New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) India’s cricket triumph in the Twenty20 World Championship caps one of the most successful 30 days in sport for the country, coming after the Nehru Cup win in football and Asia Cup victory in hockey.
The cricket team eked out a five-run win over neighbours and arch-rivals Pakistan for the title, the hockey squad crushed South Korea 7-1 at Chennai and the football team put it across 1-0 over Syria in New Delhi.
The Indian cricket team’s successful sojourn in South Africa is the most noteworthy of the lot because it was achieved by a raw squad with a new leader in charge.
And the victory of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team sparked instant celebrations among Indians as TVs beamed live pictures from the ‘bullring’, as the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is referred to.
In Dhoni’s hometown Ranchi, enthusiasm seemed to have got the better of revellers, almost leading to communal clashes as some youths burst crackers late into the night disturbing others’ sleep.
In another incident in the Jharkhand capital, celebrations nearly turned into a tragedy at the Birsa Munda Chowk when motorcyclists lost balance and went tumbling on the road. Seven of them needed medical attention.
Bihar’s capital witnessed a traffic jam at its busiest road junction – Dak Bungalow Chowk – following an impromptu jam session – despite inclement weather.
Parts of Jammu and Kashmir were tense after the Twenty20 final as celebrations during the holy month of Ramadan is taboo.
Nonetheless some adventurous souls ventured out on the streets to give vent to their elation but beat a hasty retreat in face of stiff opposition from radical elements and security forces.
Celebrations, however, were the order of the evening in other parts of the country.
The Haryana government joined the party, announcing a reward of Rs.2.1 million for medium pacer Joginder Sharma, a native of Rohtak, about 100 km west of the national capital.
That was apart from the Rs.25,000 already promised for each wicket he picked up, making it another cool hundred thousand rupees for the bowler who had had little success in his previous international appearances.
Kolkata braved the rains to celebrate with sweets and crackers, perhaps an early start to the forthcoming Dussehra festivities.
Mumbai, which awaits the arrival of the team Wednesday, was geared up for the completion of Ganesh Chaturthi. The cricket victory only added more fizz to the gaiety.
Delhi witnessed a light drizzle but crackers from the wedding season were put to good use late into the night.
Chandigarh residents also celebrated as only they can. They honked horns and greeted strangers with the traditional “balle, balle”, peppered with liberal doses of “Chak De! India”. The hub of celebrations was around the Sector 18 cricket stadium.
There were similar celebrations in other states, all the way from S. Sreesanth’s Kerala in the south to Jammu and Kashmir in the north and from Irfan and Yusuf Pathans’ Gujarat in the west to the northeast where craze for cricket is rapidly elbowing out football.
To cap it all, the victorious team was one from whom so little was expected only a fortnight ago.