World Cup 2019 - The dream ends

I woke up to a morning which no other Indian fan would have liked to wake up to. Chasing a modest total India were 100-odd for six wickets. There was a faint ray of hope however in the form of Jadeja and Dhoni. An hour later when I reached the office that ray of hope burnt like a flame when the partnership brought the target down to about 40 runs. But it didn't last much longer when everything was snuffed out in the matter of a few deliveries.

2019 World Cup Semifinal: When Jadeja and Dhoni kept us in the hunt <Courtesy: ICC>

The first thing I did after the match was to attend my morning meeting, thinking that only some positivity in the form of work would allow me to drown the negativity of this defeat. The next thing I did was to reach out to my brother whom I knew had watched the match in its entirety. I also tried to console my best friend who was disconsolate that India had come so close only to lose the match. I naturally felt bad for the disappointment they experienced but I found that the heaviness in my heart dissipated when I shared their dismay.

Today, I take time to remember that little kid who was heartbroken when India lost to Australia by a single run, that boy who was grief stricken when India collapsed like a heap before Sri Lankan spin, that teenager who was anguished by what Henry Olonga's magic did to India and that youth who was mortified that India didn't couldn't even survive the group stage in the 2007 World Cup. We Indian fans have been through a lot but as a grown man today I shall not allow myself to dwell for too long over a game. A lot of things in this life are transient, while this defeat is painful it doesn't change anything in the grand scheme of things. The future of Indian Cricket is secure with some good players and the future of our country and this world is secure with all of us.

In closing, my heart goes out to all the hardcore Indian Cricket Fans out there who invest their time, money, hopes and emotions to see India over the line every time. The sorrow you feel is unimaginable but I urge you to support your fellow countrymen who are grieving just the way you are. Let not hatred of any kind diminish the festivity and joie de vivre you brought to this world cup. Each and everyone of us is a representative of this great country, let's move on from this and prove that bigger things are ours to be.

Until Next Time,

Your Fellow Cricket Fan,

J.J. Chaitanya

PS:

We didn't find a settled middle order, we weren't able to accelerate in the final overs and whenever the big guns failed we struggled. We never really addressed our frailties, guess this result was always on the cards.
In the evening today, I went to my scrabble club and lost a game by 19 points. The last wicket for India fell with 19 runs more to get, in defeat I paid my tribute once again to the Indian Team of World Cup 2019.
After returning home, I had a conversation with my mother who had watched the entire match along with my brother and father. When I asked her whether she was disappointed, she smiled and said, "No, we gave our best and took it till the end. That's the only thing which matters!" I couldn't argue with that sentiment and silently marveled at her wisdom.

So long folks! The dream was good as long as it lasted. Now's the time for another dream.

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