The Final Jinx :(

I have been a vivid cricket fan and follower since the time I understand there is something called "Passion".  I was four when I started watching cricket (and guess what, it was the very series in which Sachin God Tendulkar announced his existence to the cricket world). Since then (a year after actually) I have followed it religiously. During this, I can proudly say I have garnered the expertise as a cricket viewer to understand and opine on all cricketing aspects. All these years I have heard this word "choking" associated with cricket quite very often. South Africa were always considered to be the perennial chokers. "Su

ccumbing in '96 WC after sweeping everyone before that" , "Losing out to India in the Titan Cup final", "Again faultering in the '99 WC semis" did nothing other than boosting their infamous Chokers image. But among this overhyped "Chokers" tag, junta forgot about the ruthlessness, Proteas had showcased in belting everyone before that final hurdle. 

Till then India were doing considerably well in the finals (May be India was never a consistent winner to qualify for the Chokers tag). Then all of this India's image changed with the change of captainship. Sourav Dada Ganguly brought the essential change that every Indian success-hungry cricket fan longed to see: "The winning attitude", "The ruthlessness". And India started winning consistently to come in that infamous yet elite "Chokers" league. India won only a single Final during his tenure but people forgot the fact that under his captaincy India reached all but 2 (that is 15/16 in total) finals (and mind you that includes the 

WC, Champions trophy finals twice).

Hmmm, alright, I have a point, but why I am barking all these all of a sudden now? May be, I qualify as one of them if not individually but surely as a team.

Episode 1 :- IPL 2008: Hehe, No, I am not that good to play for one of the "Pretty Preitys" or "Sensuous Shilpas" or "Lavish Mallyas" or even "King Khans". I am talking about the Intel Premier League (Intel's very own IPL). We formed a team rather squad of 15 players thanks in large to our dynamic enthu captain fantastic. All of us looked potent but Unknown. Then we started practicing almost daily and in process built up an a

wesome rapport among us. We were young (comparing to the average Intel junta, u see; the rest used to call us Under 19:P), ruthless who take their cricket seriously. And all those qualities were on show during the games. We crushed each and every team in the practice games (15 in total). Oh yea, did I forget about sledging? This was an integral part of our game, we used to play hard and it helped a lot in overcoming few tense games. Plus that adds to team spirit too. Finally the real tournament started. To no one's surprise, we won most of our matches easily and a few after some tussle. You see, we were the red hot favorites, the dallal' choice. Till then we hadn't faultered in any of the games. And probably did almost all the things correctly as we could have done. Then came the D day, the finale as they say. We had come a long way. From one of the 64 teams to a place in the "top two", not bad. 

It was pleasant to see the typically aalsi Intel  junta gathering in numbers to see the game. We bowled first and bowled well till that last over (25 runs). Still 105 was not difficult to chase in 15 overs for a team who till that point had the habit of scoring in excess of 80s, 90s in 10 overs. We started well and were clearly cruising till 87/3 in 11 overs. Then the lightning strike us. We lost the plot, lost the game (by 3 runs) and the trophy. In cricketing term, we CHOKED. But WHY? We clearly were a much better side than our opponent, phir kyon? May be our high standard, high expectation, high desire bite us back. We knew we were unlucky, hard-done. We consoled ourselves by saying coming 2nd in a group of 64 is actually not a bad thing. But inside we knew we CHOKED. Period!

 

Episode 2 :- It will seem as the reload of the last story, but I have to write to intense my point; people these days are difficult to convince, ain't they?

So IPL '09 it was. It was a different tournament, different format. 6 players-a-side with a mandatory lady in every side. 5-overs a game. Something which we were not very fond of but it suited us very nicely considering 4/5 of our prominent members were no longer with Intel. We started well, won all our matches comfortably (baring 1 or 2 in which we got some scare). I must honestly say, we were no longer invincible, but were doing enough to stay a foot distance from others. We were no longer ruthless yet had enough quality to see off the opponents with ease. We no longer sledged, but looked as arrogant as any winners. In process, another final loomed. Again in "top two" among 101 teams. A record even Australia would have been proud of. This time we seriously hoped to erase that memory of yesteryear. We were facing a really good team. And as always, the Intel junta had gathered in mass to cheer the two surviving gladiators. We bowled first yet again. Will it be another of those days? The worst started happening right from the first ball. And the memories of that painful day of the last year started flashing in front of eyes as if it happened yesterday. We bowled as pathetic we could have ever done in our nightmares. They belted us for 78 in just 5 overs. After that there was nothing left in that game apart from playing out our 5 batting overs. We lost it badly. Yes alright, this was not as painful as the previous one. We knew we were not unlucky, we were not hard done. Finishing in top two among 101 teams is not bad feat, you see. But inside we knew we CHOKED. But kyon? WHY?