Millions of Indians were brokenhearted Sunday as their team was crushed by Australia in the World Cup finals, a match that brought this cricket-crazy nation to a standstill.
India, which won the 1983 World Cup, had made it to the finals for the first time in 20 years. After a stuttering start against Netherlands and a nine-wicket loss to Australia, India’s eight-match winning charge to the final captured the imagination of this country, home to 1.02 billion people.
”I feel so let down. It’s like national shame after days and days of national glory. But the team did very well to reach the finals, and I am sure they will the cup the next time,” said Deepak Randhawa, a college student in Noida, a suburb of India’s capital
New Delhi.
Australia retained the cricket World Cup with a 125-run win in Johannesburg, South Africa. Skipper Ricky Ponting scored an unbeaten 140 as Australia compiled 359 for two — a record total for a World Cup final — after being sent in to bat. In reply, India was bowled out for 234 in 39.2 overs, with Glenn McGrath snaring three wickets.
”We lost only because of the bowlers. If our players had not bowled so badly, then we would have successfully chased the score, however big,” said Deep Upadhyay, a producer at the private Zee News channel.
Cricket sways passions in South Asia like no other sport. After the Indians’ poor performance in the first two World Cup matches, violent cricket fans burned players’ effigies and attacked their homes. Armed police were deployed in several cities outside the homes of some top Indian cricketers.
On Sunday, police were quickly deployed at the home of Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain, in the eastern metropolis of Calcutta. No violence was immediately reported, though many youth tore down players’ cardboard images.
That was the climax of a riveting day during which roads and markets were largely deserted across New Delhi. Millions watched the game that came after a streak of stunning Indian victories – especially against Pakistan, India’s neighbour and arch rival.
Many shopkeepers refused to take customers. Mechanic Naeem Khan kept the shutters of his car garage half-open, and turned away most visitors.
”It’s a day off for my boys,” Khan said before the match. ”It’s going to be (Sachin) Tendulkar versus Bret Lee,” said Khan, referring to India’s cricket icon Tendulkar and Australia’s bowler Lee, one of the world’s fastest. However, Tendulkar was out in the very first over, even before he could face a single delivery from Lee.
News channels were devoted to cricket and coverage of the war in Iraq. Patriotic music blared in the background as the channels flashed clips from previous Indian victories.
A furious marketing blitz from Indian companies – who have for months woven contests and business gimmicks around the World Cup and flew many people free to the matches in South Africa – drew to a close.
In several Indian cities, including New Delhi and Bombay, restaurants and clubs had posted big screens for visitors to watch the live telecast. Special menus and discounts were displayed. Thousands of others crowded street-side tea stalls and shops to listen to commentary on transistor sets.
The defeat shattered the hearts of many fans who had offered prayers for the Indian team. On Sunday morning, thousands of devotees assembled at the famous
Siddhi Vinayak temple in Bombay — where the Hindu god Ganesha is worshipped. Among them was Tendulkar’s cricket coach at school — Ramakant Achrekar.
One devotee at the temple carried a replica of the World Cup as she offered prayers.
Their prayers were not answered, but their faith in the players remained, many said.
”Whatever the result, one thing is clear: the world’s best team is Australia, but the world’s best batsman is Sachin Tendulkar,” said Upadhyay of Zee News. – Sapa-AP