A big year for India on the world stage ends in cricket heartbreak
A dominant World Cup series ends with a loss to Australia in the final, a symbol of how far India has come and how far she still has to go.
The scene was amply set: an acrobatic air show by Indian military planes, performances by star Bollywood singers, a light show, numerous fireworks and - considered the highlight - an appearance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the vast stadium that bears his name.
The Indian national cricket team, undefeated and largely favored, just had to win.< /p>
In the end, the Indians fell short, losing to Australia on Sunday night in the Men's World Cup, silencing a crowd of around 100,000 and causing over a billion people to suffer. Indians who have become accustomed this year to endless validation of their country's global rise.
The result has been a bitter pill for a nation that is expected a crowning achievement as the dominant force, measured in passion and money, in a sport that, by some estimates, is the second most popular in the world. It seemed to symbolize how far India have come, on and off the field, and how far they still have to go.
The Indian team was entered the final in Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, after comfortably winning all 10 of their matches in the tournament. Mr Modi, conscious of his image, was hoping for a moment of glory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in his home state before elections early next year, when he will seek a third term.
The choreography – from a strong leader presenting the trophy to a commanding team that achieved victory – would serve to coalesce more his image with the story of India's rise.
But by the time Mr Modi reached the stadium towards the end of the match, the chances of India had declined. He handed over the trophy to the Australians after the crowd had left.
“Dear Indian team,” the Prime Minister said in a consolation message on X after the match . “Your talent and determination throughout the World Cup was remarkable. You played with great spirit and brought immense pride to the nation. of this year. Its economy, the fifth largest in the world, is growing the fastest among major nations (although this growth is very uneven). He emerged as a powerful voice for developing countries by hosting the Group of 20 summit this year. And it became the first country to successfully land a rover on the south pole of the moon.
A dominant World Cup series ends with a loss to Australia in the final, a symbol of how far India has come and how far she still has to go.
The scene was amply set: an acrobatic air show by Indian military planes, performances by star Bollywood singers, a light show, numerous fireworks and - considered the highlight - an appearance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the vast stadium that bears his name.
The Indian national cricket team, undefeated and largely favored, just had to win.< /p>
In the end, the Indians fell short, losing to Australia on Sunday night in the Men's World Cup, silencing a crowd of around 100,000 and causing over a billion people to suffer. Indians who have become accustomed this year to endless validation of their country's global rise.
The result has been a bitter pill for a nation that is expected a crowning achievement as the dominant force, measured in passion and money, in a sport that, by some estimates, is the second most popular in the world. It seemed to symbolize how far India have come, on and off the field, and how far they still have to go.
The Indian team was entered the final in Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, after comfortably winning all 10 of their matches in the tournament. Mr Modi, conscious of his image, was hoping for a moment of glory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in his home state before elections early next year, when he will seek a third term.
The choreography – from a strong leader presenting the trophy to a commanding team that achieved victory – would serve to coalesce more his image with the story of India's rise.
But by the time Mr Modi reached the stadium towards the end of the match, the chances of India had declined. He handed over the trophy to the Australians after the crowd had left.
“Dear Indian team,” the Prime Minister said in a consolation message on X after the match . “Your talent and determination throughout the World Cup was remarkable. You played with great spirit and brought immense pride to the nation. of this year. Its economy, the fifth largest in the world, is growing the fastest among major nations (although this growth is very uneven). He emerged as a powerful voice for developing countries by hosting the Group of 20 summit this year. And it became the first country to successfully land a rover on the south pole of the moon.
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