The Narrative (T20 World Cup Special): Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli finish off in style

The epochal lines from Rudyard Kipling’s poem are etched above the centre court of Wimbledon and lend themselves very well to occasions of both triumph and disaster because one’s reaction is almost always similar in both. If someone hadn’t seen the match or score and just happened to see the post-match scenes of bent bodies and crying heroes, one wouldn’t have been able to guess if India had triumphed or faced disaster once again.Based on recent history – or the scorecard five overs before the game ended – any Indian fan without a clue of today’s scores would’ve guessed the latter.
It was an extraordinary win because not only did India become the first team to march unbeaten to lift the T20 World Cup – a remarkable achievement because of the Heisenberg-like uncertainty of the genre – but also the avant-garde style in which the team played throughout the tournament, without fear or remorse.
The name of the island of Barbados comes fromthe Spanish meaning “The bearded bit could either refer to the hanging roots of the fig trees, a species of banyan indigenous to the island or the allegedly bearded natives called Kalinago who inhabited the island. And it was the bearded boys of Rohit Sharma – building on a pragmatic 76 by Virat Kohli – who had emerged victorious.
Despite its untold riches and the world’s most vaunted T20 tournament that has put a turned decolonisation on its head, India has failed to win the T20 World Cup since a swashbuckling young man – whose hair swashed and whose team refused to buckle under adversity – changed the course as he led a band of ragtag youngsters to their first ICC trophy since 1983. India added the ODI World Cup (2011) and the Champions Trophy (2013), but it has been slim pickings since then. India has always found itself wanting just at the final hurdle as if a Parashuram-like curse had condemned them to Karna’s fate of failing at the moment of truth. At one point in the match, particularly when Heinrich Klaasen – perhaps the best player of spin in the world right now – was smashing Axar “Bapu” Patel at will all over the park, it seemed like this was going to another chapter in the litany of defeats in ICC tournaments.
At the end of the 15th over, South Africa only needed 30 runs from 30 balls, an outcome that looked as inevitable as Thanos winning again in the last decent movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It again looked like it was going to be the tale of two 50s. One came in 48 balls and the other in 23.

But unlike what Shakira sang at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it wasn’t the time for Africa, not yet anyway. Because if the Avengers had Tony Stark, India would have Jasprit Bumrah.
At the end of the 15th over, the win percentage for India had dipped to 3.35% and for fans of various vintages – those suffering from the nineties and early noughties and others who have been left aghast after the post-Dhoni era – were certain that India was going to lose again. They, like the South Africans, hadn’t contended for Jaspreet Bumrah who can surely see the source code like Neo. The 16th over saw him only give four runs, Bumrah’s very presence making batsmen contemplate their life choices.
The 17th over saw Pandya take Klaasen out of the contest as he edged it to Rishabh Pant before Bumrah returned to strike fear into the hearts and minds of the Proteas again with a peach of a delivery that snuck through Marco Jensen’s defence like the two teams were playing in whites instead of colours.

At that moment, you could see the fear closing in, the cobwebs of uncertainty that haunt men when the final hurdle is visible. Arshdeep sent in another nerveless over before South Africa suddenly needed 16 to win from the last over. Even that looked feasible until Surya Kumar Yadav – who had a rare failure with the bat in this tournament – took a catch of Big Miller that even on multiple replays seemed impossible to decipher, let alone emulate. Picking up the ball right on the edge of the boundary, SKY threw the ball into the sky before catching it again after stepping into the boundary.

The final win was a moment of cathartic elease for so many members.
Coach Rahul Dravid had his Chak De moment, in the same country where he faced defeat in 2007 and it was especially emotional for a fantastic servant of the game who had spent so many years serving Indian cricket with dignity and selflessness but had never got his hand on an ICC trophy.
For Rohit Sharma, it was the culmination of a process that started in 2020, in which the Indian team underwent a complete DNA change from being individualists looking for personal scores to accepting they were part of a bigger cause.
Echoing Plutarch’s analysis of Alexander in the pre-game show, Saba Karim elucidated on Sharma’s leadership: “A true leader has to be bold in action, watchful in thought and circumspect in counsel. That is what Rohit Sharma has done. That is why this combination of Rohit and Rahul has worked very well. Rahul Dravid is one person who will always raise uncomfortable questions. Rohit, as a captain, has understood that, and at times, I am sure Rohit has questioned Rahul Dravid. Both of them have questioned each other, in terms of decision making, in terms of players, in terms of combinations.”
Vijay Dahiya added: “The moment the Super 8 started, the Indian team hasn't made a single change. The Indian team hasn't made any changes. Unchanged team till the finals. Sometimes what happens is you are always looking for something different and you miss out on the beauty of being simple.”
The win meant that Sharma had an 8-0 record as captain in T20 finals (six for Mumbai Indians and two for India). Meanwhile, Virat Kohli with the benefit of hindsight remained long enough to ensure that India had a fighting total for its bowlers to defend. His steadying-the-ship innings also ensured that batters who came in at the other end like Axar Patel or Shivam Dube could keep on hitting. Kohli, who is ubiquitous with T20 cricket finally had his winner’s medal, even if it came at the fag end of his career. It was fitting that this is how they signed off from T20I cricket.

Vijay Dahiya: Kohli announcing his retirement was the shot of the day. Many congratulations to him for his fantastic and glorious career. He set the standard with his fitness, with his discipline, and his dedication. I've seen him from the close quarters. What an example for us to follow. Shot of the day, I'd say it was the first over where Virat Kohli set the template in the first over.
Saba Karim: I am sure it was India’s plan, that if they lose a few wickets in the powerplay, then Virat Kohli should bat till the end. That’s what Axar Patel and Shivam Dube did. For that matter, India’s planning was so correct.

(Heinrich) Klaasen.
If Klaasen made even ten runs in that over, the match would’ve ended. Even Bumrah couldn’t have changed India’s fate from there. And then David Miller’s wicket. These two were so important for Team India.

Saba Karim summed up the mood and the raison d’etere of the show The Narrative with words from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself. The rest is taken. India founds its own brand of cricket and stuck to it. And that’s why India has been able to win this World Cup. This World Cup has paved the way for modern T20 batters to come through because we’ve seen something special.”
And as Vijay Dahiya added: “It was very special to remain unbeaten throughout the tournament. Whenever India was tested, whether it was Australia, England or Pakistan (India stood up). It was because of the kind of cricket they played. We thoroughly enjoyed what they have done, and they have set the standard really high right now. It's for people to follow. What they have done is they have given you this belief that this can be achieved. And I am sure, India will dominate white ball cricket.”
As Kipling concluded in his poem if one kept one’s cool, one could inherit the earth and everything in it. Indian fans will hope that this trophy isn’t just a one-off but the dawn of a new era where the team goes on to add a few more trophies to its cabinet. Yesterday’s scenes, certainly make one believe that might just be the case.