No buzz, no hype around India this T20 World Cup. And this isn’t a complaint.

Since the time, India got the hosting rights of the World Cup in 1987, it has unfailingly whipped up frenzy, gone unreasonably parochial, justifiably patriotic, sickeningly sentimental and clung to every fragile thread of hope for a India win. This time that optimism has been conspicuous by its absence. With time, as the many insignificant group games with minor teams get over, the party will expectedly warm up but right now India has not gone bonkers like it did when it hosted the Reliance World Cup.

Those were heady months — October and November of 1987. India, like it is now, had a real shot at winning back-to-back World Cup wins. The images of Indians on the Lord’s balcony after the 1983 win — Kapil lifting the Cup, Mohinder Amarnath waving, Srikkanth puffing away — had not yet faded. Fans wanted to see them from the stands, so did Kapil’s Devils. And India and Pakistan cricket boards — co-hosts — couldn’t believe how they had pulled off a coup. For the first-time ever a World Cup was taking place outside England.

The hosts would reach the semi-finals. India vs England in Mumbai, Pakistan vs Australia in Lahore. India vs Pakistan, a dream final, was to be a reality. Everything was planned. Pakistan would fly to Mumbai from Lahore. They would be joined by India and the two neighbours would fly to Kolkata on the same flight. It was too good to be true. It would be Australia vs England eventually but Kolkata came in droves to watch them.

When Kambli cried

The next time the World Cup came to our neck of the woods was during the miserable 90s, the dodgy decade when cricket at times looked scripted. This time it was co-hosted by India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka. There is an arresting image from that era that captures those times. It was of a sweaty, stressed Sachin Tendulkar, after the dismissal of his partner, waiting for the next batsman during a Sharjah game. In the background is the grainy image of the entire Pakistan team. The captain said: India’s one-man army. It was an army that delivered more often than not. So for the World Cup, India prayed Tendulkar would take them through. He almost did, till he got stumped. Then Kambli cried and flames went up at Eden.

Never before has India — hosts of countless ICC extravaganzas — been this indifferent about its team. (PTI Photo)

Tendulkar’s World Cup jinx would continue. 2003 he was close, 2007 he got nowhere close. And when in 2011, India got the joint-hosting rights again, Tendulkar was 38. Everyone and their neighbours wanted India to win it for Tendulkar. That would be the theme of excitement. So Sehwag hit a hundred for Tendulkar, Yuvraj played the knock of the tournament for Tendulkar, Dhoni hit the final six for Tendulkar and India dutifully won it for Tendulkar.

Heartbreak at the Wankhede

Five years later, in 2016, the ICC bandwagon was back in India — this time it was the T20 World Cup with MS Dhoni as the captain. That was the time, Virat Kohli had emerged from the 2014 slump and was riding a wave. India followed each of his sixes that sailed out of the ground, ran swift singles with him and almost breasted the tape with him. But they fell before that. In the semi-finals, a West Indian, a last-minute replacement Lendl Simmons,  played the innings of his life to out-do Virat’s stunning 89. Wankhede went silent that night — till then the country had roared from the first ball of the tournament.

Something similar happened in 2023, this time fans crossed their fingers for Rohit Sharma. In the prime of his youth, Rohit had been tragically left out of the 2011 World Cup squad. It had hurt him that he had missed out on the chance to lift the Cup at his Wankhede. As the tournament progressed, Rohit seemed to be winning the Cup for Rohit. Till his mishit landed in Travis Head’s hand. While batting he again showed, he had great hands.

Surya doesn’t carry on his shoulders the weight of expectations like previous captains Kapil, Azhar, Dhoni, Virat or Rohit. He isn’t in that league yet. Despite their stunning T20 record, there have been more discussions about his team’s few short-comings and less talk about their strengths. Sanju Samson vs Ishan Kishan is a debate that has got more traction than the depth in Surya’s team. Despite his incredible white-ball record as a coach, Gautam Gambhir has way too many enemies. Some don’t like his approach, others his politics. It’s this that has kept the team from the hype-machinery. And that is not a complaint.

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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