Monday 26th October 2009
The happenings at the hotel that night
The Hyderabad hotel, where the two finalists of the Airtel CL T20 were putting up was a scene of jubilation on Friday night.
By Rajarshi Gupta
There was a deathly silence amongst the otherwise loud and chirpy Red Brigade, which travelled with the Trinidad and Tobago right through to the finals of the Airtel Champions League Twenty20.
One of the most ardent supporters in the group, an elderly gentleman, with an undying passion for anything Trinidadian was fuming.
Finishing second was just not good enough: "These guys did not try hard enough. I have been in this country (T&T) for the last 30 years and every time, this has been the same story.
The team just cannot put it across in the final."
At another end of the lobby, the hotel staff had arranged for a luscious cake for the victorious New South Wales Blues. The words gave it away: Congratulations New South Wales Blues."
The two waiters, who stood by it did not look too enthused either. "We wanted the Trinidad and Tobago to win. They had become the local flavour after the Deccan Chargers crashed out."
The calm of the night was shattered by the sirens of police escort vehicles as the two team buses screeched to a halt at the portico.
The Brigade had trickled out by then and gathered around the first bus. Loud cheers rendered the air as the men in Red deboarded.
The next minutes were a lesson in faithfulness. For a casual onlooker, it would have been no surprise to imagine the Trinidad and Tobago as champions of the most high profile T20 tournament.
Ever player from skipper Darren Ganga to newbie William Perkins (who looked disgruntled after perishing to a poor short in the first over) was embraced by the fans and families.
They were there for the team, in triumph or in defeat.
The team did not look too perturbed after all. Each of them had accepted their fate. It was a well fought final and the better team won.
It was time for the champions to take stage. There was no one to usher in the Blues except a handful of the hotel welcome party.
Simon Katich and his men walked in one after the other, with their prizes, cheques and the victors' medals.
Just when you thought that was not the kind of seclusion a super team deserved, the Red Brigade applauded loudly, congratulating the Aussies and acknowledging their superiority that night.
Once the teams had safely arrived at the hotel, they headed to the dance floor for one final party. The drinks and the fun that was to follow was well deserved.
Grab the espnstar.com cricket widget on your favourite social network
Join us on Facebook