Alpha-bat soup

Hemal Ashar compiles the A to Z of the World Cup cricket final today

Alpha-bat soup

Hemal Ashar compiles the A to Z of the World Cup cricket final today

April 2, 2011. That's the day cricket fans were waiting for more than a month ago, and today it is upon us. What makes it extra special of course is India in the final. Just one day after April Fool's Day, all of India hopes their boys in light blue have the last laugh.

B: Black. The entire buzz is about the tickets being sold in black. Astronomical figures are being quoted from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh or even higher. Sinister whispers about touts wandering near Wankhede are adding to the intrigue. What's a World Cup without some rumour-fuelled spice?

C: Cup. Cup of joy, Cup of cheer - the World Cup is what the nation wants, like a man in a desert thirsts for water. Ever since Kapil's Devils won the World Cup in 1983, India has come heart stopping close or despairingly far to lifting the trophy. Today, the nation feels Dhoni's fingers nearly touching the Cup. Grasp it, India.

D: Dhoni. India's M S Dhoni, Captain Cool like they call him, has been a bit too cool (thanda) with the bat. Though he claims not to be bothered about his batting form, the team could do with some fireworks from the skipper's blade. De ghumaake maar helicopter shots should not be in the realm of endorsement only.u00a0

E: Excitement. With just a few hours left between victory and defeat, adrenalin is pumping, hearts are beating and there are prayers on a million lips. Experts put India as winners but today, fans pray there is no slip between the Cup and the lip.u00a0u00a0u00a0

F: Fans. The finale will see the Wankhede packed to its gills with dancing, cheering fans who are the lifeblood of cricket. They will endure intense heat, queue up for hours and battle crowds to sit squished in the bucket seats for what should be a full on final. Bring it on; say some of the most passionate fans in the world.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

G: Gunshots. Reports say that gunshots were heard in Karachi during the Indo-Pak match as Indian wickets fell. After Pak was crushed, the guns fell silent but not before at least one life was lost in the firing. In a country where suicide bombers and the Taliban reign, why are gunshots being used as celebration? Strange are their ways.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

H: Hundred. That's the thing fans were talking about this World cup, Sachin's hundredth 100, a matter of hope and delicious debate. The master meanwhile, is letting his bat do all the talking ufffd he's been in imperious form this World Cup, never mind the patchy innings against butter-fingered men across the border.

I: Inch. That is the pace at what you would be moving towards South Mumbai today. Expect traffic to be crawling along South Mumbai at the proverbial snail's pace, as the Wankhede beckons. No road rage, just patience, infinite patience is the mantra.

J: Jailed. That's the feeling residents around the Wankhede get as they are hemmed in because of security reasons for the match. From special passes to building terraces sealed, all kinds of sacrifices are needed for the World Cup.u00a0

K: Key. Experts talk about all kinds of keys to the match the toss would be the key, the fielding is the key, the Sachin vs. Murali battle is the key, the game is being dissected threadbare. Whatever the keys or key moments as commentators call them, it promises to be close.

L: Lanka, Lanka. The cricketers from the teardrop in the Indian Ocean are a canny lot. Having won the World Cup once, just like their hosts, Kumar Sangakarra's team want to make this a two good to be true occasion. The lions are ready to roar but India hunts in a Paku00a0 (pun intended)

M: Mumbai. Mumbaiiiiii. That's the chant of the fans as the commercial capital is ready for world cricket's finale. Imagine people erupting in frenzy if we win. But that's getting ahead of ourselves. Let's play the final first.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

N: Nehra. The bowler was one of the most debated players of the World Cup - with M S Dhoni earning howls of disapproval when he picked him from the why Nehra lobby. With Ashish Nehra out with a broken finger, there seems to be serenity about selection.

O: Ominous. As the World Cup unfolded, we were bombarded by reports talking about terror threats, intelligence reports, and terrorists sneaking across the border in the guise of fans. Some alarmist, some true but most of all, reflecting the sad face of big ticket sport events today.

P: Parking. Most Mumbaikars spend half their waking hours thinking about where they would park their cars at work, shopping or simply when out for a night on the town. Okay, that may be an exaggeration but parking hysteria starts early today, as car owners will rush to find parking slots.

Q: Quiet? Not on your life. In Mohali, it was said that the noise never died down for a second during the India vs. Pak match and today at Wankhede, the sound barrier promises to be similarly breached. Bring out the earplugs but if you can't beat them, join them and shout, Mumbai, shout.

R: Raina. Suresh Raina dug in till the end against Australia and once again pushed India's flailing batting tail in the semi against Pakistan. Once, again the young player, brilliant in the field too will need to show the same maturity against the Lankan Lions.

S: Soldiers. Sport is war minus the shooting, but this World Cup it is war all right with its no fly zones and anti aircraft missile guns. Even as we use words like battleground spare a thought for our soldiers, who die for the country. You cannot compare losing a match to losing a limb or your life.

T: Traffic. This could easily stand for Tendulkar but we voted for traffic and transport as these are huge issues in the city on any day, but match final day it is going to be crazy. Traffic authorities are encouraging people to use public transport.

U: Underworld. Can cricket be without it? Ever since the Hansie Cronje betting scandal turned the game on its head, cricket has become a game of batting, bowling and bookies. Years later, it still finds it hard to wipe off the fixing smear and underworld connection rumours.

V: Virender SeHwag. Or Viru like they call him, ratcheted up a quickfire 38 in the Pakistan match, to rattle Pak. Firecrackers went off as Viru smote 20 (with five fours) in one over but he went as quickly as he came. He needs to fire today and stick on if India are to hammer the first nails in the Sri Lanka coffin.u00a0u00a0u00a0

W: Wankhede. What else? The newly renovated stadium plunged into controversy several times, is ready for its finest hour. Never mind the PILs or the court cases, dust off the cobwebs and bring out that frayed, old clich ufffd all roads lead to Wankhede.u00a0u00a0

X: X-rated. What else do you call model (?) Poonam Pandey's stunt to strip completely in the Indian dressing room if we win the Cup. Maybe, after this publicity-seeking tactic, one can call it the un-dressing room.u00a0

Y:Yuvi Rays. Yuvraj Singh who was hugely responsible for bringing India into the semi-final went for a first ball duck against Pakistan. Yet, he struck with the ball and today, India homes groovy Yuvi is ready to rock again.

Z: Zero Hour or Ground Zero. That is what the day and the hour is being dubbed, given our propensity for the grandiose. Zero Hour means the time the captains' step on the ground and toss the coin to the absolute roar of a crowd, which promises to bring the house down.u00a0u00a0

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