Quieter the support, louder the victory

Indians of the type who believe there is only one way of doing things - their way - were astounded to find a video clip of Australia's World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins trundle out of Sydney airport to be greeted by a handful of photojournalists. And a burly man in a suit waiting to drive him home. Similar images emerged of other members of the Aussie cricket champions returning from India back home. Behind many of the tittering comments from social mediators from our Cricket-Crazistan was being astounded by how no one in Australia was making a huge deal out of what Indians would have made a huge deal out of if India had lifted the trophy last Sunday. Some have tried to give the reception the spin: 'Look, you guys can't get the fan adulation even after winning a World Cup. You would have got it if you were Indian.'

So, here's the thing - the Australian cricket team proved itself to be the best in the world despite not having one-sixth of the world's human population chanting prayers in their name or cheering them on. Their fuel was found in the sport itself. With cricket behind Australian rules football, rugby, football, the matter has less to do with correlation between cricketer support and cricket performance than thought of. Going bonkers for your country automatically making the team World Cup champs has, once again, been busted.