Date: September 15th, 2012.
Location: Galle Face Green, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Event: Pre-tournament Festival.
The Indian Ocean crashed against the promenade with a rhythmic, salt-sprayed thunder, but the sound was easily drowned out by the roar of thousands of fans gathered for the opening festival of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. The air in Colombo was a physical weight—thick, humid, and smelling of cinnamon, street food, and electric anticipation.
Everywhere you looked, the mascots of the tournament, the "Lions," were being paraded. The city had transformed into a kaleidoscope of the twelve competing nations. You saw the emerald green of Pakistan, the canary yellow of Australia, the maroon of the surging West Indies, and of course, the overwhelming, deafening tide of the "Bleed Blue" Indian contingent, who had practically taken over every hotel in a five-mile radius.
On the streets, auto-rickshaw drivers debated batting averages in broken English with foreign tourists, while local vendors sold knock-off jerseys at a premium. In a makeshift broadcast studio overlooking the ocean, the "Golden Voice" of cricket prepared for a marathon session.
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Show: The World T20 Preview.
Panel: Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Nasser Hussain, and Ian Bishop.
Ravi Shastri: "Welcome to the island of dreams! We are in Colombo, the sun is setting over the Galle Face, and in forty-eight hours, the shortest format will crown a new king. This is the 2012 World T20, and I've got a panel here that knows exactly what it takes to win on the big stage. Nasser, let's start with you. Is this the most open World Cup we've ever seen?"
Nasser Hussain: "Absolutely, Ravi. You look at the top six teams, and you can't find a cigarette paper between them. Usually, you have one clear favorite, but here? You have a West Indies side that finally looks like they enjoy playing with each other. You have a Pakistan side that has the best spin attack in the world. And then... you have the Indian juggernaut."
Sunil Gavaskar: "It's not just a juggernaut, Nasser. It's a team that has forgotten how to lose in ICC finals. Since 2009, India has been a different beast. They have the 2009 T20 title, the 2010 Champions Trophy, and the 2011 World Cup. They are chasing the 'Quadruple' of modern cricket. They want to hold the ODI and T20 trophies simultaneously."
Ian Bishop: "The difference this year for India is the balance of power. For years, we talked about Sachin, Sehwag, and Dhoni. But look at them now. You have Virat Kohli, who is in the form of his life. You have Rohit Sharma, whom Siddanth Deva has successfully reinvented as a world-class opener. And then, you have the Vice-Captain himself."
Ravi Shastri: "Siddanth Deva. The Devil. The Nawab. Call him what you want, but the man is a walking cheat code. He just came off that tour of Sri Lanka where he looked like he was playing a different sport. is there a chink in the armor?"
Nasser Hussain: "I don't think so. We saw him in the warm-ups yesterday against Afghanistan. He looked like a man who had spent two months in a laboratory being rebuilt for speed."
Sunil Gavaskar: "He looks leaner, denser. But the tactical move is what fascinates me. Dhoni and Deva have decided to stick with Rohit at the top. This allows Deva to bat at Number 4. It's the ultimate security blanket. If the top order fails, Deva anchors. If the top order fires, Deva finishes. It's a lose-lose situation for the bowlers."
Ian Bishop: "Let's talk about the others. My boys from the Caribbean. Chris Gayle is back. Sunil Narine is a mystery no one has solved yet. Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo are finishing games for fun. On these slow Lankan tracks, the West Indies are my dark horses. They have 'Gangnam Style' energy!"
Ravi Shastri: "And don't count out the hosts! Mahela and Sanga are playing in their backyard. Lasith Malinga knows these decks better than his own home. They've lost the last few finals they've played—they are hungry to break the jinx."
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Location: The Lord Nelson Pub, Sydney, Australia.
The pub was packed with yellow jerseys, the smell of stale beer, and heated arguments.
Aussie Fan 1: "I'm tellin' ya, mate. Shane Watson is the key. If he and Warner get us to 60 in the Powerplay, no one's stopping us. Not even that Deva kid."
Aussie Fan 2: "Deva is scary, though. Did you see what he did to us at the MCG? He's got that look in his eyes, like he's already won and he's just waiting for the match to catch up. Our bowlers need to hit his toes early. If he gets set, it's curtains."
English Expat (interjecting): "You Aussies are dreaming. Broad and Finn will bounce them out. India can't play the short ball when the pressure is on!"
Aussie Fan 1: "Mate, Deva hooked Broad into the stands at Lord's. Shut up and drink your pint."
