When Chris Gayle mentioned that
the dance moves he essayed evertytime he celebrated throughout this tournament was inspired by the
current Youtube rage ‘Gangnam Style’, I logged in for a dekko. I must say I rather
prefer Gayle’s all-grin version to the original. There’s something contagious
about calypso celebration and one can’t help bu join in.
The world T20 final is but a few
hours away. The best two teams, Sri Lanka & West Indies, have made it to the finals and none of them are
from the “Group of Death” where the pundits believed the favourites of the
tournament were all-locked up. They plan an endearing brand of cricket that may
be described as naturally aggressive or aggressively natural. Their captains
have shown immense maturity and restrain in dealing with their talented men.
Yet, it’s Sammy that one is rooting for today. May Gayle, Samuels, Bravo and
Pollard drench the stadium with sixes and fours. May Narine and Badree bind the
Lankan batsmen and may their fielders delight their spectators with their
natural abilities.
It’s not that I like Gayle or
Samuels more than I like Mahela or Sanga. In fact, just the opposite. In this day and age and for this version when
England prefer axe-wielders like Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan over purists like
Trott and Bell, Sri Lanka are blessed that they don’t need to make any drastic changes to their line-up
in any form of the game. Where others go crass with their cross-batted hoicks
or tangle themselves in scoops, Mahela continues to persuade the ball to all
parts of the ground without ever appearing to actually apply power. He does try
the odd hoick or a scoop but when he does try them, they appear, mysteriously,
elegant. Exactly the same for Sangakkara although one has not seen him at his
best in this tournament. Ajanta Mendis will surely baffle the Caribbean line-up,
for most of them don’t bother watching his fingers at the point of release and
will try to pick him off the pitch. That will be difficult. Malinga, may well
continue to bowl his 4 overs at less than 24 no matter who the opposition. That
will leave Gayle & Co., little choice, but to go after the others.
Cut to the other camp. When they
do well, there can be no team as entertaining or as effervescent as West
Indies. Sri Lanka play spin very well, so Narine, Badree and the rollers like
Samuels and Gayle, won’t have it easy against them. West Indies quicks these
days are not as quick though Rampaul is very well capable of surprising
everyone. But it’s their batting that is cause for joy. Johnson can hit them
clean; Samuels has been consistent over the last year or so. When Bravo archs
his back to drive or pull, you involuntarily feel for your own. Pollard can
destroy effortlessly but tends to ration his brilliance. But it’s Gayle – if he
goes well as he seems determined to, West Indies can rest assured that they
will get atleast 160 if they bat first and chase whatever target if they bat
last.
There are pundits in every walk of
life - Guys who bless themselves. You hear ‘I told you so’ everyday of your
life – from stock market analysts, from the political arena, from teachers, from
children, from your colleagues, even your maid servant. I stake no such claim.
However, I did write a piece a few months ago hoping that Windies will win the
world cup. When I hit my bed tonight, I hope to be able to quietly say to
myself, triumphantly, ‘I said it’!
