Ian Chappell: India's win of change!
Indian players celebrate the World Twenty20 victory after claiming the wicket of Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq (right) at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on September 24, 2007. With six required off four balls, Misbah mistimed his scoop shot at short fine-leg only to see the ball land in the hands of S Sreesanth. Pics/Getty Images/AFP
The similarities with 1975 were too great to ignore; a new form of the game being celebrated at world level with the two best teams reaching the final and then the last game producing a nail biting, cracker of a match.
In 1975, the great final ensured the future of the World Cup. This time winning the Twenty20 tournament means the world to an Indian team that has captured the imagination of the public by playing a brave, aggressive brand of cricket that only the innocence of youth can conjure up.
The jubilant Indian team celebrate India's World T20 triumph
Exemplary leadership
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership has been exemplary and refreshing; he plays with a smile on his face but a dagger at the ready. He is courageous but calm as a captain and his players obviously enjoy performing for him.
It won't always be smooth sailing for Dhoni as a captain but this win has earned him the right to greater honours and importantly gained him some time in the job.
However, the team's success may shorten the careers of some of India's senior players. The selectors have seen what youth can do with an opportunity and they've also witnessed a revitalised fielding side and this could mean the end is looming for some of the older players in the Limited Overs format. Time doesn't stand still and the moment is right to reward these young players with an extended trial in the fifty over matches coming up.
Dhoni has made any debate on the one-day captaincy superfluous and he may well have earned the right to the Test job. It will be a hard decision to give him the five-day captaincy, because the workload is enormous but he looks like a born leader.
Gautam Gambhir, RP Singh, Robin Uthappa and Piyush Chawla have all done enough to warrant an extended run in the 50 overs side.
Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag all appear to be sufficiently rehabilitated to again provide worthwhile contributions.
MS Dhoni with the World T20 trophy. India also won the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy under his captaincy
Impressive Rohit
In addition, Rohit Sharma has impressed in his limited opportunities and Dinesh Karthik's form in Test cricket suggests he could also succeed in the shorter game if he gets a chance in the opening position.
The gloom that enveloped the team after the World Cup debacle has been blown away with a display of booming fireworks, preceded by some brilliant cricket. India isn't the West Indies of 1975, a team that went on to become world champions but they've done enough to indicate a bright future beckons if the selectors grasp the nettle.
This piece appeared in mid-day on September 25, 2007
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