The Fallen has Risen - India's comeback turnaround orchestrated by 3 Crusaders!

India's conquest over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final 2024 has given it's players and fans much to cherish and rejoice with the manner of victory making it all the more extra special. India clawed it's way from a seemingly improbable situation to register a triumph for the ages and one which would be firmly and proudly etched in it's folklore.

Thus ended India's ignominious draught of not winning a global ICC title for over 11 years and not securing a World Cup for 13 years and not claiming a T20 World Cup for 17 years. The margin was as wafer thin as it could get and the way the team fought like terriers to ensure that the team will not be undone yet again on the big stage in a mega tournament final clash marks signs of a truly Champion side and deservedly so.

The team has gone through a lot across the last decade with consistent performances across the board but all to no avail. The slip ups always tended to happen at the most pivotal stage causing heartbreak time and again. It almost seemed as if a curse was cast upon the Indian cricket team as something or other was always preventing them from crossing the finish line. All the talk of 'Its just a matter of time' appeared to be slashed across the backside since the victory was eluding them for far too long to even contemplate a justification of any repute.

The seed of this particular success was however not sown just now. In fact, there is a long inglorious history associated with it which goes back plenty of years where different outcomes of trauma germinated in indirectly influencing this win and making it a dream come true with redemption being obtained in it's truest essence. Though this victory is attributable to the entire squad including the support staff as each and every member contributed in some way or other to make this feat attainable but for 3 of the members viz Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, this achievement means just a tad extra special considering the pain they've gone through to make this happen. These 3 architects projected the path ahead, transpired to make it happen and inspired India's journey to glory. 

First let's transport back to 2022. Rohit Sharma was appointed captain and was the man in charge of leading his side in the T20 World Cup held in Australia along with Rahul Dravid at the helm of things as coach. India won arguably the match of the tournament against Pakistan with a spectacular showing thanks courtesy to a masterclass from Virat Kohli. All these celebrations turned bitter as just a few days later, India came a cropper being pummelled by the eventual champions England on a day in which they were served a royal drubbing. Things got worse for this duo as they again lost the World Test Championship final in 2023 continuing on from their defeat at the same stage in 2021. When it looked like sanity will finally prevail with India claiming a home ODI WC in 2023 especially after being the most dominant team throughout the tournament came yet again a day of utter disdain with a nightmare being unveiled on the most important day as all the efforts put in throughout the tournament yielded no fruit with a really savage blow being dealt in the final against Australia in front of a billion fans.

Let's now map back to 2014 and the T20 World Cup edition in Bangladesh when this unfortunate draught got implanted. India came in as heavy favourites having just won the Champions Trophy few months back in 2013 and were looking to win their 2nd T20 World Cup. They breezed their way to the final only to be undone by an unfancied Sri Lankan side who came remarkably well prepared in the all important final thus putting a dent in India capturing a major title. This horror run endured from then on for the next decade till 2024. One cricketer induced with misery aplenty happens to be Virat Kohli. He was unfortunate not to be part of the winning side in the 2007 T20 World Cup but he has always been the key performer especially when it comes to this format and more so on the biggest stage which is the World Cup. Both in the 2014 & 2016 T20 World Cup editions, he was the stand out player by a country mile but India as a team again diffused at the big stage losing in the finals and semifinals respectively. If the T20 format was his undoing in capturing a victory for his beloved nation, the despair only extended further with Kohli registering the highest ever total runs amassed in any ODI World Cup only to again be on the losing side in the final of the ODI WC 2023.