Location: A Kottu Roti Stall, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The rhythmic clatter of metal blades chopping roti on a hot griddle provided the soundtrack for the local experts.
Lankan Fan 1: "Malli, this is it. Sanga and Mahela, this is their last World T20 at home. Malinga's yorkers are perfect right now. Ajantha Mendis is back. We have the spin to choke anyone."
Lankan Fan 2: "I am praying we don't face India in the knockouts. Rohit Sharma bats like he is sleeping, but the ball still goes for four. And Deva? Deva hates our bowlers. He broke Kulasekara's confidence last time. We need to play West Indies in the final, not India."
Location: A Dhaba in Lahore, Pakistan.
Pakistani Fan 1: "Ajmal will eat them alive. Did you see the turn he got in the practice match? The 'doosra' is coming, and Kohli won't see it. And Afridi... if Lala hits three sixes, the match is over."
Pakistani Fan 2: "Bhai, we have to get Deva early. Last year in Mohali, he broke our hearts. Then in the Asia Cup, he broke our stumps. He is the Shaitan (Devil) for a reason. If we don't take his wicket in the first five balls he faces, we should just start the bus."
Location: A Cafe in Hitech City, Hyderabad, India.
A group of college students in blue jerseys were gathered around a laptop, ignoring their assignments.
Indian Fan 1: "It's our year. We have the Rohit at the top, the King at 3, and the Devil at 4. It's the most legendary middle order in history."
Indian Fan 2: "I don't care about batting order, I want the Cup! Yuvraj is back! That's the emotional fuel we need. After what he's been through... seeing him hit a six will be better than the trophy itself. India to win, 100%."
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As the tournament countdown hit the 48-hour mark, Twitter and Facebook became a global battlefield. The hashtags #T20WorldCup and #BleedBlue were trending in the top 5 worldwide.
Memes were spreading like wildfire—the most popular being a photoshopped image of Siddanth Deva as the Terminator, holding a glowing cricket bat with the caption: "I'll be batting."
@CricketKing18: "Rohit Sharma as opener is the best tactical move India has made since 2007. 🏏👊 #IndiaIndia #T20WC"
@TheWindiesWay: "Gayleforce is coming to Sri Lanka! 🌪️🌴 Hide your bowlers, hide your kids, hide your windows! The trophy is coming to the Caribbean! #RallyRoundTheWestIndies #Champions"
@MalingaMagic: "In our home, under our lights. Mahela and Sanga deserve a fairytale ending. Malinga's yorkers are ready for Deva's toes! 🇱🇰🦁 #SriLankaRoar #AsiaKings"
@Afridi_Fan_Club: "Boom Boom is back! 💣 Pakistan's bowling is the best in the world. Ajmal + Afridi + Hafeez = No runs for India! 🇵🇰💪 #GreenPower #Unstoppable"
A/n: They are delusional
@Cricbuzz: "Looking at the squads. India is the team to beat. Deva and Dhoni in the death overs is just unfair. But keep an eye on the West Indies. They have the X-factor this year. Gonna be a cracker! 🇮🇳"
@ViruLover_99: "Sehwag and Rohit opening? It's illegal! Two players who don't know the meaning of 'defensive'. 100 runs in the Powerplay incoming! 🇮🇳🔥 #FearlessIndia"
@StatsGuru_T20: "STAT: Siddanth Deva has the highest strike rate (210.5) and the lowest economy rate (6.2) in T20 Internationals over the last 12 months. He is the only player to occupy the Top 5 of both batting and bowling rankings. #Anomaly #TheDevil"
@MahiWay_07: "Dhoni's calm + Deva's passion + Kohli's fire = Undefeated Champions. The math is simple. 🏆🇮🇳 #DhoniDevaEra #AsiaCupWinners"
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The Sugathadasa Stadium was a riot of laser lights and traditional Lankan fire dancers. As the ten captains walked out onto the podium, the noise was a visceral, physical force.
When the announcer boomed, "And the defending ODI World Champions... INDIA!", the stadium shook.
MS Dhoni walked out, holding the hand of a local child. Walking a step behind him, representing the new guard, was Siddanth Deva. He looked around the stadium. He saw the "Devil" masks in the crowd. He saw the banners. He felt the weight of being Vice-Captain.
He looked at the sky. 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world according to some ancient calendar.
Deva adjusted his collar. If the world is ending, he thought, we might as well go out as champions.