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World Cup Wounds May Have Healed, But India's November 19 Scar Will Remain Forever

Ritam

Different expressions from Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli (Source: AP Photos)Different expressions from Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli (Source: AP Photos)

"A Bruise is a lesson… and each lesson makes us better."  Those who have watched Game Of Thrones, must recognise this as a phrase from Arya Stark. In life, as well as in sports, those who understand these golden words and act accordingly make progress. And those who only seek negative impacts from events do not reach new heights.

That is how the goods and the greats differ from each other. That is how an individual lives an average life, while a few of them gain ground in a very short time. The process is straightforward; but how many actually follow it?

From Tears To Triumph Ft. Team India

However, India, led by Rohit Sharma with Virat Kohli, the poster boy at 35, were not among those who failed to understand the concept and pass it on to the team's juniors. Yes, they felt regret after collapsing like dead ducks during the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, but the wounds healed seven months later when they triumphed in Barbados at the grandest tournament of T20I.

Exactly how did India take Arya Stark's words seriously?

The high-flying side were moving from one place to another while remaining unbeaten throughout the entire tournament. However, their body language changed drastically, and they lost their composure altogether when Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne began dominating them in the all-important final.

An almost identical scenario unfolded in Bridgetown half a year later against South Africa in another thrilling finale, with 30 runs needing off 30 balls seeming like a walk in the park for a well-set Heinrich Klaasen and a T20 specialist, David Miller. But Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh delivered an absolute death-bowling masterclass to defy all odds, which perhaps marks the greatest five-over spell of all time in Indian cricket history.

In doing so, India ended the 13-year-long World Cup drought, and to make the event more special, they became the first team to win the tournament without experiencing a single defeat. Kohli and Rohit chose the best moment of their illustrious careers to bid farewell to T20Is. Fair. What exactly do you need when a specific mission is accomplished, especially after the lesson learnt as torchbearers?

It's not over until it's over. Cricket can be amusing at times, with emotions that can shift from smiles to tears very quickly. All you need to do is keep believing until the very last moment. India did not follow this basic success mantra last time in Ahmedabad but thankfully, made sure to hold their nerves in Barbados.

The Pain Is Gone, But Time Does Not Heal All Wounds

When these 13 years felt like an eternity, Rohit and Kohli, ably assisted by other team members, made sure it had to end. However, does it heal the entire wound that was impacted after the ODI World Cup heartbreak? Some might argue with a 'World Cup is a World Cup' logic, but it is not.

Celebrating small wins matters. It helps to stay motivated and push further. Of course, Indian fans should rejoice on this day each year when it arrives, but it should be viewed as just one of many short-term gratifications. They are not the real answers for those who still rightly believe that the 50-over tournament is the ultimate contest for proving the best team in the world. It has been the same ever since 1975.

Rohit and Kohli understand that this is their supreme goal. Therefore, despite many challenging situations which led them to shocking Test retirements, they have made themselves available for the ODIs, aiming to change their fortunes in South Africa in 2027.

As lessons make a unit better, all Team India need to do in the 2027 ODI World Cup is follow the same formula. A step backwards, weak body language will lead them down the wrong route again, and if they do, Rohit and Kohli will have to continue blaming themselves for the rest of their lives.

The unwanted ODI World Cup heartbreak can only be relieved with another ODI World Cup triumph, very much like what happened under MS Dhoni in 2011. There are no alternative ways.

And even if they achieve it, there will still be a big question mark over whether the November 19 trauma will be entirely resolved among all fans. For some who closely follow the game, it may haunt them forever.