We will now go a step further way back specifically to 2007. The current coach of Indian team Rahul Dravid was granted the leadership role and expected to take India all the way after the shattering defeat encountered in the 2003 ODI WC final. When India was hoping to go one better, what ensured was the lowest ebb in India's cricketing history as they bowed out in the very first round causing utter humiliation and disgrace. The whole episode was taken so badly that effigies were burnt of the players by the general public. This turmoil and outcry led to Dravid being stripped of the captaincy in what could said to be the lowest point of his career. As a player, Dravid was a class apart and considered one of India's greatest servants but it was indeed sad that he could never be part of a world cup winning side. He did make amends by coaching the U-19 side to a world cup triumph after failing in his first assignment but striking gold on the second occasion. However one always felt that the man deserved a hurrah with the senior Indian cricketing side as well and when the chance came to take the perfect revenge by avenging the loss as a player in the WC final of 2003, the same story unfolded yet again 20 years later in 2023 as a heavily favoured Indian side had it's worst day coming to a halt on that ill fateful day in Ahmedabad. Dravid also decided to quit as coach after this debacle but was coaxed by the camp to stay on for another 6 months till the T20 World Cup 2024 which he reluctantly agreed.

For Rahul Dravid, to end his career as coach by leading India to a World Cup trophy is a perfect testament dedicated to his greatness and mental toughness. This was at the very same Caribbean 17 years prior in 2007 where he went through horror of the highest magnitude as captain of the Indian team in the ODI World Cup. Also in this particular ground Bridgetown, Barbados that hosted the finale, India encountered an abject shameful defeat in 1997 in a test match against the West Indies where they were shot out for a paltry 81 chasing just 120 with Dravid being part of the team and seeing the collapse unfold. Having been witness to so many regrets running across multiple years, this particular victory to give Dravid the perfect send off makes it so extremely emotional. He may brush this off as just another day as part of his duty but this redemption story certainly couldn't have been scripted any better. Witnessing him hold the trophy aloft beaming with pride unleashing emotions of every kind was truly a sight to behold. Similar is the case with captain Rohit Sharma. Anyone in his place could have just capitulated after what happened in the 2023 ODI WC final. But this man made Australia pay by playing a career defining innings against this very same team in this T20 World Cup by knocking them out and eventually leading his beloved side to a glorious triumph. He wanted this championship so badly and one could see how much this meant to him. Lastly for Virat Kohli to cap off his T20 career with a World cup title to go along with being part of the victorious ODI WC 2011 and Champions Trophy 2013 side places him on a special pedestal. He didn't really have the best of World Cups this time around but cometh the moment and cometh the hour, he showed his class by playing a responsible and crucial knock after the initial setback to eventually win the player of the match trophy in his last ever T20 World Cup match for the country.

The events that transpired on that eventful Saturday of 29th June 2024 at Barbados makes one believe that God truly exists as justice couldn't have been served in a more sweeter manner. The 3 visionaries deserved this redemption more than anything else and rightfully so. This also would rank tribute to being one of India's greatest moments in it's rich cricketing legacy and etched in memory as a day to remember for eternity in India's cricketing fortunes.

Lionel Messi Drawing Parallels with Sachin Tendulkar

The FIFA World Cup 2022 played out in Doha, Qatar ended in sterling style with Argentina clinching the title after 36 years in what could arguably be described as a game for the ages. It would not only go down as one of the greatest finals ever contested but even as a solitary match would easily stake claim as perhaps the finest football World Cup match ever played. The Germany vs Italy semifinal of 1970 is largely considered as the greatest World cup match ever contested but this encounter between France and Argentina in 2022 probably pips that one and takes the cake.

The initial Football World Cup was played way back in 1930 and it's been in operation for almost a century of years being rich in history and tradition. The silver lining with regard to this match was that it had to come at the most pinnacle junction like a final which made the whole event all the more awe inspiring. One of the games greatest Lionel Andres Messi finally got his hands on the coveted Jules Rimet trophy, the one eluding him that he was waiting dearly for so long and it just ended up being so very extra special that it had to happen in his final World Cup appearance.

The game had it's ebbs and flows right from around the second portion of the second half. Until then for almost 75 minutes, Argentina had dominated the match in what initially appeared like a lackluster performance by France only to suddenly turn it around thanks to their talisman Kylian Mbappe who produced a blitzkrieg of a hat trick literally out of nowhere and nearly snatched it for France. It was a bit depressing for the defending champions France to eventually bow out on penalty kicks having come so close and virtually having one hand at the trophy.

