What do you bear in mind essentially the most as a sports activities fan? The very best of highs high the listing. The day your group received a World Cup, the week when your favorite athlete triumphed on the Olympics, the second your childhood hero scaled a peak that was beforehand thought unachievable. These all the time stick with you.
However so do moments of heartbreak. Devastating defeats that stab tougher or fester like an open wound. Snatches of losses that floor within the thoughts fairly unannounced forcing you to gulp the sorrow down in a crowd. That inevitable drubbing by the arch rival that haunts recesses of reminiscence needing an elaborate overwrite.
The day your group fell agonisingly wanting a significant achievement, these seconds when your favorite athlete walked previous a trophy with longing eyes, the second your childhood hero introduced a retirement that you simply didn’t see coming.
For a lot of rising up within the 90s following the Indian cricket group, March 23, 2003 would most positively harm like a uncooked scab. It’s a day that began with hope, nevertheless misplaced it might need been, however led to a wave of disappointment. Tears have been shed. For a lot of of their teenagers, it’d nicely have been the primary true heartbreak. Defeat would have been palatable however the method of it was onerous to digest.
For this author, who tuned into watch the ultimate after a month of juggling between board examination pressure and having fun with moments of India’s run to the ultimate sneakily, that night time was traumatic. It was a defeat that opened the floodgates like by no means earlier than.
Quick ahead 20 years and right here we’re once more. It’s India vs Australia as soon as extra within the remaining of the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup.
The dread of 2003
The second Australia accomplished their win towards South Africa at Eden Gardens, recollections about that day in 2003 have been unavoidable.
Story continues beneath this advert
In regards to the dread we felt when Zaheer Khan bowled that weird first over after Sourav Ganguly opted to area. In regards to the intimidation that adopted when Ricky Ponting went berserk (and the spring theories about his bat that will quickly comply with). In regards to the leg earlier than resolution that wasn’t given when Dinesh Mongia appeared to have gotten a breakthrough towards Ponting (Ever marvel what DRS must say about that?).
In regards to the sudden rush of adrenaline we felt when Sachin Tendulkar hit a 4 off Glenn McGrath within the first over. Dare we hope? Dare we dream?
In regards to the collective sinking of hearts across the nation when he mishit one and McGrath dismissed him instantly after. In regards to the glimmer of hope Virender Sehwag’s knock and the opportunity of rain offered.
And, finally, in regards to the second Darren Lehmann caught Zaheer Khan and the beating was full by the hands of that period’s most dominant cricket group.
Rattling, these Aussies have been annoyingly good weren’t they?
The hope of 2023
Story continues beneath this advert
Now, right here we’re in 2023. Forward of Rohit Sharma and Co’s date with future, the dread of that Johannesburg heartbreak maybe nonetheless stays for a lot of. 2011 World Cup was grand, however a crack at Australia within the finals is the true redemption arc for a nation that got here to dread yellow. And, in solely the second title conflict between these two a number of champions of the event, the tables would possibly simply have turned.
Again in 2003, India stumbled initially of the event, shedding their second match towards Australia after batting first and posting a low rating. Now, Australia began off their marketing campaign with two defeats, one among them whereas posting a low rating whereas batting first towards India.
Again in 2003, Australia have been the undoubtable group to beat and it was no shock to see them within the remaining. Now, the five-time champions have needed to overcome a good few hurdles and will have simply misplaced their method earlier if not for just a few heists.
Again in 2003, positive, India had three good pacers who stood up in the course of the event however Australia had the new-ball assault that was the envy of the world in Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. Now, what number of groups would give something to have the mixed high quality of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj?
Story continues beneath this advert
And at last, again in 2003, India managed to show their event round to make it to the ultimate on the again of eight straight wins whereas Australia entered the ultimate on the again of being unbeaten all through – on a 10-match win streak. Now, India have bulldozed their method to the summit conflict in Ahmedabad with 10 wins on the trot, whereas Australia have put collectively a 8-match win streak after shedding their first two video games.
Come Sunday, there isn’t a assure that the outcome shall be totally different. Those that lived via that March day 20 years again, will all the time carry the trauma Ponting and Co inflicted on impressionable minds. Deep down, they’ll nonetheless carry some quantity of hysteria left over from that defeat. They’ll have smiled knowingly when this Australian group was doubted by some at an ODI World Cup of all occasions. They all the time flip it up at this occasion, don’t they?
However a brand new era of Indian followers will begin the day with extra than simply hope. They’ll consider they’re backing one of the best facet within the event by a long way. They’ll belief in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s batting type, shored up by a powerful help solid. They’ll bustle with anticipation in regards to the Indian bowling assault’s collective power. They’ll know that this Australian facet is beatable. Perception, is an effective factor. Perhaps one of the best of issues.