate of our World Cup dream. You rushed and edged the ball. That’s out. The maestro of spin won the contest against you.

I still remember the water in the eyes of Sachin, sitting in the dressing room. 

T20 World Cup.

Sachin along with all the seniors had opted out of the tournament. It’s evident that Yuvi is all set to become the captain of the side. After all, he was the promised prince. But to all of our surprise, you were made captain. Seriously!? You? Captain? 

Most of us had a lot of doubts. 

But you proved all of us wrong. The way you captained in the final when the match had almost slipped from us and backed the youngsters, man, that was incredible. 

You literally made 2007, a memorable year for all of us. 

2008.

None of us will switch of 📺 when Sachin and Sehwag got out. No more. Because we got a guy who knows how to finish things. The finisher.

Kumble was the captain. We had an exceptional Australian tour. The best test series I’ve ever witnessed. Indian team almost won against the best team in the world in their own backyard. 

It’s the same year, you’ve become the permanent captain of the side. The way you gave captaincy to Ganguly in the final day of the test match, you’ve won the hearts of all the gangulians. You’ve won my heart.

2011.

I was in my B.Tech 1st year.

We had the best team in the World Cup. We will win and this would be the final World Cup of Sachin.

Your incredible strategies and brilliance of Yuvraj made us reach the final.

The Final

Chasing big total, We already lost best players of the side. Then came the skipper. Murali had the ball, this is the match. You played couple of good shots and looked in good touch. Dhoni vs Murali, lied the fate of our World Cup dream. This time you didn’t rush. Played every ball with focus. You’ve played as if your life depended on that match. 

And Dhoni finishes off in style, a magnificent strike into the crowd. India lifts World Cup after 28 years. 

I still remember the water in the eyes of Sachin. This time with joy and happiness.

We were number one test team in the world and we’ve just won the World Cup. We couldn’t have asked for more.

What followed was a nightmare. Whitewashes at England and Australia. The worst cricket season for Indian cricket team ever.

But you were not shattered. Nothing impacts you. You always took it one ball at a time.

2013.

I was in my B.Tech 3rd year.

You’ve become a breeze now. The thinking captain cool.

England were cruising towards an easy win at their own  backyard in the champions trophy final. And you gave the ball to worst bowler of the match, Ishant Sharma. I was furious. Suddenly, I knew more about cricket than you. And you were an idiot. Every cricket expert in all the homes were unhappy. But little did we all knew what a master stroke that was. And we won the match. 

That was the only cup eluded you for so long. That completed your trophy collection. You now have all the international trophies in your bag. 

By now you’ve become a legend both behind and in front of the wickets. All those who criticized your wicket keeping technique, now are busy decoding your brilliance. 

2014.

I was attending my interview. Tensed. 5 rounds to go. Was not sure I would get through all those rounds. Then I remembered your one of the post match presentation speech at 2014 T20 World Cup. You told you would take one match at a time. I took one round at a time. 

I got through too.

2019. 

I was working in Infosys. 

World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. We were 6-92, chasing 240 in all seaming conditions of England. Any team in the world would have given up. Any cricket fans would have switched off the TV sets. But not India. Not this time. Because you are still playing. If at all we knew one thing over the years, it is that, no match is over when MSD is at the crease. 

We still believed at 6-92. Because of you.

But why didn’t you dive? Not that I complain, but why? A billion dreams shattered. We can clearly see the utter disappointment on your face. Wait, are you crying? Don’t. We are proud of you Mahi. 

At 15-5, we believed. We won.

At 9 down and 15 required off 6 balls, we believed. We won.

At 27-5, we believed. We won.

At 7 down and 70 required off 47, we believed. We won.

You made us all believers. 

You’ve shown us, we need to fight, one step at a time. You’ve shown us, how to finish. You’ve shown us, no dream is too big. 

You were every where when you were captaining. You had all the control. You literally can hold the air in the whole stadium while captaining.

We played every time with one Dhoni in the ground and a thousand Dhonis in the stadium. You are all of us, you small town boy. 

 

You are beyond cricket.

The storm which turned into a breeze. The true story of fire and ice.

- Dedicated to the love of my life.