However the final hurrah was reserved for one man Argentina's Lionel Messi. He came agonizingly close to capturing the trophy 8 years back in 2014 but which ended in heart breaking fashion as Germany made the decisive move to capture the crucial winning goal in the wee minutes of extra time. Messi being the player of the tournament was no solace as he so badly wanted the victors medal but alas it was not to be. The heart break continued again in 2018 as Argentina came undone against a quality young French side in the quarter finals who eventually would go on to claim the title. 2022 was Messi's last chance and a failure again would have deemed to be catastrophical. At the same time there was so much weight riding on Messi's shoulders to emulate the feat of Diego Maradona and anything other than a first placed finish was simply not good enough. Also to end up with no World Cup for not only the most seasoned player of his generation but also of all time would just be unacceptable. God however wrote the perfect script and Messi did eventually see his dream coming true with his beloved Argentinian side clinching victory in an unprecedented anti climax fashion to finally cement their side a World Cup medal after 1986 when Messi wasn't even born then.

The obvious comparison with Messi finally being a World Cup winner would be to line him up with his immortal country man Diego Maradona who performed a similar feat in 1986. It was as if the monkey was finally off Messi's back as he ultimately sealed glory alongside Maradona in being a World Champion himself. It would have even more amazing if Maradona was alive and witness to this. However there is no doubt that the great legend would have been blessing Albiceleste from the stars. Another of the comparison would have been with his illustrious peer Cristiano Ronaldo who along with Lionel Messi have been staving off comparisons over more than a decade now as to who is the greatest in the present generation. Messi has certainly leapfrogged Ronaldo with this success as CR7s only major triumph for his country Portugal came in the Euro 2016 when they upstaged France in the final. With this monumental triumph however, Messi also officially has staked his claim to be the GOAT alongside former winners Pele and Maradona. Incidentally, Pele, Maradona and Messi contributed with exactly a total of 10 Goals/Assists during their respective world cup winning conquests in 1970, 1986 and 2022 respectively. 

Despite the heavy comparisons with former football players feats, the one which attracts an eerie level of coincidence happens to be with one of the torchbearers of Indian cricket namely Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Though Football and Cricket are sports as different as chalk & cheese, the situations in both Messi and Sachin's case appear so similar and it's remarkable that they just have so much in common with respect to their World Cup journeys.

Looking below at some of the engaging and interesting commonalities that have transpired in the lives of two of the greatest sportsmen from their respective fields of play:

1) Jersey Check - Both Sachin Tendulkar and Lionel Messi wore jerseys with the number 10 inscribed during their World Cup campaign.

2) Birth Date Check - Both are born on a #6 as per numerology and more specifically on the 24th of a calendar month. (Sachin 24th April 1973, Messi 24th June 1987)

3) Stature Check - Both are built around the same height measuring about 5'7 and considered to be the shortest players of their respective sides.

4) Heartbreak Check - Both encountered heart break losing the final of a World Cup 2 editions previous to their last and exactly 8 years prior. (Sachin in 2003 and Messi in 2014)

5) Player of the Tournament Check - Both were Player of the Tournament in their respective World Cup event despite not going on to win the trophy for their respective countries.

6) Appearance Check - Both of them have represented their countries in maximum World Cup campaigns in Cricket and Football respectively (Sachin with 6 and Messi with 5) 

7) 2nd Highest Scorer Check - Both ended up being the 2nd highest run and goal scorer respectively during their victorious campaign with the highest coming from the losing side playing the final (Dilshan for Sri Lanka and Mbappe for France) 

8) Defeat of Previous World Cup Winner Check - Both their sides India and Argentina defeated previous World Cup champions Australia (2007 Cricket World Cup Winner) and France (2018 Football World Cup Winner) on their way to victory. (India beat Australia in Quarter Finals and Argentina defeated France in the finals) 

9) One Match Defeat Check - Both their teams lost only one match in the entire tournament which came during the group stages (India against South Africa and Argentina against Saudi Arabia) 

