Cricket World Cup 2015: How Team India went from sloppy to spectacular
With two big wins in the World Cup all of India is on a cricket high and in this wellness spree there is widespread hope that we #wontgiveitback. Such is the collective euphoria, in television channels and the media, it appears the deal is done and next month MSD will be king once again.
Joining in the celebratory chorus are experts, so violently critical till yesterday. They have rediscovered their voices and, expectedly, the loudest sound bite came from the irrepressible Ravi Shastri. Describing India as a "bullet side", he advised others to "watch it". His blunt message: India has ability, India has momentum.
Skipper Dhoni's comments were more restrained. In his characteristic non-excitable style, he downplayed the wins, instead underlined the importance of processes, cleverly reducing expectations.
Striking a similar note of caution was the master himself, the Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He spoke about the matches ahead and warned against complacency. Plus a valuable piece of advice about not disturbing anything that is working. Which means: Bat first, play two spinners, forget about the medium pace all-rounder.
While the nation rejoices there are some who wonder how the Indian side suddenly transformed itself from sloppy to spectacular. There is no shortage of theories, supported more by hindsight than genuine insight, but the fact remains that nobody has a satisfactory explanation for the turnaround.
For players, cricket is a constant search for form but there are no clear answers for its sudden arrival or disappearance. Form is elusive, it comes and goes mysteriously, leaving both expert and enthusiast equally baffled.
In England, Virat played with a bat that had no middle, only edges, and his stay at the crease was only to give catching practice to fielders behind the wicket. In Australia, however he is a tiger who dominates bowling and can't put a foot wrong. Same with Shikhar - uncertain and tentative yesterday, decisive and destructive now.
It is quite likely both Virat and Shikhar are doing nothing different than in the past, just that the ball now is finding the middle instead of the edge. I recall Azharuddin once remarking, in the middle of a horrible form slump, that he was doing nothing wrong and was batting well but somehow the runs were not coming. Also Tendulkar who went without a practice net on a tour for a longish period because "his feet were moving well and did not want to disturb his rhythm".
In a way, changing form and the accompanying ups and downs, though difficult to comprehend, add to the excitement of sport. When Ireland stun England it is a thrilling experience and the prospect of an unexpected result creates interest each time two captains go out to toss.
That's why die hard Pakistani fans must be hoping their "mauqa" must come despite two awful games in the World Cup.
Indian fans, already celebrating, must be hoping the team's current hot form remains. Ravi Shastri might release another aggressive barrage about this but Dhoni, the crusty pro, will only allow himself a half smile. He knows the job is only half done - there are more battles to be won, more opponents to be vanquished.