'I Do Have Regrets..'

'...about not playing in the final, but more importantly, I'm proud of the fact that we won the World Cup after being written off by everyone!'

Dilip Vengsarkar

Updated on: 24 June 2008 12:00 am

'I Do Have Regrets..'

Outlook talked with several World Cup stars to discuss the key moments ofthe final and the tournament. Excerpts

It was a tremendous feeling. We were never considered favourites, our recordin ODI cricket until then was not great. After that, beating all the top teamsin the world was unbelievable. Beating West Indies twice was an amazingperformance.

In any sport, after a win of this magnitude, the game becomes popularised. Andthat's what happened with cricket in India.

I missed the later part of the tournament after being hit by Malcolm Marshall atthe Oval. It seems like yesterday -- we were chasing around 280, and were around90 for two, I was batting with Amarnath. We were cruising at that stage. We hadbeaten them in the first game, and we were confident. Then I got injured --Marshall bowled a bouncer and I got hit on the face. I was told I would be fitfor the semifinals, and I was fit too… but by then the team was settled and itwas not fair to change it.

Yes, I do have regrets about not playing in the final, but more importantly, I'mproud of the fact that we won the World Cup after being written off by everyone!

(As told to Rohit Mahajan)