So near yet so far

It was indeed a heartbreak of a loss. After displaying a magnificent performance against the host to reach the final of the Nidahas Trophy, the much-hoped-for first win in a T20 final has once again evaded our men in green and red. But there is no ignominy in a loss where the match decider comes in the last ball of the game, and that too against the topmost team in the world. It was satisfying to see the Tigers defending a total which, given India's record of chasing big totals, was not very large. But it was well defended.

One could rue many things like what if Mahmudullah was not run out but had stayed on till the last and added a few more runs to the total. Or what if Rubel had not conceded 22, but only 20 runs, in that over. We might have won by two runs. But who could predict that our most successful bowler would be taken to the cleaners in the last over? And that only justifies the appellation that the followers of the game have given to cricket—it being a game of glorious uncertainty.

But we can feel proud of the overall display of our men on the field. Their performance has even elicited praise from the Indians who have conceded that they were made to fight all the way. There are lessons in every adversity as there are many things to learn from a loss like this. We have a talented team and we are confident that it will mature into an all-round outfit in due course of time, hopefully in very near future.