10) Player of Match in Semifinals Check - Both were player of the match in their respective semi finals en-route to the final. (Sachin vs Pakistan and Messi vs Croatia) 

11) Previous World Cup win in 80s check - Both their teams previous World Cup victory incidentally occurred in the 80s. (India in 1983 and Argentina in 1986) 

12) World Cup Victory Multiple Check - Both Sachin and Messi finally realized their long standing dream of winning the coveted World Cup title in their last attempt and coincidentally it came in years involving multiples of 11. (Sachin in 2011 and Messi in 2022) 

13) Post Retirement Check - This is rather more of a cheeky one. Both were largely expected to hang their boots after their final world cup hurrah especially since this was what they were expecting to fructify during their lifetimes with the sport they love. However that was not to be the case as Sachin continued to play for a couple more years after that and with respect to Messi's case, he has just hinted in a post match interview that he intends to continue a wee bit longer in the Argentina shirt.

Thus is a short similarities compendium of the World Cup winning journeys of 2 amazing sportsmen who carried the entire burden of their respective nations on their shoulders and finally achieved unprecedented iconic status by winning the biggest prize the sport has to offer.

Despair to Delirium - When Adversity turned around the corner

Cut to the year 1993. A blonde haired Czech Jana Novotna was playing the match of her life going toe to toe with the mighty German Steffi Graf and on the verge of toppling the then 4 time Wimbledon champion who was looking for her 3rd straight title and 5th conquest in the last 6 years. It seemed just a matter of time as the unheralded Czech had taken an almost unassailable 4-1 lead in the final set with a game point in hand to help her further go up 5-1. But then destiny struck and this young Czech suffered a nervous melt down perhaps like never ever seen before especially at the threshold of greatness and simply disintegrated not being able to handle the enormous pressure in front of a packed Center court audience who were rooting for a new champion to be crowned.

Jana lost her nerves allowing Steffi an array of hope which she pounced immediately by breaking Jana and making the score line 4-2. Novotna still had a break in hand but it was all of no avail as Steffi barraged her way through to win the next 4 games and claim game, set and match for a triple continuous Wimbledon glory. It was heartbreak and absolute despair for the Czech who was on the cusp of a major triumph but alas it was not to be. She just had to retain her poise, composure and play a normal game to close out the match and championship but the euphoric stage of center court got the better of her making her lose the grip allowing Graf to claw back by winning 5 games in a row. It was certainly a case of 'oh so near yet so far' as these opportunities don't come to everyone and one had the feeling this was the last ditch at a Wimbledon title for Jana who wanted it so badly. Though Steffi had won the title with an unprecedented comeback further extending her glorious run of Grand Slam victories, the story which stole the show was Jana bursting on to tears at the presentation ceremony and crying profusely at the Duchess of Kent's shoulders. Everyone was sad for her and there was always a vindictive feeling that this chance may really never occur again for Jana who had stormed her way to the final defeating the invincible Martina Navratilova in the semifinals and was just within a point and a game from usurping Steffi Graf as well.

The next few years after 1993, Jana Novotna was not really able to make a headway in Wimbledon until 1997 when she again managed to reach the finals for the second time. This time her opponent was the precocious16 year old Martina Hingis who had recently become one of the youngest ever to win a Grand Slam by claiming the Aussie Open in the same year at the tender age of 16yrs and 4 months. Martina was already the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon by winning the doubles event in the previous year at just age 15 and was looking to be the youngest ever to win Wimbledon Singles title since the turn of the century. Lottie Dod won at the tender age of 15 going as way back as 1887 during the early stages when Wimbledon began and nobody across the 20th century had come close to conquering at such a young age. Jana had her odds stacked against her and gave the Swiss Miss quite a tiff fight by claiming the first set but eventually it was not to be as Hingis created history by being the youngest in the open era and in the entire 20th century to claim the Venus Rosewater Dish. It was again a bit of a jolt for Jana as she had come so close yet again faltering at the final hurdle.

