By Sunil Gavaskar
Even as they destroyed Sri Lanka’s dream of winning the ICC World T20 on their home turf, the West Indians showed that they were not a one-man team.
There is no doubt whatsoever that ever since Chris Gayle came back to the side there has been a different look about the West Indies team.
Gone was the morose, sullen-looking bunch of players who looked burdened on the field and in came a happy group who revelled in each other’s success and even if there was failure they shrugged their shoulders and got on with the game.
Gayle may not have succeeded as a captain for these very reasons of being too laid back and too cool, but that attitude rubbed off positively on the others as they went out to play a sport that they love and they are good at.
It the simple joy of the contest between bat and ball that Gayle brought to the team.
All those who stymied his comeback to the team need to hang their heads in shame for they wasted some valuable years and the earlier rejuvenation of West Indies cricket.
The win also showed that the West Indians had put aside the differences that exist in their society and fielded the best men.
So Ravi Rampaul, who most Afro-Caribbeans don’t rate too highly compared to Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach, came good in just about every game he played by picking early wickets.
The delivery that got Dilshan was a beauty that would have challenged the best in the business and the first seed of doubt was planted in the Sri Lankan minds with that dismissal.
Then, once their reliable duo of Jayawardene and Sangakarra were dismissed there was no experience to back them up.
Sri Lanka’s decision to persist in giving the final over to Kulasekara backfired on them.
Kulasekera was the one who brought India back in the finals of the World Cup last year bowling those full tosses at his gentle pace, which Dhoni crashed to all parts of the ground.
It has been proven time and again that unless a bowler is bowling over 145 kph, the low full toss is an invitation to be hammered.
One feels sorry for the Lankans who did a terrific job as hosts and who were hoping that their fourth final in less than a decade would go their way.
It didn’t, but there is no doubt that all those who came to this lovely country went back with memories of some great cricket and hospitality second to none.
