By IANS
New Delhi : Other things could wait, it seemed, as India celebrated their victory over Australia in the grudge series, which has been called “Summer of Spite” by the Australians themselves.
The front page editors and headline givers had a field day, punning on the Australians’ nickname ‘Oz’ and focusing on the acrimonious nature of the series.
Budget blues, market crashes and all other issues took a backseat, as newspapers, TV channels and radio stations went all out to celebrate the great cricketing moment. That India’s win over Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Series was preceded by the Colts winning the Under-19 World Cup made it a double delight.
While newspaper readers had to wait till morning to lay their hands on the comments and celebrations in print, TV channels ran programmes all night with tickers mentioning messages from dignitaries led right from the top – the president of India herself, Pratibha Patil, and the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, who intervened in a Rajya Sabha debate to congratulate the team.
The victory, which Sachin Tendulkar called the biggest victory since the Twenty20 World Cup win last year elicited wide front page coverage across the national dailies. And it did not stop there, as they devoted numerous other columns to the victory, celebrations and comments.
On Wednesday, the Times of India screamed, “We are the Champs” across the front page and followed it up with stories inside. “Indians rule the ‘roos” it added and then celebrated it with “Bubbly flows, Team India rocks through the night”.
The Hindustan Times punned with its the banner headline on front page, “Truimph against all Oz” and inside they called it the “Summer of Spunk” and “Wizards of Oz”.
If there was a reception for the World Cup winning Colts – organised by the flamboyant Vijay Mallya in Bangalore – be sure, there will be an open top bus parade for seniors, too.
The Asian Age said “Champagne Victory in Oz” on the front page and added “Blues finish on top Down Under”.
“They bury the biggest ghost”, said Indian Express, which inside put a series of pictures and called it “Picture Perfect”.
Mail Today was true to its tabloid-ish nature, splashing “Yabba Gabba Do” on the front page and running a series of pictures of the celebrations under the banner, “Blues Thunder Down Under”. It said, “Team India give cocky Aussies a taste of their own medicine”.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, “Beating world’s top two teams makes it best the tour”.
The Hindu, too, had as its front page lead, “India beat Australia in a thriller to claim cricket tri-series, as they added, “Team holds nerve to pull off nine-run win in tense second final”.