Featured Image: Deaf and Dumb Children dancing at the 75th Kila Raipur Sports Festival, February 2011
We come from all corners of the world, but we are Punjabis at heart. When we lost, our lion hearts never sank and when we won, we celebrated in style. Today, Andar ki Baat provides you a little insight into how the Kings won and then celebrated at Deccan’s Den.
1. Dhoom Macha Le
It has been said that winning is a process and does not necessarily depend on a moment or two of genius. Being Kings and Lions at that, we decided to hunt. First, we let the prey relax and think they were in safe green pastures. Then in the shape of four Paul wickets and an overall excellent last ten overs bowling performance, we had them nicely in our sights and feeling uneasy. When it was our turn to bat, we went for the kill. Their famed bowling line-up was bitten hard in the neck and then brought down to the floor with the beauty and thrill of an Animal Planet documentary. Steyn was stunned, Ishant was shunted and Goni was a goner. Unko bhi yaad rahega ki Gilli ka danda pada aur Paul se paala pada.
2. Jhappiyan Pa Le
It began with manic, dancing by the handful of the King’s Army that was outshouting the packed locals at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad. It soon gave way to fist-pumping, high-fives, back-slapping and bear hugs which bears would be proud of. The dressing room resembled an Eid or Holi celebration with Galey-Milo appearing to be the theme. Of course, the sight of charged up sweaty men hugging each other tight at any other time would make women go Eeeeeeuuuuuu, but surely not in this instance. Evidence was seen some time later with many of the cheerleaders (even those from Deccan Chargers) eager to join in the jhappi exchanges, and for sure the players duly obliged.
3. Thoda Peg Sheg Laga Le
Let me clarify upfront that the operative word here is thoda. Some of our players do not mind a drink or two but they do mind three of them. The other point to be noted is that our team can clearly be divided into the Peg category and the Sheg category.
Not surprisingly most of the Aussies fall under the peg category, though a pint or two of beer can hardly be called that. Gilli sipped some vodka while still marveling at Paul’s brilliance while Rimmo just topped off his beer with a shot of kamikaze before calling it a night. PK dropped in with a few friends for a few minutes, consumed what can only be termed as a micro-mini-Patiala and was gone.
There were plenty in the Sheg category, sipping juice, cold drinks or just waiting for some Deccan players to turn up. I expected that there would be some mocking and fun but all that happened was shaking of hands and chit chat and bonhomie between players from both teams. Personally, I’m not such a gracious winner, I like to rub it in, but Sanga looks strong and Ishant is twice my height so I shut up and sipped my drink in a corner.
4. Te Bhangra Pa Le
With next day’s flight back to Chandigarh, not really being an early morning one, the dance floor found enough takers. The DJ obliged, by playing some peppy Punjabi music in Deccan territory and hips shook and shoulders moved. Mandeep Singh impressed one and all with his Bhangra and soon was teaching steps to Ryan Harris and Shaun Marsh and it passed on to a gang of girls as well.
5. O Yaara Dhol Baja Le
We got some great cheers in Hyderabad, even from those who support the Chargers. They do love Gilli but they love their cricket as well. However, the best was surely saved for the last. On landing in Chandigarh and reaching our hotel, after a long day’s flight, we were welcomed with dhol dhamaka, garlands and a lobby-full of cheering fans. It was fun, and motivation enough to keep repeating this performance many times over. But the one question that still rankles in our mind is for how long did Bhargav Bhatt convince David Miller that our welcome was in fact a wedding ceremony and that he was officially married to the lady who garlanded him.
