August 7, 2008

So, with all the hoopla around making Cricket an Olympic sport by 2020 (Twenty20 in 2020, get it?) I figured we could concieve of a theoretical scenario where, 16 years after the sport is reinstated by the IOC (1900), Mumbai hosts the Olympic games for the first time.

Just like Beijing in 2008, this is Mumbai’s and India’s coming out party. It’s a celebration of democracy, capitalism, innovation, youth & culture. More importantly though, India are the defending 2032 cricket Gold Medalists. This is no longer a one-dimensional India with a weak sports program. The new, prosperous India offers great opportunity for world-class athletes making it a top 10 finisher in the medals tally for two Olympics running. Not bad for a country that won a single medal in 2004.

While other sports are gaining prominence, Cricket remains the soul of Indian sport. It is now a $40BN entertainment machine, with the Indian Premier League alone accounting for a massive 400MN viewers on average for telecasts, with 200MN in the lucrative 18-35 demographic. USA, Germany, Holland, Kenya, Brazil & China have joined the top-flight Indian, Australian, English, Kiwi, Pakistani & Sri Lankan teams.

China, the other global superpower, has made a concerted effort to improve its standing in Cricket and has improved gradually since a surprise quarter-final finish in the 2032 games in Berlin. Wang Xi, the Chinese National Coach, is happy with the progress and makes a top 3 finish a priority in Mumbai. With three of the fastest bowlers on the planet - Yao Lei, Sun Li & Tsui Tang - they certainly have the firepower to disrupt any batting line-up in the world. Their achilles is the batting which, apart from Xu Wei at number 4, is very hit-or-miss.

India, on the other hand, are the defending champions. The team’s average age is now 29.4, with most of the players at the height of their powers. The Germans are expected to be the main rivals, their powerful duet of all-rounders, Gunther Reithofer & Bertrand Vogts, provide a nucleus par excellence. They expect to go one better than 2032 and take the Gold from India this time.

As it plays out though, the Indians start indifferently and are shocked by Brazil in the preliminary stages, only to become stronger as the elimination rounds commence. Each match appears to be made more complicated & tense due to a disturbing inconsistency from the Indian unit. The Indian coach, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is irate; he attributes the variance to over-confidence and implores the team to get its act together for the semis against Australia.

Germany though, are progressing serenely. Destroying Kenya & Holland on their way to a semi-final clash with China. No one gives the young Chinese unit a chance. The Chinese bat first and put up a dismal total of 163 all out, leaving Germany a relative cruise to the finals. But the triple threat pace attack on a lively, slippery pitch with the evening humidity in the air makes life very difficult for Germany. By the 10th over, Germany is reduced to 43-6, as Sun Li bowls the fastest spell of his career to take 4-17. Reithofer is the only German hope left, and for 3 overs of absolute mayhem, the big German takes risks and smashes the Chinese off-spinner & medium pacer for 50 runs. By the 16th over, Germany cross the 120 mark and have a remote chance of pulling this off. Yao Lei though, has different ideas. A yorker on off-stump shuts down Reithofer, and with it, Germany.

It is a China vs. India final. Mumbai is electric on finals day, August 31st 2036. Screens are setup in public places for additional capacity all over Indian & Chinese metropolises. The two most populous nations are abuzz with speculation. Can this be the new milleniums ‘Miracle on Ice’? Can this upstart Chinese team knock out the unpredictable but undoubtedly superior Indian team?

…. we’ll know in 2036 I guess :). I can’t predict everything!

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