Hot topic
Sir — Climate change spares no one, not even the giants of history. A six-foot-tall wax statue of the former president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, melted in parts amidst the ongoing heatwave in Washington D.C. Interpretations of his melted pose ranged from jokes about work-related irritation to the rising heat. But what stood out was people’s engagement with the artwork. Art presented in museums and galleries is expected to be viewed from a distance. They are intended to awe and dazzle, but rarely initiate a dialogue. But the heat has thawed this awe and got people talking about art.
Chandrika Lahiri, Calcutta
World champions
Sir — The Men in Blue ended a 17-year wait to lift the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday (“Finally, the world in our hands”, June 30). The final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa had a nail-biting finish. Rohit Sharma has certainly proven himself to be an able captain. Every other player on the team, too, contributed significantly to this win, not to mention the coaching and the support staff. The team worked really hard to achieve this stunning victory; they deserve all the credit for lifting
that trophy.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir — Both India and South Africa went into Saturday’s final of the T20 World Cup undefeated and had an equal chance of winning. And even though it seemed as if the Indian team was in trouble at first, Virat Kohli’s superb innings and the last five overs of the match turned the tide in India’s favour. Among the Proteas, Heinrich Klaasen put up a stellar show and must be congratulated for his innings. The stunning catch by Surya Kumar Yadav deserves special mention, especially since it came at a time when the situation was tense.
Khokan Das, Calcutta
Sir — The Indian team deserves every accolade that is being heaped on it. India were indomitable and focussed throughout the tournament, holding their nerves at crucial junctures. For a while on Saturday, it seemed like the country would witness a rerun of the one-day international World Cup where India was undefeated until the final match. But it is heartening that Team India broke that jinx. Chak de India!
M. Rishidev, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu
Sir — India pulled off a sensational seven-run win against South Africa in the gripping final of the T20 World Cup. With 30 needed from 30 balls, six wickets in hand and a dangerous Heinrich Klaasen leading the charge, the Proteas looked all set for their first ever World Cup triumph. But India made a comeback from the 16th over, courtesy of a brilliant yorker from Hardik Pandya. The Proteas lost five wickets for just 27 runs in the final overs.
The celebration was bittersweet, though, as two pillars of Indian cricket bid adieu to T20 internationals. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game in international cricket. They will inspire many future generations of cricketers.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
Sir — The pressure on the Indian players was starkly evident at Kensington Oval stadium in Barbados. But in the end, the persistence of the Indian coach, Rahul Dravid, and his decision to back Rohit Sharma as the captain paid off. Dravid and Sharma effectively led a diverse group of star players. One also cannot help but observe that the team owes much of its success to the crucial lessons that the players learnt about handling pressure during the Indian Premier League matches. The brilliant catch by Surya Kumar Yadav is proof of this.
Vijaykumar H.K., Raichur
Sir — The final of the T20 World Cup was extra special and India’s victory in it that much sweeter because it was also the final match for a stalwart of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid, the coach of the men’s side. Dravid had not won a World Cup in his playing career and this victory was the perfect send-off for him. Two other giants of the game, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, too, announced their retirement from T20Is. Sharma’s tactical brilliance and Kohli’s consistent performances have been instrumental to India’s cricketing success over the years.
Bishal Kumar Saha, Murshidabad
Sir — The raw emotions on the faces of the Indian side revealed just how much this win meant to the team. Hardik Pandya’s final over and Surya Kumar Yadav’s catch will forever be etched in the minds of those who witnessed history in the making.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Sir — As the Indian team bids farewell to the head coach, Rahul Dravid, it would be instructive to analyse the impact he has had on some of the players in the team. He shaped the careers of Rishabh Pant and Arshdeep Singh at the under-19 level, Hardik Pandya at the India A level and even the two big-wigs, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as their captain and then their coach. Dravid’s contribution to the success of the present Indian side — and not just in the World Cup — is thus immense.
Pratima Manimala, Howrah
