February 16

Land at KL airport, get new SIM card and exchange few dollar notes for several plastic coated ringets. Cricket-challenged cabbie isn’t the kind who can feature in a diary item. Takes new highway and reaches hotel in no time. Election fever all over, no symptoms of cricket World Cup around. Dav Whatmore gives the first feel of the junior World Cup — while answering media queries in mono-syllables, he calls skipper Virat Kohli ‘son’.

February 17

India’s first opponents are boys from Papua New Guinea. Even the waiter at Alladin, the Indian eating place outside the stadium, knows it’s going to be a cakewalk. Some of the PNG boys can’t afford going to school, none of them has ever played on a turf wicket, nor are they used to wearing spikes. The Indians turn up in branded shoes and have logos on their bats arranged by their agents. It’s a no-contest. Tanmay Srivastava scores 83, but isn’t overtly excited. Can’t be... he has scored a hundred in a Ranji final as well.

February 18

The Indians are disciplined on the field, and off it as well. “They are good boys,” says manager Gopal Bose. “Ask them to get to the team bus at seven and they’re all in the lobby by 6:45,” says asst manager Hitesh Patel. Hectic net session, it’s South Africa next.

February 19

Surprisingly easy win, but Whatmore isn’t pleased about something. South African 12th man Sybrand Engelbrecht is on the field for all 50 overs. The world comes to know about the new Jonty much later in the tournament, but Whatmore has spotted him already.

February 20

Selector Rakesh Parikh wants a haircut, the team is asking ‘what to wear’ questions and the manager is busy making calls. The Indians have been invited by the High Commissioner. At the nets, ’keeper Shreevats Goswami gets hit on the head by a stray ball. The think-tank rushes to him. It’s a false alarm, Shreevats is smiling. Asked 20 times about the IPL auction. Twenty times say “don’t know”.

February 21

Million-dollar auction is a reminder to change a couple of 100 dollar bills. The players are tight-lipped about the auction but someone whispers that Tanmay has got a call from Shah Rukh Khan. “No, it was a board official from UP,” someone counters. Repeatedly asked “How much will I get?” Religiously say “don’t know”.

February 22

Could have told Virat Kohli “about a million” yesterday, as he plays a knock of the tournament against the West Indies. 100 from 74 balls, and the flora and fauna around Kinrara felt threatened. South African team cheers from fence as India’s win takes them to quarters. As Shreevats flicks a throw over his head on to stumps; South African coach calls one his wards to have a look. Indians are making heads turn.

February 23

Hear a funny thing about India’s two main run-getters Virat and Tanmay. Since Virat is called Viru, they have started calling Tanmay — you guessed it — Jai. It fits them perfectly, a member of the team says. Virat is the more exuberant and outgoing, while Tanmay is a boy of few words — just like Sholay’s superstars. These are early signs of a blockbuster.

February 24

Viru gets candid, saying his team doesn’t get along with the English. “They are too snooty.” Since they happen to be their quarter-final opponents, there is no respite for England. A big win for India follows, this time opener Taruwar Kohli comes to the party.

February 25

Watch Pakistan’s first match, and with the game just six balls old, sight a pacer with a big in-swinger. But coach Mansoor Rana says Adil Raza isn’t the best bowler in the squad. He points to weak-looking boy with a hospital tag around his wrist. “He is Amir Mohammad, and very soon you will see him in the senior team. Sadly he is stuck with dengue, so can’t play here,” says the coach. Mohammad shakes hands. Could be story for the future... I saw him first.

February 26

The Indians are back after a day trip to Genting. Boys have fun at water park. What about the casino? “We didn’t go, we are not allowed,” says a teenager. Note to self: this isn’t the senior team.

February 27

India vs New Zealand semis. Kiwi opener Correy Anderson hits the longest six of the tournament. The ball sails over the press box and just misses the vehicles in the parking lot. A few hiccups, but Sourav Tiwary and Goswami put India in final. Tiwary says that he spoke to Dhoni on phone, Goswami had an online chat with Manoj Tiwary.

February 28

Pakistan vs South Africa semis, the press box is crowded. The PCB has flown in 15 Pakistan journalists for the World Cup. Rain has them tense as the one-dayer becomes two-dayer. Twenty times, am told that “had it started raining five minutes later, Pakistan would have won.” Twenty times say “Yes.”’

February 29

Pakistan are knocked out. Reach team hotel to catch the Indians. Meet assistant manager Hitesh Patel, who is waiting for the boys in the lobby for the team’s visit to the Twin Towers. Pacer Ajit Agral asks Patel if the trip is compulsory. “I will rest in my room,” he says. Agral gets to see the towers a couple of days later. Not just that, the whole world gets to see Agral at the towers as, a day after the final, ICC takes the winning captain and the man-of-the-match of the final to the towers for a photo shoot.

March 1

Someone asks Kohli, when do you return home? “On March 4, we go to Bangalore, from there to Mumbai and later home to Delhi,” he says. Why Mumbai? “For the victory parade, like the Twenty-20 world champions,” he says. Odd that... even on the eve of the final, Virat knew of the events to unfold. He got the venue wrong though.

March 2

India win the Cup. For the 20th time, say “don’t know” when asked “who among these will play for the senior team?” On second thoughts, it’s a toss up between Jai and Viru — and the chances of the coin left standing are bright.