That is beyond question. 

The T20 WORLD CUP cup has been a thrill-a-minute ride and that counts for something coming from the critic in me who initially eyed this new venture by the ICC with much suspicion.

The tournament has been a brilliant success, a masterstroke that has beautifully filled the void - or simply the large gaping hole in the credibility of international cricket – created by the debacle at West Indies.

Witnessing an Indian team conquer the very last depths of an international event never seemed a possibilty to me, the only place for a group of Indians clinching the mantle of ‘champions’ was in the realm of wild dreams and imagination. And by jove - now I know, more than ever – that truth is stranger than fiction, in this case, so much sweeter too !!

With steady and stable confidence, clear minds, and large hearts the blue brigade emerges from this cauldron as the winners.

What began as a damp affair with the Scots found its end in a spellbinding contest with the old nemesis - the arch rivals. But, the final was not the only brilliant encounter we witnessed. Yuvraj’s ‘BROAD’ ballistics, the nervous encounter with the Aussies and the gradual but effective obliteration of the South Africans from the competition were treats in themselves. But, yes, the finale was indeed – GRAND - the pinnacle of the abbreviated in duration, but elongated in enjoyment, version of the game.The match ebbed and flowed – it had more twists and turns than the ear phone cable in your bag, rides at a fun park, a twister and a tumble top washing machine. Gut wrenching, heart stopping and other ‘anatomically hazardous’ moments were the only constant in this game. From a ‘OH YEAH’ at Afridi’s dismissal to a ‘OH $%^!’ at Mizbah’s maximums to a ‘WTF?’ at Tanvir’s swings to a ‘JOGINDER IS A %$^&ING LOSER’ to a ‘YESS !!  HAHA !! WO HOO !!’ at the sight of Sreesanth securing the final catch – I had fun !!

As a nation, we all wait for those moments when we can bask in the glory of our country’s victory at a competition of the highest level, and it makes me so proud to have experienced that emotion, individually and collectively, today. The wait has culminated in a fantastic triumph.

Ricky Ponting eat your heart out – the definition of ‘WORLD CHAMPIONS’ has just changed – it is now- INDIA !!

 Its been exhilarating, enthralling, glorious, magnificent, startling, beyond imagination – pure entertainment.

I, like so many others, have been guilty of blaming the ‘Indian mentality’ for the numerous failiures, countless ’so close yet so fars’, innumerable counts of mediocracy – not just in sports, but in life in general - but today – WE WON !!And I am saying this from the deepest depths of my heart  and hope to continue saying this in the future, we won because ’WE ARE INDIANS’

P.S. – And Siddhartha, as far as patriotism is concerned – you don’t always have to show it (some people just can’t) to be a patriot – sometimes people don’t wear their hearts on their sleeve.