विजयादशमीचा विजय

Vijayadashami 1997, Its been more than a decade, I was in 9th standard and we all friends were out on our bicycles visiting teachers' homes to give Sona and take their blessings. I remember even though Sachin was on ground, after Azhar's dismissal and subsequent interruption by crowd almost everybody had given up hopes of winning (It was supposed to be a repeat of Eden Garden) or even resumption of match and were wandering, enjoying festival.
But that was not to happen, match resumed, I dont think anybody has watched how Tendulkar and Jadeja played that evening. After seeing 100 on the scorecard, everybody sensed that Tendulkar is playing a captain's knock and almost immediately everybody was back at home, watching the proceedings.
Very soon Jadeja fell and slight tension creeped amongst the viewers. Next batsman was Nayan Mongia, he had test century against Aussies to his credit and so people had belief in him. He indeed supported Tendulkar with double digit score. But Mongia, Sunil Joshi, Tendulkar went back in quick succession and almost everybody switched off the television sets.
Tendulkar played a patient knock but went back at very key moment. And then came the historic moment of the match. Two of the local players (to everybody's surprise there were 6 players from Karnataka in that Team... Anybody remembers Sujith Somsundar) started hitting ball around. Whosoever watching that game after Sachin's dismissal, were shell-shocked as nobody has ever seen a wagging Indian tail and that too against the likes of Mcgraths, Flemings and Gillespis. Thereon, It was one great experience to cherish for lifetime.
From that match every cricket fan will always remember one face from crowd, It was Kumble's mother. Every run that was taken brought forward a brilliant new expression from Anil Kumble’s mother. Suddenly, this wasn’t merely a contest between two teams, it was a mother willing her son on towards victory. She was really enjoying her son's heroics. It wasnt just that one mother, with every expression and anxiety on her face, all other India mothers were praying for victory. With last run scored there was kind of jubilation in households. At my home, my mother, my Mavashi, my Maami, everybody was as happy as never before.
Already it was a festival day, and such a memorable victory made my day.