When I celebrated my birthday in February, 2011, all I asked as a gift from God was something that every Indian wanted since 28 years. Yes, one billion hearts had just one unfulfilled wish, a dream waiting long enough to become reality. Although, we became the No.1 Test team in the world first up, there was something more on the agenda. I still remember the day I rushed home from my examination hall to watch India take on Sri Lanka in the finals of the World Cup. I was nervous, not for my exam paper, but for the upcoming exam that Guru Gary and his brigade had to face. It was as if the whole of India was about to go through it. Gods were being remembered, prayers were being offered and the streets were empty. Eyes glued to the television sets, we were all waiting for that historical moment that was about to change lives, millions of them. And it finally happened: 2nd April '11 was the day we saw that dream turn into an unbelievable reality! I had to pinch myself really hard so that I could be convinced it happened for real. What followed was the exact opposite of what happened in daytime; streets were overcrowded, crackers went up, the Indian tricolour was flying high with pride and random people exchanged hi-fives and hugs. This, for me, was the most memorable moment of my life. I had never seen something like this before. And for those who criticize Indian Cricket and it's cricketers, there couldn't have been a bigger evidence of why this sport means so much to it's fans. Cricket does that to our nation: it unites people, brings them joy, shares every emotion attached to the game. The year 2011 surely proved to be lucky for our Men in Blue and our World Cup triumph went down as a significant achievement in India's sporting history.
While we were still finding it difficult to digest this sweet taste of success, the IPL showed up in no time. Too much of intense cricket during the World Cup was reason enough for cricketers as well as fans to be exhausted. Mentally, the IPL was no longer important to us, because the WC win had overpowered everything that had ever been achieved before. However, the excitement of Twenty20 cricket and it's fast-paced nature attracted some spectators, if not all. Also, a slight change in the rules made it a bit interesting. Despite all that, the result was the same. The mighty Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious for the second consecutive year, thereby saddening the Mumbai Indians fan club, which includes me. Tendulkar was unhappy too, as we could see how well the team performed this year, compared to how it did in the previous editions. All our hopes were crushed after the semi-final defeat. But, we were upbeat about the Champions League T20, though some of my CSK friends easily made a joke of it. Little did they know that determination and self-confidence will only take us closer to our goal. And YES! We did it. Mumbai Indians won the CLT20, beating some of the best teams in the world. While CSK fans kept cribbing about the final being fixed, all I could tell them was that at the end of the day, it was an Indian team that won the tournament, one reason why they should be proud.
A series win in the Caribbean followed, and then it all went wrong. India landed in England with the Test mace on their shoulders. A shocking 4-0 drubbing ensured that the No.1 Test rank was gone, only making it more humiliating. But, amidst all this chaos and criticism, there stood a man we fondly call "The Wall". Even with the hype that surrounded Tendulkar's hundredth 100, Rahul Dravid continued to do what he does best. Top-class batting with utmost patience and a textbook style produced three Test tons at an age where most cricketers are at the end of their careers. Perhaps, this was the only positive that one could draw from an otherwise disappointing tour of England. India returned with deep wounds, but nursed them quickly with a whitewash over the touring Englishmen in the ODIs. That was some revenge. The winning streak continued against the Windies when they visited India. Ravichandran Ashwin made a memorable Test debut. But then, something unusual happened. Out of nowhere, Virender Sehwag stormed to a swashbuckling double century in an ODI and became only the second in the world to break the barrier, after Sachin Tendulkar. A proud moment, again, for India. For many Tendulkar followers, this was a heartbreak; for Sehwag fans, a dream come true; while those who enjoy some aggressive batting were simply overwhelmed. History was created, by someone who we thought would do it before anyone else, even Tendulkar.
At the end of the year, it all boiled down to the crushing 122-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test. What then, is the proudest moment for us? Primarily, the World Cup win - 2nd April, 2011: A day that will be remembered for decades together. Sehwag's magical 219, Dravid's superb form that resulted in him being the highest run-scorer in Tests this year, are some of the wonderful moments that 2011 has given us. However, the most anticipated feat is still under construction. Let's not keep a check on that, for you never know when it'll happen. But if the world is definitely ending in 2012, the ton of tons is just around the corner! After all, GOD too, has a wish to fulfill.
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