Captain Speaks t20WC win

The victorious Indian Captain had some interesting answers to questions posted to him after India's historic victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.
- Monday, September 24, 2007

Mahi, how do you feel now?
I feel very good.

Do you think this team is in need of a coach now?
No comments.


Is it fair to say that you as captain and Yuvraj as vice-captain is the beginning of a new chapter in Indian cricket?
If you analyze, the captain and the vice-captain haven't done anything in this tournament. Players who were granted with responsibility delivered out there in the field. There isn't a single batsman who didn't score runs in the tournament. Similarly, there isn't a bowler who hasn't delivered the goods. The efforts in the outfield were tremendous. It was a team effort. Yuvraj, of course was brilliant and so was RP Singh. Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh have made good comebacks to the side. I think everyone in the side was special and the best part was that players lived up to the expectations of the team.


How would you compare this conquest with the 1983 World Cup triumph?
I didn't watch the 1983 World Cup since I was two years old back then. I am not sure how big the sport was in the country back then and the enormity of the coverage and media. I have said it before and I say it again – I live in the present. We have received great support from our entire support staff. Especially after a two and a half months of gruelling cricket in England and another fifteen days here. So, hats off to them for preparing good practice sessions for us and ensuring that we were fresh every time we hit the park. We didn't rush into hard practice sessions. The planning by the support staff was great; teams tend to get carried away but we were fresh and able to give 100% in each and every match. I do not believe in comparisons – I think 1983 was special and this is very special too.


Is this your dream or destiny? Also, do you think that you have made up for disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign?
Talking about destiny, I don't think success is achievable until you put in the hard work. I think the individuals who made the difference to this victory will cherish these moments forever. This wasn't just my destiny but the entire team's.

The match was like a roller-coaster. First your team's batting... and then were you worried when Misbah-ul-Haq was all guns blazing?
Look, we knew they didn't have too many batsmen left. Arafat and Misbah were batting but we knew that a few wickets would swing the game back in our favour. I was confident that our chances of victory would increase as and when the game would get closer. The bowlers did really well defending a low total of 157, especially since they were off to a flying start. We did well in the outfield, like we have done throughout the tournament – averaging at least one run-out per match.

You still believe an Indo-Pak encounter is just another match?
Well it was just another match. It was special, no doubt, especially since it was the final match of a world championship. But, I still feel approaching it as ‘just another match' helps and that's exactly how my team dealt with the match.