That was all that Mattered!!!

Day : 6th April,2010.

Venue: M.A Chidamabaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Match : Mumbai Indians Vs Chennai Super Kings


It was a day we all were waiting for long. It was not about the Match. It was not about Cricket. It was not about a Win or Loose. It was all about One Man!!Some call him Master.Others call him Genius. And some treat him as a Legend. But for all we people who were dressed in 'blue' among a sea of 'yellow' in those stands he was nothing less than GOD!!And we came to see GOD play that day... Its true that Chennai was indeed our second home now, the place we are settled as for now... But in India , when it comes to Cricket -Home support always came second to this man wherever he played.

There were strange looks staring at us from all around. Their frowns questioning : "What are these South Indian looking bafoons doing??? Supporting the visiting team sitting in our stadium!! How dare they?? " But our voices , shouts and enthusiasm bowled their frowns with yorkers and when we chanted GODs name in the typical way it is cried out in this country, Even these men in yellow outfits who gave us glares had no other option than to join us to chant his name. Because deep inside them even they too feared GOD!! They knew that if they wanted to win today they had to pray to the GOD of cricket himself and no one else.. Even a win for their team rested on his decisions.



The game went smoothly for the home side when they batted.. Put up a score which was looking OK but not impossible especially for the genius. We were content with his captaincy. He did well to restrict them. Next he is gonna step out to bat. The moment we waited so long to see.. A glimpse of the man himself, fully equipped in his gear.. Walking out of that dugout in such a manner that it commanded respect!!! Even the opposition players turned around to have a look at that sight as if they were thanking him for giving that cricketing visual delight which they could see from a touch and go distance. Take a bow master!! We bowed to him from the stands! And we were not surprised to see that it was not just the blue jersey ones but the entire yellow sea(except a few hard core local supporters) made the bow and stood up to see him, but of course we dint know how many of them stood up to pray to him.. " Lord, please favor us today and we promise all the support and poojas for you for the World cup next year". And it was not long for the magic wand to start the flash and it was raining boundaries all around the park. Elegance, Class, Perfection, Genius.. Every shot had its own definition. The Yellowers were stunned to silence.. GOD was playing against mortals! Even their best bowler was treated as a worm! Our Joy had no limits.. We danced around madly as the Superman show went on!!!

But the Chennai heat was taking its effect on the master.. He began to stretch and breath heavy after every run. And our heart beats were concerned. It was almost half waythrough the game and there came a time out.. At the end of which we saw the most dis-heartening scene!! A tired master walking away to catch up some energy... “Oh GOD please don’t do this to us!!” we cried to him.. But our cries were out-numbered.. 2000 to 38000!! And with such a majority praying him to take rest, he had no option that to go retired hurt.. That was it!! Once the hand of blessing is gone from the top of your head everything turns stone rather than gold. The Blue men from Mumbai collapsed.. what looked like an easy target suddenly looked like a Himalayan treck!! Dejected and crest fallen we sat on our seats as the yellow waves kept going on and on around us! Wickets kept falling...

The 6th Wicket fell and the yellow Crowd were dancing on their feet for say- 1 minute... But then suddenly it diminished drastically... From No-where we heard Gods name getting shouted in unision from a few Blue-ers in the crowd!!Thats when we looked to the dugout to see that sight again..!!! he is walking out again.. We were the lucky lots to see that sight twice in the same match!! Truly Rare... WOW! The stadium now was filled with roar for the great man.. The task was impossible 16 runs per over needed to win.. But with GOD in the centre even the local supporters got tensed!! Oh we loved it.. to see that tension on their faces. The same people who were mocking us and dancing in joy now swallowed their tongue and sat erect on their seats!! This is what we call GOD EFFECT!!

A tired and dehydrated man could not stay long.. He perished soon after giving us hopes.. But we still stood up and applauded for him while the entire stadium erupted on the fall of his wicket! All knew it was over, they are gonna win.. But we dint complain.. We knew he had no other option than to answer the prayers of the Majority!! The visitors lost miserably...

Dejected and cursing the Chennai heat for retarding the master off his energy we walked to the exit..!! On our way an excited Lady wearing a yellow jersey BOOed at me showing 'Thumbs down'.. I smiled at her and in my mind i said " I know whom you prayed to madam.. even i prayed to him... He dint answer mine and still i applauded him. He answered yours and still you boo him.. Strange!!" I turned my back at her and pointed to the back of my Jersey which said - No: 10 and the name TENDULKAR!!!

GOD was here tonight and that was all that mattered to us!!