And the World Cup Goes to....Of Course, India!

April 2nd was India’s day. After 28 years, the Indian cricket team gave its nation a memorable gift – that of the World Cup 201, creating a stream of euphoria that will last for days or perhaps weeks in India. In the final match played in Mumbai, India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to claim the world title in cricket.

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The Sri Lankan team chose to bat first, obviously to set a difficult target for India, and 274 did look like a difficult one at first. When India lost two important wickets rather early, those of the Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, the target of 275 felt looming against the Indian side. Vut one tihng India was again to prove in the event was cruising where one would not expect you to. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and hitter Gautam Gambhir took to the task, and whew! India was soon on top of the world.

With 91 from Dhnoi (who remained not out) and 97 from Gambhir, the target of 275 was made pretty much puny. The most dramatic part was the end of the match when Dhoni hit a sixer that took India straight with it, up in the air, and to land on the very title. The crowd was by themselves in joy and excitement. India has become the world champion for the second time in cricket’s history, 28 years after 1983 when Kapil Dev brought the title home from England.

Tendulkar was lifted on shoulders by the team and he waved the Indian national flag to make them ever more proud of the Indian victory. And of course, amidst all the firework display and cheering that filled the cricket stadium, we heard the World Cup’s title song De Ghuma Ke. So India did the job well: "Diya Ghuma Ke!"