Vaccine for cricketing soul: Cricket lovers extol Men in Blue
As the Men in Blue pulled off a historic win at The Gabba on Tuesday, the entire country went into celebration mode, admiring how the inexperienced youngsters played out of their skin to clinch a series win – on a ground at which Australia had remained unbeaten for 33 years.
HT City spoke to cricket lovers of the city and asked them what this big win meant to them.
For banking professional Ravi Jaiswal, this win will be etched in the memory of every Indian cricket lover, “An incredible win for Team India. I was amazed with the intent with which this young team played. They didn’t look for a draw, rather they chased the win. The team is no longer dependent on only a few players. I would add that this team was not built in a single day. They acquired the mental strength and zeal to play for India and for this the credit goes to the Indian Cricket Board.”
Some out there think that the win came as the result of the long battle that the team fought before seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. “Battling bouncers, bruises, sledging and racial abuse, the team didn’t lose hope. They fought with grit and determination; this young Indian Cricket Team proved that you don’t need big players to win on foreign soil. Beating Australia in their den without having much experience on your side clearly defines that the young team truly fought like a unit,” said Noopur Chaturvedi, a public relations officer.
Defeating Australia at The Gabba was a matter of great pride and sheer happiness in these tough times. Media professional Gaurav Chabbra compared the win to the vaccine for cricket lovers. “The team conquered the ‘Gabba fortress’ giving cricket fans a glimpse of class and the strong character of these young men. Youngsters like Natrajan, Shardul, Pant, Siraj have made strong statements by taking the pressure off the senior members of the team. Amid the coronavirus crisis, this match was a vaccine for the cricketing soul.
For Dhuvan Sharma, a captain like Ajinkya Rahane, who has his head on his shoulders, is the need of the hour. “Change of captain in different forms of cricket should be an option always. For me, Rahane is a silent planner who reads the game well.”
Student Aditya Kumar felt its curtains for the thought that we need only experienced cricketers to win a match.