Mumbai: When India won the World Cup in 1983 under Kapil Dev, many called it a fluke, a one-time wonder. They had beaten the two-time World Cup champions – West Indies. It required a mammoth effort to uproot the dynasty of a team that had Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and the likes. Much to everyone’s surprise, the same team also reached the semifinals of the World Cup in 1987. Rings a bell?
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The story of Mahendra Singh Dhoni isn’t different. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly took a leaf out of Kapil’s book and passed it on to Dhoni and he did not disappoint. India triumphed in ICC World Cup 2011 but ever since that glory, no asset barring the Champions Trophy kissed their luck. And in 2015, well, the fable halted at the semifinal.
It is unlikely that Dhoni to continue till the next mega event in 2019. In fact, he may announce retirement any moment. So how long does Team India have to wait to clinch the next world title? Well, the math is simple – 14 years.
Champions in 1983, semifinalists in 1987 and champions again in 2011.
So, 2029 seems to be the year. But there is no World Cup that year. So, it is likely to be in 2027.
But the 14-year gap proved lucky in 2011. What if the change in numbers halt Team India's run? Well, all the Indian team need now is a leader to succeed the successful Dhoni.
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Captains come and go, but the champagne on ice is never royal unless somebody of Dhoni’s grandeur or Sourav’s grit take over the proceedings. Virat Kohli is the newly-formed Test captain and is likely to succeed Dhoni but class, as they say, is permanent.
Kohli is a youngster and has miles to go before he sleeps on the same pedestal with these legends but one can only hope. The 26-year-old will be 38 in 2027. Will he carry on till then? Is he going to justify his comparison with Sachin Tendulkar?
Time is the best judge, as well as, the healer.
But on a positive note, the mega event will be staged once again in the subcontinent in 2023.
