Winning and losing....its in the head.

There was a time when a group of 11 athletes strode the earth like giants. When they touched their bats, they turned into swords with which they slayed bowlers around the world. When they hurled the ball on the pitch, midway it became a grenade which would blow the batsmen off their feet and when they fielded they pounced on the ball like hungry ( and wild) cats, who never missed their prey. They intimidated their opposition not only with their skills but also with their walk and their talk. They believed that they were invincible, in fact in competitive sports, where there is winning as well as losing, they just knew one word and that was ...........dont need to say it. Since they beleived they were invincible, the whole world beleived they were invincible.

Teams would give up against Australia even before the game had begun. I guess the Aussies would be getting up from their beds and straightaway be practising, not cricket but their man-of-the match award winning speeches. Then slowly, the aura began to fade after India affected a historic turn-around in the 2001 series. Still the Aussies beleived that they were invincible, then came the 2004 series in Australia where the believed that they would eat us raw. But India under the leadership of its charismatic leader, Dada drew the series and hurt the Aussie pride like never before. We spoilt the last series of one of Australia's greatest captains, Steve Waugh or Tugga as he was lovingly known. Now, the Aussies started bleiving that India was the team to beat. Suddenly from just visualising victories, they had started to visualise drawn matches. They had started to beleive deep down in their mind that India could defeat them and hence, India did. They had started beleiving their doubts and doubting their beleifs. With the defeat against India yesterday, life has come circle for the Aussies. Once, when they took to the cricket field, they knew they were going to win. Today, they play to make sure that they dont loose. India on the other hand beleive that, only they can win and since they beleive, only they will. The tide is turning or rather its turning in the mind. Hail the new champions ( at least for the present moment)- TEAM INDIA.