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Asia Cup champions: There was a painter, a handyman and a visionary—among others—as the Indian juggernaut marched on
Not long ago, it would have been challenging to think of an Indian team taking the field without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and yet, when the Asia Cup was won, there wasn't a single fan who was looking back wistfully. Twenty20 cricket is fast-paced on the field, so much so that it narrows the gap between excellent teams and merely good ones. This means that one good over, or one particularly bad one, can change the course of a game--and in knockout form--this gets sharpened.
The Asia Cup began with nationwide calls for boycotts of the India-Pakistan match, and by the time the two teams met for the third time in the final, even cinema halls around the country were packed, screening Suryakumar Yadav's team's unbeaten journey to the trophy that never was. On the field, India were occasionally magnificent, never quite at their complete best and yet still, head and shoulders above the rest. In the final, nerves might have played a part, with another Indian team of the past, but this one just had too much self-belief and depth for Pakistan to stand in the way.
Off the field, the behaviour of all parties was idiosyncratically less than ideal. There was plenty of provocation from Pakistan's players, though charged-up celebrations and pointed gesticulations. Still, the Indian cricket team responded in kind, albeit half-heartedly, squandering a great chance to seize the moral high ground.
This dust will settle, and new protocols will undoubtedly be implemented to mitigate some of the embarrassment caused by such grandstanding in the future.
For the moment, though, the Indian team can take a moment to reflect on their win, on cricket, and what this actually means to them and their legion of fans who power the game.
Not long ago, it would have been challenging to think of an Indian team taking the field without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and yet, when the Asia Cup was won, there wasn't a single fan who was looking back wistfully. Twenty20 cricket is fast-paced on the field, so much so that it narrows the gap between excellent teams and merely good ones. This means that one good over, or one particularly bad one, can change the course of a game--and in knockout form--this gets sharpened.
What this means is that you must be agile and ready to pivot even from a position of weakness. However, to achieve this, you must have a robust system that you believe in, clarity of roles, and the right personnel to entrust with each task. When Indian fans look back at the Asia Cup of 2025 decades from now, they will not remember the name of the official or cricket board president who caused so much discomfort. But they will remember a 22-year old Tilak Varma picking up perfectly good deliveries and depositing them into the stands over the leg side .
They will remember that Tilak was not manufacturing shots, although he is as inventive as the next guy, but that he had ice in his veins, absorbed the pressure, put his head down and got the job done. Tilak is a painter. Not the van Gogh kind who dazzles and deceives with brilliance, but one who was born to cover every square inch of a surface with meticulous precision. When Tilak's work is done, it speaks for itself.
Shivam Dube would like to be known as more than that tall guy. Every time he has the ball in hand, commentators refer to his height, which is not surprising given how few Indians are 6' 5” tall. But, while height is useful when reaching for things on top shelves, it's not a prerequisite for cricket success. No, Dube is the handyman. Hardik Pandya is injured, and someone needs to take the new ball, Dube will chip in.
Suryakumar is scratching around for runs, and someone has to take on the spinners? Dube uses the long handle. Rinku Singh faced one ball in the Asia Cup. But, before the tournament began, he was asked what his role might be, and he suggested hitting the winning runs. That's a bit rich for a guy who wasn't even expected to make it to the playing eleven. But he manifested his fantasy and spanked the only ball he faced to the boundary.
Rinku is not an idle dreamer but someone who is living the dream. Jasprit Bumrah made his mark on the tournament by not living up to the impossibly high standards he set himself. At all times, Bumrah gave his all, bowled with skill and control, but the opposition did not simply wither and give way. And yet, you can be sure every team worried about Bumrah, the omnipresent, and made plans for him, allowing other bowlers to get stuck right in. And, oh, the captain and coach. Suryakumar Yadav contributed as little as he ever might with the bat, and Gautam Gambhir continued to confuse with his selections. And yet, this pair earned the right to set the agenda for India in T20 cricket.
If someone begins a joke telling you that a painter, a handyman and a visionary walked onto a cricket field, laugh at your own peril. Because when they come together as they did, this lot is a winning bunch that is is proving to be irresistible.
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Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Asia Cup champions,Indian cricket team,Suryakumar Yadav,Tilak Varma,Jasprit Bumrah,India-Pakistan,BCCI,ICC,hardik pandya,rinku singh
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