Champions VS Champions

Yes Indian Cricket team has made us proud again by winning the Champions Trophy defeating all other teams that looked nowhere close to putting on any kind of fight. Besides England and Sri Lanka I don't think any team was even in the race, nevertheless Sri Lanka and the Host themselves were not on their best game when they needed it. On the other hand, lucky India managed to come out winners from some really tight situations, not to mention the 65 for 5 in the twenty over finals itself.  

Today is the 25th anniversary of our 1983 heros, who managed to beat the then two times champions West Indies and win the World Cup for India. Yeah its all happening for an Indian cricket fan and enthusiast... first the IPL, then watching our young National Cricket team remain unbeaten in the Champions Trophy and two days later celebrate the 1983 World Cup win with another peg, lol cant get better than this can it ?    

But this not about these champions vs those champions ... this post is about preset vs present.  with our current team doing so well in England conditions, our young pacers happily surprising us in the  opening overs, our spinner killing it in the middle overs, our new opening bating combination working, middle order, well, firing when needed ... I doubt there is gonna be any change in the team for the coming West Indies series and the other upcoming tournaments. Which means the Yuvis, Harbajans, Gambhirs, Shewags, Pathans, I fear even Zaheers might have a hard time finding their spots in the team again unless some injury or selectors decide that they need to have them in the Test side. Ishan Sharma however, a lucky fu**er that he is has really had a bright series in England, courtesy - the other bowlers who really kept it tight and allowed even Dhoni to bowl like he'd been bowling all his life.      

With new players getting spotted in the IPL (for the right and wrong reasons) Cricket has really become competitive, players can no longer take their spots in the team for granted. New skills , new talent,  young bodies and ideas have taken over.
I still doubt these England pitches we played on, may be West Indies pitches will be the real test, but I no longer think India has a weak pace attack now. Our fast bowlers have really shown skill and speed (and so have our spinners). Teams like Australia are also in the transformation phase, but they have never looked so invincible away or even at home for that matter.

I dont think we'l see Shweag or Harbajan or Yuvi play one day cricket anymore.. I doubt the selectors will consider them again. but I am really glad to see the new guns firing.  We shall always miss and remember our old champions who have made us proud at several occasions, while we cheer for our new champions in the days to come.