My Top 5 Sporting moments from 2022

Chris

Dec 31

5. Federer saying Goodbye

For one whole week post the Laver Cup, I was reading articles on Federer. The beauty and the artistry of the Federer game, which my eyes could never appreciate, came alive in the exquisitely crafted words of writers and reporters from all over the English-speaking world.

4. Messi duping Gvardiol

When the World Cup started, I was like, "Let me finally see, what's this big deal about Messi". I had never followed Messi or Ronaldo all these years. As far as I was concerned, their exploits were happening in a parallel world. My loss, I know. I got my answer starting from the Mexico match itself. He is a master of space and time. He sees angles and gaps in the football field faster and reacts quicker than most other footballers. And that makes all the difference. Him going past Croatia's world-class defender Josko Gvardiol, to deliver an assist which resulted in a goal was, for lack of a better word, incredible.

3. Emiliano Martinez 120+3' save against France

English has a word for the provocative antics shown by Martinez on the pitch and sometimes off it: shithousery. But I doubt, any language has the right word to describe Martinez approaching the French Forward spread-eagled in what would have been a goal 9 times out of 10. And, given that it happened at the death, at 120+3', there would have been no chance for an Argentinian fightback. Martinez steadied the hands of Fate writing Messi's destiny. Instead of a Golden Glove, FIFA should have awarded him two gold-plaited balls of steel.

2. Kohli hitting Rauf for consecutive Sixes

I don't automatically like guys like Kohli and Djokovic. The brash, cocky, irreverent side to their character speaks louder than their steely resolve and sheer dedication. I want my heroes to be like Sachin and Nadal - polite, humble and gracious, even if it's a bit put-on. India v Pakistan at the World Cup, at the MCG, after the Asia Cup setback, was one match India should never have lost. The Universe was tilted to one side and it needed correction. And only an Indian victory could do that. But India looked set to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Till Kohli did what only he could do. In my opinion, only Steve Waugh could have pulled off what Kohli did that memorable night. But I am not so sure. The wounds of that Miandad Six against Chetan Sharma all those years ago have properly healed now. What about Kohli's brash, cocky, irreverent side? My opinion doesn't even matter. All his haters, that night, would have been like that gang leader grudgingly paying respect to Omkara at the end of a fight (in the movie by the same name): "Are O Omi, tu hi sabse bada bahubali hai.. tere toh peshaab se bhi chirag jaale hai poore pardes mein" (O Omkara! You truly are the one true king! Even your urine lights the lamps around the world!)

1. Nadal recovering from 2-6, 6-7, 2-3 (0-40)

Medvedev was coming into the Australian Open having been crowned the US Open champion just a couple of months earlier. And he had beaten none other than Djokovic there. The momentum was clearly with Medvedev. And he systematically went about dismantling Nadal's game in the first set. For us fans, it was as if nails were driven into the coffin. I remember thinking to myself, 'Maybe this is it. This is the end. With this match, the NextGen will begin to believe that Nadal can be beaten. Even at the Grand Slams. Even at Rolland Garros.' The second set was closer. But the result was the same. And at 2-3/0-40 down in the third set, I was truly in despair. I was looking at the screen and saying, 'Thank you, Nadal. Thanks for all the memories. You are still my champion, my GOAT'. Shortly thereafter, my wife was startled awake from her sleep, hearing my roar. Switching on the lights, she saw me throwing my fists around mouthing 'Vamos! Vamos!' After ensuring this was not some epileptic fit, she shouted me off to the drawing room. Drawing room? I so wanted to be in Melbourne then and there. And what a comeback it turned out to be! I have never seen anyone pushing the limits of mind and body like Rafa does. And he did it. Yet again. He is not God, I know. But he is not human either. That night, I was bathed in ecstasy. It was a religious experience.