World Cup victory not a wild dream for Indians

Two days after India scripted one of the most sensational victories in the history of one-day cricket here, newspapers in England continued ...

Two days after India scripted one of the most sensational victories in the history of one-day cricket here, newspapers in England continued to sing paens to the wonderful effort, saying next year’s World Cup was not out of reach of this Indian side.

The newspapers were full of praise for Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, the two architects of India’s incredible victory against England at the Lord’s on Saturday, with The Times writing that the two batsmen had shown that young blood need not necessarily boil when the heat was on.

“It was two remarkably cool young batsmen who finally won for India a match comparable to the first of the World Cup finals in 1975 and the famous Warwickshire vs Sussex Natwest final of 1993,” The Times said.

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The Guardian wrote the Indian camp was probably justified in celebrating as if they had won the World Cup.

“After Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan, vital components in the young new India, had scrambled the winning runs with only three balls and two wickets to spare, and completed one of the most astounding run-chases in cricket’s history, Kaif was able to find an Indian flag, smuggled into the ground, and wrap himself in its embrace.

“Such was India’s joy as they undertook a lap of honour, they might have grabbed the World Cup: on this evidence, that is not such a wild dream,” the paper said.