The next year Jana was back again and this time she was at least not facing such a high profile opponent like Steffi Graf or Martina Hingis in the final. She however avenged her previous final defeat to Hingis defeating her in the semifinals enroute to the final. This time the opponent was the burly French women Natalie Tauziat. There was no doubt that Jana was to go in as the favourite but considering her previous stumbling blocks and the fact that she was nearing 30, the writing was clear that this would perhaps be the last chance ever for her to claim the coveted Wimbledon title which she so dearly wanted to hold. And at last it finally happened. Nervousness did not plague her this time as she quickly breezed through the match taking it in a straight set waltz. The moment had finally happened as all the tears and trauma had finally turned around and as much as it was a celebration, it was a huge sigh of relief for Jana because her dream had finally been fructified. After the nightmarish scenes in 1993 of breaking down in front of the Dutchess to again being outclassed by the Swiss Queen Martina Hingis in 1997, it almost looked as if this moment would never happen. But all of Wimbledon wanted Jana Novotna to one day win Wimbledon and she managed to do it in style albeit much later in her career. Jana's triumph is a cornerstone of resolve and not giving up despite everything being against her. Her win certainly goes down in Wimbledon's history as one of it's most cherishable tales.

Another dark horse winner who was eternally loved and rooted by the partisan Wimbledon crowd was the mercurial Croat Goran Ivanisevic. Goran had quite a feisty character who had a game well equipped to handle grass. His biggest undoing was his own self losing his temper and giving away crucial double faults. A young Ivanisevic had just entered his first final in 1992 defeating Pete Sampras to set up a finale clash with long haired Las Vegan Andre Agassi. It set up for an intriguing clash with the match going down the distance to the 5th set. Down 4-5 in the fifth set on his serve, Goran couldn't handle the pressure conceding 2 back to back double faults to make Agassi go up 0-30. Despite staving up a couple of points, Goran had lost the match in his head granting victory to Andre for his first ever major Grand Slam championship. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Goran who had come pretty close but couldn't control his nerves especially during the crucial 5th set. 

Goran got back again to the final in 1994 and this time his opponent was the defending champion Pete Sampras. This turned out to be quite a straight forward fare for Pistol Pete who claimed victory in straight sets blanking Ivanisevic 6 zip in the final set. Though the first two sets were closely fought and were decided in the tie breaker, Goran couldn't again cope up becoming a cropper especially on those essential decisive points. Gorans next attempt at a Wimbledon final came again in 1998 against the same fancied Pete Sampras who was again the defending champion having won an awe inspiring 5th crown and gunning for his 6th and second straight 3 in a row triumph. This match had all the ebbs and flows going down the wire into the 5th set. Goran faltered yet again in the 5th set, this was certainly his best chance to stop Pete from unchartered glory but again those nerves flared up again and bitter mistakes in the form of defaults on crucial points put paid of his hopes once again. Ivanisevic was welled up with hollow all over and he knew he had thrown away his best chance ever possible and the distant dream of a Wimbledon trophy continued to elude despite 3 shots at the prize.

In the year 2001, Goran Ivanisevic was provided a wild card to enter in the tournament. To be honest, nobody expected him to make any great shakes and it appeared initially as it was just a final flurry for him to play in the tournament he loved so dearly but not able to capture. He came to SW19 ranked a distant #125 and there were no expectations whatsoever. Ivanisevic had a tough draw but started conquering his rivals one by one. His passage through to the quarter finals was also greeted by the news that his regular nemesis Pete Sampras gunning for a 5th straight and unenviable 8th title was vanquished by the up and coming Swiss Roger Federer. It was a coming of age for the Swiss Maestro who had stopped Pistol Pete from achieving glory once again and this win was a hallmark event for Federer who in the years to come would end up dominating the hallowed center court. The quarter finals saw him acing out the marauding Russian Marat Safin setting up a mouth watering clash against crowd favorite and local hero Tim Henman. Tim had just come off an impressive victory over Sampras's conqueror Roger Federer in the quarter finals and the raucous British crowd were all and out cheering for him to win and create history. The British were long awaiting a man of their own to win the hallowed championship and this seemed like a moment of reckoning for Tim. In a slug fest of a bout between Henman and Ivanisevic, Goran managed to keep his nerve intact edging out a superlative 5 set victory. After being hammered 6-0 in the 3rd set for Henman to take a 2 sets to 1 lead, it seemed too much of a proposition to climb but a miraculous rain break helped him to clear out his rear guard action claiming a crucial 4th set in a tight tie breaker and then winning the final set with a break.

