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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Cricket World Cup:Indian and Sri lankan media reaction

India's newspapers delighted in the national team's victory over Sri Lanka in the World Cup final on Saturday , heaping praise on their players.


"Windia!" screamed the Indian Express, while the mail today ran the headline "Cup of Joy" over a picture of the team being soaked in champagne.

     The Time of India said: The players had "the World at their Feet".

   The Hindustan Times Covered its front page with a photo of the joyous players besides a banner stating "Champions".

      India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Mumbai, becoming the first team to win the World Cup on home soil after chasing down the highest-ever total in a final.
                                                                 It was the cricket-mad nation's first World Cup victory since 1983.

"Men who make history defy all the odds,"the Hindustan Times said. The win was "a resounding announcement of India's official coronation as the World's best team."

India president Pratibha patil also praised the team, saying it "deserved the thanks  of a billion plus Indians."

   Several papers reserved the highest praise for Dhoni, who clinched the win with a massive six into the stands to finish 91 not out.

There were also plenty of column inches dedicated to Sachin Tendulkar , the legendary India batsman who finally crowned his career with World cup success at the sixth attempt.

     Tendulkar, who only scored 18 runs with the bat, shed tears of joy after the victory was sealed in his home city.


Not surprisingly, Sri Lankan press reaction struck a different chord, with several papers questioning the wisdom of making four changes for the final, Only one of which was enforced by injury.

"Who picked the final XI of the Sri Lankan team for the World Cup final against India?" the state-run Sunday Observer asked.

It questioned the wisdom of dropping Ajantha Mendis in favor of fellow off-spinner S Randiv, who had only joined the squad the previous day as an injury replacement, and playing veteran Muttiah Muralitharan, who had been struggling throughout the tournament with injuries.

"was it advisable playing a half-fit Muralitharan?"the Observer added. "Winning the mega final is much more important than giving a farewell tribute to even a great cricketer of Muralitharan's magnitude."

   The privately-run Sunday Times of Colombo said the World Cup loss should prompt a clean-up of the game's administration in Sri Lanka.

The Nation was more sympathetic towards the players, running with the front-page headline "Lost, but not shamed!"

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka paceman  L Malinga told state-run TV that his World Cup career is over.

The 27-year-old, who removed both India openers cheaply to give Sri Lanka hope, Said: " I hope to be service to my team as long as I can,but I won't be able to play in the next World Cup in 2015.

"I have been carrying injuries for the past few weeks and with little rest. I ask the youngsters to play well in the next World Cup."

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