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his year’s ICC World Cup championship was memorable for many reasons. First of all, this is the first time that the Championship has been won by a country while playing it at home! In the past, the World Cup was never won by any team playing the final in her own country.

In 1975 and 1979 West Indies won the Cup in England; in 1983 India, too, won it in England; in 1987 Australia won it in India; in 1992 Pakistan won it in Australia; in 1995 Sri Lanka won it in Pakistan (they were co-hosts with India & Pakistan); in 1999, 2003 and 2007, Australia won it in England, South Africa and the West Indies.

But this year, for the first time, India won it in India (at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai). Also for the first time, three out four semi-finalists were from Asia, the New Zealand team being the only non-Asian team! The first semifinal was played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Sri Lanka and the second was played between India Pakistan in India. The final was played between Sri Lanka and India in Mumbai.

Thus this game was totally dominated by Asian teams. Only Bangladesh could not make it to the knock-out stage. India won the championship after a gap of 28 years, the last occasion being in 1983. That is another reason why this championship will remain in my memory forever!

I along with my colleagues watched the final on the big screen at the Indian restaurant, Ganesha, at BRI-II. More than 125 Indians had crowded around the tables enjoying the sumptuous snacks being continuously served.

Beer, of course, was flowing uninterrupted.

As the last shot was hit into the stands by MS Dhoni, India’s captain, all Indians rose in unison to applaud the victory, raised their beer mugs to toast the winning ‘Team India’ and then suddenly something surprising happened!

All of us started singing our National Anthem spontaneously. It was a unique experience that left my skin with goose bumps!

K B Kale
Jakarta