Immortal Triumph - II

Continued from Immortal Triumph - I...

The venue - Vidyodaya School, T. Nagar, the date - Saturday, 30th August 2002, time - 7.30am. We assemble at the entrance and only 4 of us arrive after all the hype, tension and promises. Registrations would end at 8pm and most of my team was coming from each corner of the city. The only gear we had was 2 bats and that was it. The other clubs and colleges were already playing their matches as scheduled from as early as 6am. We were obviously late and worried. At close to 7.55 am, the whole team is together amidst the little quarrel we had and made our way in to the ground. We were met with mocks, insults and smiles that wrote...'here come the suckers all over for another shot at glory'. All we did was walk straight and smiled back...brave but stupid in that moment. Luck did play a big role this time around...good and bad...we were the last to confirm our participation and ours was the last match of the day...pitted against one of the toughest teams in the tournament...as the greats once said...fortune favours the prepared mind...hell it did!

Well, we then waited all day long, loitering and observing all the key teams and players. We did manage to strike some good conversations with officials and some of the dames too. All the time, we would come up with hilarious spin offs of on field antics and results that ruptures of laughter would erupt around us...we sure did keep everyone in lighter spirits. But in all the waiting, we kept our strategy secret and spoke nothing of it. It was simple but too powerful to be out in the open for other teams to evesdrop into...so we let out false strategies to those who were kind of mingling unnecessarily...and they did the needful of letting their captains know of what we were going to do...and then at about 3.30pm came our first game of the tournament...agains the supposedly unbeaten team in sometime...club from Vepery. We won the toss and elected to bat...Murali and I opened and what followed was a literally a slaughter...mayhem left, right and center. Many of the audience and the opposition players dropped their jaws at our onslaught and nothing but silence...in our secret demolition plan of anihilation we amassed 60 runs in 6 overs for an opening partnership and the last 2 overs garnering 24 runs...so 84 in 8 overs...record breaking numbers that day...more was to come. The hyped up team came out to chase this like it was a walk in the park...walk it was but not in the park...it was hell. Smart bowling, sharp fielding, quick captaincy proved too much to handle and they collapsed to a shameful 17 All Out in about 6 overs. Ranga our man in the match with 5 wickets and we went into the sunset with a soda in our hands...living to die another day...on our way out...we saw the trophy on display...golden and at least 2 feet tall. Beauty she was...the biggest trophy I was personally playing for...Vatsa was staring at the same and tol me...."I have never yearned for something in life...this is the only time I feel like winning..."...i replied..."Lets win it for you then!"

Day 2 of the tournament and we all were on time and ready to get into action and not letting us take the shed like we were outcasts...well, we ended up getting the first match of the day! This time it was a good opponent from SRM Eashwari...We lost the toss and ended up fielding, some good tight bowling effort from Ranga, Arvind, Jayadev and me, restricted them to about 60 odd runs in 8 overs. Chasing was good as ever and our demolition plan worked but not for too long and we gave our side a run rate of about 8 per over in the first 4 overs. Wickets then began to tumble and our saviour emergred from nowhere...Dhilip's patient partnership and a blitz from Jayadev. Yes...we required 18 runs in the last 3 overs with about 2 wickets left...and enter Jayadev. Nailbiting moments as dot balls came through and our asking rate was shooting up like mercury. Fed up with all the hooligan chants and crazy fielding placements, our hero set his foot down and smashed 3 sixes in one over to seal the match...all in all...so much so for the criticism, it was our road to the Semi-Finals. Shake hands all over and our next match was assigned with an hour's break...this time against another good team - SCVE (Sri Venkateshwara College of Engineering)...another test of wits and nerve by whoever fixed those matches...we were up for it.

The Semi-finals under the scorching sun and the blazing heat...luck made its way as we won the toss and got ourselves to bat first in a hope to set a big total...another 8 over game. SVCE was a good team and bowled tight...our demolition plan failed as the first 3 wickets fell cheaply leaving the middle order and the bowlers to put up a brave total we could bowl to. This time, our captain chipped in with an awesome knock under pressure that defined his character and credibility like never before...he stood for us and we managed a defendable 60 odd runs...not much but enough to put up a fight. SVCE got off to a flyer as their opening pair plundered runs at will and none of our plans worked...but then a flash of brilliance on the field turned the game in no time...2 run outs and both direct hits from our next hero...the wily Murali...the whoe ground for the first time erupted in sheer voilent cheer (I suspect this team did not end up on the friendly side during the tournament) and our support began to grow by now...the opposition and the organizers were stunned by the turnaround and our captain bowled a fabulous spell to choke them under pressure...desperate times had called for desperate measures by the oppoition when they accused Jayadev of chucking arm action...all of sprang like it was a riot and we mobbed the umpire asking for justice...Jayadev was the fastest bowler but totally awry but he could literally break a toe with a yorker...with a little help from my end, the umpire was convinced that all Jayadev had to do was jump before delivering the ball...action cleared, wickets tmble and as expected...we won by 12 runs...but a breakthrough to our reputation in the tournament...we made it to the finals and this was our last hurdle...shake hands all over as the organizers announced the finalists of the tournament...Team Apex vs St. Thomas college of Arts...a first of sorts for both teams...an hours break before the finals and both teams were breathing...

Most of the crowd stayed back to see our downfall...most speaking of our run as a fluke...to me it was like a tale in an old story book...from what we were last year to what we had got ourselves to that year by sheer effort and belief...it was true and it took us time to soak in that we were the finalists...we were seated in a circle and talking of all the positives on what we had achieved and what was ahead of us...some of them even saying...finals is not a big thing...but the journey was to the finals was worth a lifetime. We all shared the same sentiment...whatever happens from now...we go out with our heads held high...victory or defeat. The crowd gathered near both teams and were now buzzing with speculations, predictions and adulations. We then stared at the battlefield for a while and looked to each other...One more time boys...we all felt the same words pass through our ears...and it was true. It was just one last time...I reminded Vatsa of his promise..."We will..."