Thus, Ivanisevic was back again in the final for the fourth time. It seemed pretty surreal considering he had virtually come here to have fun playing as a rank outsider. The final grand finale was against Australian Pat Rafter who was the losing finalist to Pete Sampras in the year before. Both these gentlemen were gunning to bag their first ever prestigious Wimbledon title. To add to this, rain played havoc moving the match to Monday. This match had virtually everything with fortunes fluctuating both sides constantly. The Croats and Aussies were cheering on for their local boys like crazy and the tension was unsurmountable. The fifth set kept stretching on with drama at peak and with Rafter serving at 7-7 and 15-30, Ivanisevic hit a picture perfect forehand past Rafter to go 15-40 and followed up with one more terrific shot back past to get the pivotal break and go up 8-7. Ivanisevic had fate on his hands but still he had to serve out to emerge the victor. Rafter was not willing to give in easily and another dreaded double default by Ivanisevic had Rafter leading at 15-30. Goran continued by serving another first fault but made up for it with a brilliant second serve ace levelling terms at 30-30. He followed it up with a rip snorter of an ace to go up 40-30 and gain his first match point. At this point, one could witness tears in Goran's eyes and the tension tumbling all over his body. And then Goran again obtained cold feet making up a double fault on match point to get it to deuce. He served again for a winning point to get to his second match point only to howler back with another double fault setting things apiece back at Deuce. This couldn't happen all over once again and the mind reminisced to the horror stories back in the bygone times and it was visible that Goran was struggling hard not to let emotions of the past curtail him once again. There was turmoil raging inside Goran's head and he wanted this badly come what may. With things in parity yet again, a drop shot by Rafter fell outside the side lines handing Ivanisevic his 3rd match point. You could see Ivanisevic sitting on the turf at the place where Rafter had hit it wide literally on his knees praying to the almighty above. Even he couldn't take it any longer with the trauma being unbearable. It seemed that if Goran would fail to convert yet again during the next point, doomsday was going to haunt him forever for the rest of his life. And again on the 3rd match point, a steadied unfazed loop shot by Rafter helped him get back on track to Deuce. Pat was chasing his own dreams and he certainly was in no mood to give up. It was beyond belief to witness the euphoric scenes happening right at the middle of this historic court. A great serve by Ivanisevic handed him Match point #4. But this time Goran was not willing to take time and soak in his emotions. He didn't want to waste too much of time and wanted to get done with the next service. He again served a fault on his first serve and got geared up for his second serve. And at last the moment of a lifetime happened. Rafter hit Goran's serve to the net erupting absolutely wild celebrations. Goran fell on the turf withering in happiness. It was truly a match for the ages stretching the distance on a Monday evening across 5 marathon sets that had drama unfolding across all directions. Ivanisevic's win appeared as if it was one of sport's greatest triumphs. Finally he had got the mickey off his back and got what he had been desiring but that which had been eluding him for so long.

Both Novotna's and Ivanisevic's victories were extremely special and deliciously sweet. They had to encounter tremendous adversity losing at the final hurdle time and again. Both of them were crowd pleasers and there was always an inkling that somehow they should be able to achieve their long last dream. Finally achieving the milestone was indeed a moment of delirium having faced gut wrenching despair in the years prior. The Wimbledon victories by Jana Novotna in 1998 and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 certainly go down in Wimbledon's memory lane as one to savor for eternity.