My World Cup journey began in 1983, in a none-too-gratifying way. The immigration officer at Heathrow was condescending. “So, you have come to report on the World Cup?” he asked. “India didn’t do too well in 1975 and 1979. I can’t think it will be much better this time.” The officer could barely mask his scoffs.
He was not the only one who thought India were no-hopers. Odds of India winning were a mouthwatering 66-1, but found few takers. Having won only one match in two previous World Cups—that, too, against lowly East Africa—India could hardly claim great expertise at limited-overs cricket.
In fact, David Frith, editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly, wrote in his curtain-raiser that he would eat his words if India won. The contempt was widespread. The Indian press corps, numbering only six, was denied accreditation to matches at Lord’s. Not unless your team is in the final, we were told dismissively.
At the start of the tournament, the thought of India entering the final was insane. Cricket’s magic, however, is in its unpredictability. From the brink of being ousted, India clawed back into contention on the back of a superlative 175 not out by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe.
After India beat England in the semifinal, we landed at Lord’s again for accreditation. The legitimacy of our demand could not be questioned this time.
The stewards at Grace Gates, not having expected India to reach this far, and perhaps miffed more because England had failed to meet the West Indies in the final, were standoffish. “Oh, we’ve got Gandhi coming to Lord’s,” said one to his colleague. His teeth were clenched, an eyebrow raised in surly disbelief.
Denne historien er fra September 17, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra September 17, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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William Dalrymple goes further back
Indian readers have long known William Dalrymple as the chronicler nonpareil of India in the early years of the British raj. His latest book, The Golden Road, is a striking departure, since it takes him to a period from about the third century BC to the 12th-13th centuries CE.
The bleat from the street
What with all the apps delivering straight to one’s doorstep, the supermarkets, the food halls and even the occasional (super-expensive) pop-up thela (cart) offering the woke from field-to-fork option, the good old veggie-market/mandi has fallen off my regular beat.
Courage and conviction
Justice A.M. Ahmadi's biography by his granddaughter brings out behind-the-scenes tension in the Supreme Court as it dealt with the Babri Masjid demolition case
EPIC ENTERPRISE
Gowri Ramnarayan's translation of Ponniyin Selvan brings a fresh perspective to her grandfather's magnum opus
Upgrade your jeans
If you don’t live in the top four-five northern states of India, winter means little else than a pair of jeans. I live in Mumbai, where only mad people wear jeans throughout the year. High temperatures and extreme levels of humidity ensure we go to work in mulmul salwars, cotton pants, or, if you are lucky like me, wear shorts every day.
Garden by the sea
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RECRUITERS SPEAK
Industry requirements and selection criteria of management graduates
MORAL COMPASS
The need to infuse ethics into India's MBA landscape
B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH
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COURSE CORRECTION
India's best b-schools are navigating tumultuous times. Hurdles include lower salaries offered to their graduates and students misusing AI
