Salim-Javed coined the phrase in the early 1970's - but never before has it been so applicable and so true.
Today is the battle of nerves. Of who first bats an eyelid. Of tension. Of drama. Of passion. Of emotion.
Whoever says this is just another game is freaking KIDDING themselves.
Keep aside the politics of it all. Keep aside the mass-hysteria in the media. Keep aside everything else. This is a bloody knock-out game, a World Cup semi-final at that. Winner takes all. Loser is scarred for life. Yes, for life.
We know, coz we've been there before. Scratch beneath the surface and the wounds haven't healed.
1996 v/s Sri Lanka was absolute tragedy. 2003 v/s Australia was like a bad nightmare.
My generation has grown up on muted visuals of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential Cup at Lords in 1983. And since then, the burning desire to see another Indian captain lift the biggest trophy of them all has only intensified with each passing tournament. Several inflicted heartaches later, it still is an unrealized dream.
And that is why today's India v/s Pakistan semi-final @ Mohali is not just a game. It is a step towards a shot at glory.
Refute it all you may, but there still is something about your team being called 'World Champions'. Number # 1 Test side and all that doesn't even come close.
This is what matters.
The last World Cup knockout game against Pakistan was 15 years ago, but is still fresh in our memories like it happened yesterday. Ajay Jadeja played the innings of his life and Aamir Sohail will go to his grave regretting the wild swipe off Venkatesh Prasad which led to his downfall.
Take a look at the scorecard of that game here and carefully glance over the team sheet.
Everyone, but one man, has turned into a coach, a commentator or simply slipped into oblivion.
But that one man is still playing so magnificently it's as if the years haven't rolled by. The steel in his eyes, the fire in his belly, the calm head on his shoulders and his passion for the game have even further intensified. If that was humanly possible.
Today, as the team steps out for the National Anthem, a billion pair of eyes will be on that one man - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Watching him sing aloud the anthem today will probably be worth more than anything else.
Sure there will be a World Cup every four years. And sure India might go on to win another one or two in our lifetimes. But there will be no Tendulkar. And there won't be anyone like him either.
The greatest cricketer, ever, deserves to win cricket's biggest prize. And no, he wouldn't want the team to win it for him - that'll be trivializing his stature. He will want to win it for the country. And God willing, he will. Watching him do a victory lap in Bombay will probably be one of the best moment of our lives. If not THE best moment.
But first, we have a job on hand today, to crush Pakistan to the depths of oblivion. To make a statement. To let Sri Lanka know that we're coming to avenge that evening @ the Eden.
My gut tells me that SRT will have a huge role to play today, but won't score a 100.
Something tells me that the angels up there, watching over the little man, have written the perfect script, bringing it all together and culminating the epic exactly where it all began - In Bombay.
The Wankhede, all decked up and pretty, awaits its most favorite son with open arms. That is where ultimate glory will be achieved. That is where the 100th ton will be scored.
There cannot be a different end to this fairy tale.
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi and his men better beware. The weather prediction says that a dust-storm is expected at Mohali today. Deja vu, anyone?
And trust Salim-Javed to brilliantly sum it all up - loha garam hai, maar do hathoda!
