An emotional roller-coaster ride for family members
Some are in disbelief, while others can’t stop themselves from shedding tears of joy — emotionally overwhelmed family members of the World Cup winning Indian cricket team said the enormity of the triumph was yet to sink in even as they prepare for grand celebrations.
Father of Yuvraj Singh, Yograj, said he would shed tears of joy on his son’s shoulders once the star batsman returns home with his man of the series trophy for a stupendous run with both the bat and ball during the World Cup.
“I think I will hug him and probably weep over his shoulders ... he has made all of us so much proud,” Yograj said.
India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to lift their first World Cup trophy in 28 years on saturday night in Mumbai.
Struggling to fight back his emotions, Yograj recalled how he had forced Yuvraj to take up cricket despite his son’s liking for skating.
“God bless you son, you have made the nation and a father proud. It was my dream of 30 years to live for this moment. If ever there is a second birth, I will like you to be born as my son again so that I could give you all the happiness and comfort which I deprived you during your childhood to see you become a top cricketer,” Yograj said.
Dashing opener Virender Sehwag’s wife Aarti said she was so nervous watching the match that she saw only the last 15 overs of the Indian chase.
“I am very excited. I switched off the TV after he (Sehwag) got out. Switched it on only in the last 15 overs. But I had the intuition that we would win the World Cup,” she said.
Middle-order batsman Virat Kohli’s mother Saroj said the feeling is yet to sink in that her son was a part of a World Cup winning squad. “I am very happy. In fact I don’t have words to describe how I am feeling. I can’t believe what has happened. We will celebrate once he comes home,” she said.
Opener Gautam Gambhir’s parents, Deepak and Seema, said they couldn’t have asked for anything better from their son, who scored a brilliant 97 in the match.
“This team has played very well,” said Deepak.
“Gautam is a great player. I have no regrets about him missing the century. Today he was playing for the team. Everybody has to contribute. This is amazing,” said the doting mother.
