The Z-A of the WC

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Z- Zaheer Khan: India’s bowling was to be its Achilles’ heel. Zak’s 21 scalps ensured it wasn’t so.

Y - Yardy: England’s Michael Yardy flew back from England’s spluttering WC campaign citing depression. Was the said spluttering campaign the cause?

X - X-factor: The nameless quality that separated the champions from their challengers.

W - Wankhede: For giving us the best World Cup final ever.

V - Vettori: Dan the man inspired New Zealand to punch above their weight, yet again.

U - UDRS: The Umpire Decision Review System is what needs to be reviewed — the lesson this World Cup taught us.

T - Tendulkar: After 22 long years, he finally has the one item his trophy cabinet had been missing.

S - Sidhu: Whatever would we have done if not for Navjot Sidhu’s mastery with the mike? Watched cricket?

R - R. Ashwin: For providing a mystery that will baffle experts for years: Just what did he do to ensure he never got picked.

Q - Questions: That continue to be raised over the future of the associate nations in the WC.

P - Powerplay: For proving to be the only foe India couldn’t conquer.

O - O’Brien: The name’s O’Brien. Kevin O’Brien. 113 runs off 63 balls that brought England down to their knees. Innings of the World Cup. Pink hair. What more could a man ask for?

N - Nehra: For ensuring in the match against South Africa that he shall never get the last over of the match ever again.

M - Muralitharan: The legend who, couldn’t unfortunately, retire on a winning note.

L - Lalit Modi: Conspicuous by his absence. No talks of the IPL and no after-parties. Except for one stray joke doing the rounds that if Modi was in charge, there would have been an auction for the trophy itself!

K - Kapil’s Devils: Who will finally, after 28 long years, be replaced by Dhoni’s devils.

J - Juggernaut: That was Australia, coming to a shuddering halt at the World Cup. First Pakistan broke their unbeaten record, then India sent them packing.

I - India: For becoming the first country to win the WC on home soil.

H - Haroon Lorgat: For having his foot permanently in his mouth.

G - Gambhir: For coming three runs away from history. And then asking history to move on.

F - Fifty over cricket: Waging a losing popularity battle, the F50 format made a roaring comeback with the World Cup.

E - England: The Ashes and last year’s T20 victory misled us. England continue to flatter to deceive.

D - Dhoni: Captain Cool Dhoni fully justified the tag given to him with one of the best innings of his career.

C - Choke: What South Africa did against the Kiwis. Yet again.

B - Bangladesh: For providing the dreary group stages with some excitement.

A - Australia: Which is where we shall see you in 2015. So long!