About 14 years ago India were in a similar situation. We had to maintain a decently tough run rate (if not win) against Australia to make it to the final. The Gods had a say too - they sent a sand storm in Sharjah. The Indian team did its part - lived up to the then notion that we were a one man team. None stood beside the "one man" of the one-man team except Laxman for a brief while.
A great man fought the Gods and made them bow to him. The great man's greatness was already known by then. But as it had happened back in 1840 BCE (and a few times since), the metamorphosis from a mere Great to a Buddha happened. The Buddha arose and showed the sand storm causing Gods how mortal they were. The nirvana of the Batting Buddha was witnessed by the world that day.
Today, 14 years later a new star has done a similar (and possibly better job since it resulted in victory). Even given the fact that today's star was helped by 4 others with influential contributions the star has well and truly shone. Only time will tell if the new star will get an opportunity to play the final and win the final like the Batting Buddha did 14 years ago. But, one thing is for sure, today we have witnessed the metamorphic event of a star turning at the crossroads to walk on the path to become an ATG.
Only the father knows whether today's star will become an ATG or rise even higher and become another Batting Buddha but the people who have seen him today sure know they have witnessed one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. The world has witnessed a display of supreme batsmanship that brought about a miracle.
Thank You, Virat Kohli, for it is performances like these that keep us hooked to the game.
A great man fought the Gods and made them bow to him. The great man's greatness was already known by then. But as it had happened back in 1840 BCE (and a few times since), the metamorphosis from a mere Great to a Buddha happened. The Buddha arose and showed the sand storm causing Gods how mortal they were. The nirvana of the Batting Buddha was witnessed by the world that day.
Today, 14 years later a new star has done a similar (and possibly better job since it resulted in victory). Even given the fact that today's star was helped by 4 others with influential contributions the star has well and truly shone. Only time will tell if the new star will get an opportunity to play the final and win the final like the Batting Buddha did 14 years ago. But, one thing is for sure, today we have witnessed the metamorphic event of a star turning at the crossroads to walk on the path to become an ATG.
Only the father knows whether today's star will become an ATG or rise even higher and become another Batting Buddha but the people who have seen him today sure know they have witnessed one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. The world has witnessed a display of supreme batsmanship that brought about a miracle.
Thank You, Virat Kohli, for it is performances like these that keep us hooked to the game.