Captains head to the center of the battlefield and the remaining crowd hooting and cheering...spin of the coin and Heads is the call by our man and we decide to bat without second thoughts...this time it was a 10 over match. Murali and I as usually walked to the center to start off the proceedings...both of our hearts feeling the pressure of the Finals. This time, both of our plans to demolish was halted right at the start and we both fell after what had been an amazing run at the tournament...this as it seemed...was our last shot. Two early wickets and we were trotting at the first half of the match...other key players too perished leaving all hopes to other unlikely saviours. It is believed that in tough times, arise tough characters to weather the storm...to us it came in the form of Vatsa and Amrith...the guys who dint give up till the very end despite not having a good run with the bat in the entire tournament...Vatsa got all his shots right in what seemed a terrible time at practice and all of Amriths energy spent on the moment that mattered. Vatsa was quiet and moved on with his game while Amrith kept running despite our doubts about his stamina...given the toxic condition he was in...all said and done...both emerged heroes and saviours in the first half of the battle...with support from the rest on all fronts. The score stood at 62 in 10 overs...modest but a faint chance. Vatsa and Amrith had the breather they wanted and all of us gave a raucous ovation as they returned for a well deserved sip of glucose!

We speak nothing, we do nothing...all we do is smile and enjoy the moment that we came this far...winning was not on our minds for the first time...it was a fight that was on our mind...one last leap! "Thanks Vatsa...you have given us a chance.." I told him...for the first time he mentioned this..."Namma Jaikarom da" (meaning - we are winning mate!)...and that was our mantra...field set, players ready and then our final chapter began...Arvind and Ranga were bowling their hearts out but there were these relentless players who were negotiating the attack with ease...but then all of a sudden...a quick run out by Murali, stunning catch by Dhilip, sharp keeping by Amrith and a mammoth effort from Vatsa...a quick rush of wickets after a dull start gave us all the hope and chance we wanted...I then picked two in an over...including the guy who got me out...and then it was down to the wire...4 overs to go...21 runs to get...Arvind bowls an amazing over and the equation comes to 3 overs and 17 runs...Ranga then takes over...tight spell...equation comes to 2 overs 12 runs...Arvind bowls....wicket taking over...yells and screams all over...appealing to the umpire...decisions going both ways. Last over left...8 runs required...Ranga bowls...field is set...players praying on their feet, some on their knees...I was scribbling Win on the sand below...just a shade of hope fading away...first ball...dot...second ball...wicket...eruption!!! Mayhem yet again...but the game was far from over...next ball...2 runs...6 to win...3 balls to go...next one was a screamer...dot ball...missing the stumps by a shade...2 balls 6 runs required...next ball...bad one...2 runs off it...1 ball remaining...4 to win...one shot away...one last chance...captains, bowler and keeper discuss last minute strategy...prayers intensify...hooting gets louder...umpire feel the heat as well...im still as a rock...knowing not what to expect next...and then it all happenned...

Bowled him!!! Cracker of a delivery that sneaked passed through the heave and crashes into the stumps...it was at that moment...for a second...my world stood still...it all unfolded in that one moment...smiles became laughter...prayers came true, hops became leaps and a dreams became reality...we had won. The margin was by 3 runs and that moment was scripted by all together in a huddle and in embrace of a feeling that we never planned for...our journey was over and the destination had arrived...we were never able to control our emotions...but then it had to be. The crowd in the background gave a faint applause but that was lost in the noise we were creating as winners. Our captain tried his best to get us under control as the opposition team was waiting for a final handshake of fine sportsmanship...the spirit in which the game was played...and then the presentation ceremony and the man of the match to Ranga...for his fine performance under pressure...no speeches, no photographs but the moments has been etched in my heart and mind.

Victory it was as we lifted the trophy and gave another scream of victory, everyones blood, sweat and tears embracing the golden cup...kisses and hugs galore for that trophy...everyones dream coming true in their very hands...we spent our last moments before we split homeward...we would speak of this moment in our lives to come...remember this victory in every dire situations one was in and in every interview when we were asked about one achievement in life...they can see it in our faces when we narrate this tale...a true story. I call it immortal because it was a bunch of Correspondence guys who beat the best and those who thought we were dispensable...we became truly invincible by body, mind, heart and soul.

After 6 years now, the trophy is somewhere on the loft at my home, gathering the dust of time and tide...the trophy after sometime dint feel important...it was that journey from nowhere to the pinnacle of glory...we did not go to another tournament thereafter...our situations took us in different directions...but it is this one moment in our lives that brings us together no matter where we are and what we do despite any given situation...all of us share a good laugh and talk like we have hung up our boots.

Well, we plan to meet sometime soon with our past binding us into one good conversation...I hope to tell this tale to anyone who is willing to win despite odds...I hope to tell it till I die. What came to me as vengeance as a fuel at the start...ended up being victory by sheer effort, dedication, team effort and the spirit to win...no substitute whatsoever.

Certain triumphs in life are worth remembering beyond ones mortal dreams...those victories will be spoken even beyond, that is why this is an immortal moment...to me, this just happens to be one of them...

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(The Apex Winning Team From Left to Right: Jayadev, Dhilip, Vatsa (standing), Ranga, Aravind, Me (Vasanth), Amrith and Murali and Subbu who took the snap)