Thank You, Indian Cricket Team: A Fan’s Note

Hi Indian Cricket Team,

Cricket has always been more than just a game for me: it’s been a journey filled with emotions, excitement, upsets, and whatnot. I have been following cricket and watching matches from the time I can remember.
Right from early morning in extreme winter to scorching heat on the open ground, that’s what cricket is for me.

I remember sitting in front of the television, eyes wide with amazement, as I watched the Indian team battle it out on the field. It was during the U19 World Cup that a young, determined player named Virat Kohli caught my attention. His fierce passion and unwavering determination were infectious. As a young boy, I found a hero in him. Imitating a bowler’s action is something every cricket fan might have done, doesn’t matter where you are.
I have documented every match of the 2011 World Cup in a diary that has newspaper cut-outs, in which the diary ends with the famous line “Dhoni finishes off in style….”.
Celebrated like a crazy boy, running around, screaming around with friends. Then came the Champion's Trophy win, Ashwin’s off-spinning bowl, which James Tredwell missed, and MSD the Mister Cool captain, started like a small kid.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the cornerstones of Indian cricket for over a decade. Their contributions on and off the field have been immense. Kohli, with his aggressive style and unmatched consistency, and Sharma, with his elegant batting and strategic acumen, have given us countless moments of joy.
Watching Kohli chase down impossible targets and Rohit Sharma play those sublime innings has been a treat. Their leadership, especially during challenging times, has shown their character and commitment to the game. For fans like me, they are more than just players; they are symbols of hope and perseverance.
But with the highs came the lows. The crushing defeats in the final stages of tournaments were particularly painful. 2016 World Cup loss against the West Indies, a tournament where Kohli gave his everything. The 2017 Champions Trophy final loss to Pakistan and the heartbreaking exit in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand left me and millions of fans shattered. Even now, when I watch the highlights, somewhere in my heart still hope for MSD to reach the crease. The emotional investment in every match meant that each defeat felt personal, a blow that took time to recover from.
The 2023 World Cup was a tournament I eagerly awaited, with hopes sky-high and dreams woven around the Indian cricket team’s journey. As the matches unfolded, my days and nights were consumed by the excitement and tension that only a World Cup can bring. Each victory felt like a personal triumph, and every boundary hit by our heroes, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, filled me with pride and joy. Spectacular bowling performances by the legend Bumrah, Shami and Siraj against each of the opponents were breathtaking to watch and so pleasing to the eyes. India’s dream run in the 2023 World Cup was shattered in the finals. After a tournament of dominance, where they won 10 straight matches, the Ahmedabad pitch threw them a curveball. A score of 240 felt insufficient against a determined Australia. The chase began steadily, and despite Ravindra Jadeja’s fightback, wickets couldn’t be contained. With each Australian boundary, the celebratory roar of the crowd faded, replaced by a heavy silence. The World Cup on home soil slipped away, leaving a nation heartbroken. November 19th, is a date I can’t forget. I went along with my partner to a great restaurant that had a screening. It had two purposes, the first was to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, and the second was to celebrate the Indian team's victory. My mind went blank as Aussies lifted the trophy. Ideally, I should have vented out.

The T20 World Cup 2024 started, and this time I had planned not to get emotionally invested in the matches. With each win in the group stage, then to Super 8’s and then to the semis, all my plans of not getting emotionally invested failed (again). The moment when India beat Australia in the Super 8’s, when Rohit smashed Aussies everywhere on the ground, when Rohit took the catch of Travis Head, just like billions of other Indians, I also felt that a part of the revenge was taken.

Till the semis, Kohli had a lean patch. With each dismissal in each match, the fan in me was feeling low. Just after the semis, a statement made by Rohit in the post-match presentation made me realize that “This is King Kohli, this man can turn over any match at any time of the day.”.
Obviously, like every other Indian, my priority was for India to win and lift the trophy, and then I was hoping to see Kohli finish off the match like MSD did in the 2011 World Cup. India won the toss and decided to bat first. Deep inside, I was hoping Kohli would score a hundred, I know it sounds extremely silly considering the match situation and the pitch. As the match progressed, India lost 3 wickets quickly. Like everyone else, flashbacks of all the losses where we were so close yet so far from winning the trophy came back to my mind. When Axar and Kohli steadied the ship and eventually score reached 170+, again, hope came up.

South Africa’s batting started, and as usual, Bumrah provided an early breakthrough. I seriously don’t think, I’ll ever be able to witness a bowler like Bumrah again in my lifetime. The most reliable bowler that any team can ask for. In any situation, give him the ball and the guy delivers. Absolute legend!

Hope persisted until the Axar’s over, when 22 runs were awarded. Klaasen continued to smash our spinners all over the place. Three to four months prior, Hardik Pandya, who was being booed, entered the action and took out Klaasen. It all came down to 16 runs in 6 balls. Once more, Hardik goes after the first ball wicket. Amazing grab made by SKY. In the World Cup final, under tremendous circumstances, maybe the catch of the competition.The dangerous Killer Miller, had gone!

9 runs required of the final 2 balls, there came the wicket of Rabada, and the long wait of 11 years for the ICC trophy ended!! We did it! We finally pulled it off, and the emotions are still a whirlwind. INDIA IS THE WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN!

I cried, screamed, and rejoiced because the cricket fan in me lost control of my feelings. Not even my partner has witnessed me crying, except for a select group of close companions. Let go of feelings that had been suppressed for years.

Watching Kohli and Rohit celebrate was so pleasing to watch. A great conclusion to their careers in T20 International for two true cricket legends. The entire nation healed from the 2023 loss.

Hardik Pandya, what a redemption! Champion player with champion mindset. Everyone who trolled you during your tough time is praising you, including me.

Thank you, SKY for the catch probably that won us the trophy

Thank you, Virat Kohli for the crucial knock in the final.
Thank you, Rohit for providing the starts India always needed.
Thank you, Bumrah for the wickets whenever the team was in a tight spot.
Thank you, Kuldeep and Axar for spinning the web around the teams.
Thank you, Hardik for all the contributions with bat and ball.

Last but not least, The Wall of Indian Cricket, Rahul Dravid. Getting knocked out in the group stage of the 2007 World Cup, then facing abuse from Indian fans, led the Indian team to the ICC trophy. This has been a complete circle. A perfect send-off!

Thank you for everything,

An Indian Cricket Team fan