NEW DELHI, March 14: Front pages of most leading Indian newspapers on Sunday carried Mohammed Kaif's catch off Shoaib Malik to tell the story of India's victory over Pakistan in Karachi the day before.
But politicians moved in quickly, through a quicker electronic route of the mobile phone to claim advantage from the young player's amazing callisthenics that might have decided the result.
Some analysts have said the Indian team's visit to Pakistan could decide Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's fate in the arriving general elections. The Hindustan Times printed a seven-column picture of Kaif hurling himself over a tripped up Hemang Badani, while The Hindu gave the magic moment five columns on its front page. There were commentaries about the exemplary Karachi crowd, but much of the goodwill dissipated into the more familiar jingoism.
"Last ball, six runs and poor Mr Javed Miandad pacing like a tiger in the players' pavilion. It was quite a sight, seeing him vigorously gesticulating to the man on the crease on how to navigate that one last lob which would have refreshed that historical day in Sharjah," said The Sunday Pioneer, recalling the Miandad sixer against Chetan Sharma.
There was approving comment on Inzamam-ul-Haq's humility. "Maybe my decision to field was wrong," he was quoted as saying. With the Indian team's Pakistan tour coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections, political parties could not have asked for a better means to reach more and more people and they were quick on the uptake as Karachi one-dayer revealed.
Before the Saurav Ganguly-led India left for Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee had urged them to win games as well as hearts on the other side of the Line of Control. Right after the thrilling five-run win against the hosts at Karachi, cell phones were suddenly ringing here as SMS poured in and the message read: "Khel bhi jeeta, dil bhi jeeta, shabash India. (You won the match, and the heart too, well done) - sender BJP."
Not to be left behind, Congress campaign machinery too reacted sharply and they insisted it was the presence of Priyanka Vadra, flanked by husband Robert and brother Rahul Gandhi, that augured well for the team in the Karachi cliffhanger. "Bharat ko jeetnay ki sahee aasha thi, Rahul aur Priyanka team ke pas the", was the message that landed on a number of cellphones.
Later on Sunday, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal was seen trying to pre-empt any BJP move to corner share of the cricket glory. "We are absolutely thrilled at the exciting victory. India is now shining. But it is because of players and not politicians."
Congratulating the Indian team for its memorable five-run victory, the party said it was a real "feel-good factor" made possible by the cricketers and the credit should go only to them.
"Now the Indian cricket team, which has been showered with great deal of affection ever since it arrived in Pakistan, will enjoy the hospitality of President Gen Pervez Musharraf when they will join him over tea on Wednesday," said Press Trust of India quoting Indian team manager Ratnakar Shetty.
"The team has been told that there would be a meeting with the president on March 17. We believe it is a get-together over tea. The timing is yet to be confirmed," he said.
