Neil: The Story Teller: Cricket Worldcup Final 2011

Cricket:

It would be right to say Cricket is the only game in India which every single child knows about. Cricket का fewer "सर चढके बोलता हे ". Unlike other I was also a Cricket enthusiastic.

Playing Cricket was a hobby, unfortunately never got selected in any of the teams except "आमच्या मंडळाची टिम ",,,,,, something to cheer.

Jersey duplicate आहे पण Cricket प्रेम खरं आहे.. (:))

I was grown up watching cricket. Scene in Kolhapur especially during India-Pakistan bash is pack house.

During my School days Cable was rare & so was television in home. So People used to keep their TV sets out in public for others to watch the match. One of the favorite Live telecast location in राजारामपुरी was " राजा बाळ पान शॉप ". I remember going there during such matches. The atmosphere was so loud & energetic..." नुसता धुळलाच ओ ". For every four, Six, Wicket, Celebrations from Public & sometimes " सुतळी बॉम्ब " or " हजाराची माळ ".

Environment in Kolhapur during Cricket match:

लाव कि लाव...पेटीव

"जेव्हा अक्षदा संपत येतात, तवा खास कार्यकर्ते बाहेर फटाकड्यांची रस्त्यावर ठेऊन, हातात काड्यापेटी घेऊन तयार असतात ..."भावा लावू काय...???"

Exactly तसंच "Match संपत अली कि,,,,"भावा लावू काय...लावू काय...???"..... नुसता दंगा"...You have to experience it....A lifetime memory to cherish. So watching live match on road with your friends is a great experience. These days Cricket is played in excess & newly introduced formats are changing the overall scenario of the Game.

This little write-up is just another beautiful memory of every Indian Cricket Fan.....The 2011 World cup.

India Vs Pakistan in Worldcup 2011 Semi-Final:

I was working in Mumbai & unlike every other bachelors, was living with friends in Kandivali West. Life is Mumbai was initially "Extreme", but later became " जीवाची मुंबई ".Sometime when I recall the Mumbai days, I still say "By Grace of God I dint had to travel by "Local-Mumbai’s Life line". "BEST" Jindabaad or sometime Amit-my friend used to drop & pick me up during office time.

It was 2011, the very famous World cup. League matches were through & the semi-Final draw was "India Vs Pakistan"...." आईच्या गावात"

"India-Pakistan म्हंटलं कि देशप्रेम उत्तु जातंय ". Everyone was like "Worldcup हारला तरी चालतंय, पण पाकिस्तान ला हरवायला पाहिजे राव"

It was a day-night Match & was on a working day. As expected many companies had given half day leaves or permission to leave early just because of the match. Hats off to Mumbai for it cricket love.

Those days, I was working on Site & site cannot be closed for Cricket...this is what I was told my management. But thanks to Internet....Somehow we managed to get live streaming link & match was on Live on the construction site.

By the time I finished work & reach home it was evening. घरात माहोल होता आणि गल्लीत जल्लोष. I got fresh & went upstairs where the entire public was "Right in front of TV". I took some refreshment on the way home as we all do, when dont want to miss the match in-between. In our home were Myself, Sudhir, Amit, Sagar, Raju, Rakesh & Kiran. Rakesh was in Mumbai for interview & Kiran had specially came for the match.

It was my first "India Vs Pakistan" experience in Mumbai. Pakistan innings started & my God, Mumbai dint let me down. I was having Goosebumps....." एक विकेट: एक फटाकड्यांची माळ”.Home was almost transformed into BAR. We had some serious drinkers in Home J

As the match continued, there were more beer bottles. One thing which was happening a lot "Pakistan Wickets & a call to shop “३ बिअर बॉटल -149/बी मध्ये”. India went to win the match & it was Diwali. Last wicket & we ran on the road. There was a huge mob outside.

जल्लोष

O boy, what a feeling it was...... अत्तिषबाजी-फटाकड्या- दिवाळी------एक नंबर

"आमचे कार्यकर्ते तोपर्यंत चंद्रावर गेलते. दिसलं त्या गाडी ला थांबवून "भारत माता कि जय म्हण"असं चालू होतं". It was a wonderful match & so was the night.

THE FINAL:

The final was on weekend & I was in Kolhapur that time.

The stage was set for India to reconquer the ultimate price in Cricket. I was planning to go to friends place to watch the finals, but somehow was busy with household work the whole day.

Srilanka batted first & set a huge target to India.

Every single person becomes a Cricket expert while watching live match.

"असंच कशाला खेळाचं, तसंच कशाला खेळाचं, हेला कोण घेतलं टीम मध्ये, हेज करिअर संपलय आता, आणि बरंच काही”

India somehow were managing the cope up the run rate & were slowly cruising towards the victory. It was almost night, when Final reached its Climax.

Dhoni & Uraj were on the Crease. My mother went upstairs, she has habit of not watching a nerve-racking matches.

That magical, mesmerizing, unforgettable, awesome (and so many adjectives which can be used) moment when Dhoni Hit the winning Six,,,,,,,!!!!!

Shashtri's Commentary was just Awesome

In a Split second I realized we won the World cup after 28 long years, Believe me I have cried a lot but tears in eyes watching India winning the world cup was something EPIC, Different, Numero Uno….!!!

"खुषीके आसू क्या होते हे, I was experience it". It was Diwali not only in Kolhapur, but everwhere in India.

I went outside, I can hear the sound of fire-crackers. I took the bike & went out if I can find Crackers. Believe me people had gone "F***NG CRAZY".

All generations were on road. Children, Boys, Girls, Men, Women, Oldies & so on, no exception.

There were:

"Silencer काढलेल्या यामाहा-RX"

"भारताचे झेंडे"

"गुलाल"

"आतिषबाजी फटाकड्या"

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw "रात्री ११ वाजता लोक साखरेच्या पोत्यातनं साखर वाटत होते". Boy O boy, what a moment it was.

Surprisingly there was a Special Cracker shop opened (They saw this coming I guess). "मी पाच हजार च्या दोन माळा घेतल्या"

कोण ओळख ना पाळख, प्रत्येकजण मिठी मारत होता, गुलाल लावत होता,ते वातावरणच कायतर वेगळा होता.

I went back home...." "एक माळ चौकात लावली, एक माळ दारात लावली- आत्मा थंड ओ”.

I called my friend who leaves in the city, was just curious to know what’s happening there. As expected he was outside enjoying Indian Victory. All he said was

"गावात येऊ नको, मी शिवाजी चौकात आहे, ज्यायला गाडी आजच धुतली होती, एवढा दंगा आहे, आता गाडीच्या बॉनेट वर कोण तर दोघं रांडची उभारल्यात मला पण माहित नाही, गाडीवर एकपोत गुलाल भरला असल, पण काय विषय नाही ,Worldcup झीकलाय भावा, फोड तू…!!!”