His arms aloft, Sunil Chhetri stood before those who had come to adore him. In that second, he had the massed ranks of Indian fans inside the massive Kanteerava Stadium under his spell. They did not bounce and writhe in celebration. Instead, he held them perfectly still, caught in a moment of quiet communion between the divine and his congregation.

Then, of course, it broke. The stands above seemed to melt and to shake, a roar of joy and relief and affirmation reverberating around this vast, golden bowl. On the field, Chhetri was flooded by his jubilant teammates. He had not only scored the goal but had also created it, willed it into being, and fashioned it from whole silk. And, at last, he had done what he had set out to do. This was India`s ninth SAFF Championship title.