It only took six months to hit rock bottom

February 27, 2011, 11th Match, Group B, Bangalore, World Cup, England vs India, India vs England, time vs eternity, bat vs ball, tradition vs now, forever vs the moment. What a match it was, I was in Delhi, doing a play – as soon as the play was over, I asked the audience what had happened in the match. Someone said, “India to haar gayi” – on stage, as Mirza Ghalib, I just could not believe this – I rushed backstage, changed as quickly as Dhoni takes a sharp single, and was in the taxi on the way to my hotel before the next over could be announced. And, of course, we had not lost – and, of course, the great Zaheer over I heard on the taxi’s radio, complete with running commentary from the driver himself – it was heaven. And I made it back to my room to see the tie – the tie – oooph – what an end to the match – my son and I had seen the Aussie-South Africa tie live in England in ’99. That was amazing – but to have India involved in a tie, with all the heartstrings taut and almost torn, was from another world. [caption id=“attachment_79339” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The England-India match during the World Cup ended in a thrilling tie. Getty Images”]  [/caption] Now, India fought bravely, but lost to England in the final over in the second ODI – young players and unexpected veterans were outstanding – but we lost – we just could not bowl them out – the scourge of this tour. But – a quick back and forward – of the two teams that played on February 27, on September 6, England still had Bell, Anderson, Swann, and Bresnan – India had Dhoni, Kohli, and Patel. Of the true heroes on both sides – Strauss, Zaheer, Tendulkar, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Bell, Bresnan — only two played in both matches, and it is no coincidence that both are English – Bell and Bresnan. Cricket – today’s cricket – in six months, so much can change. No, I am not going into a litany of woes – I am weary of woes – and long for wins. Just as our players are weary of woes and long for wins. Pathiv Patel – what a journey – two fine one-day innings, one after another. Like a film hero who is a hit with his first film and then goes through a series of flops, Patel never gave up – he just played and played and played – now he is rewarded – and he is still a young man – no, he has not climbed Everest yet, but the shots he played on English soil were as refreshing as a sparkling sweet-lime after crossing the thirsty desert. The looks he got from the feared English fast bowlers were both of anger and awe – that any Indian batsman dared to treat them like that – Parthiv Patel – how many Ranji and Duleep matches he has sweated through, to empty stadiums and half-empty hopes, but he did not give up. He proved himself again and again – his round face like a childhood memory, lined and full now, but with that innocent aggression still alive in his eyes and his forearms. And, Rahul Dravid – oh, my – the pulls he played in the second match – not many found the boundary, but they were ferocious grace – they were elegant power, and how he swiveled on his back foot, his bat a rapier, his body a battle-ground, lined and still eager – and his face—what a face – those haunted eyes, those cheekbones like taut questions on the answers of his face. Cricket – the most beautiful game in the world – six months ago, and now, and six months hence.