Wild celebrations in Mumbai as India wins

Mumbai, April 2 : Even before Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit a six to take India to victory over Sri Lanka in the World Cup final at the Wankhede stadium here, the celebrations had begun in Mumbai.

Lakhs of people ran out into the streets singing, dancing, hugging each other, screaming with joy, whistling, lighting crackers and setting off aerial fireworks into the warm night sky after India's win.

The sound of firecrackers was all that could be heard for the first 10 minutes after the victory. People had, however, started setting off fireworks and beating drums soon after Dhoni hit a boundary in the 47th over, leaving India just seven runs short of victory with more than two overs and six wickets in hand.

Spending thousands of rupees to buy crackers and hiring drummers to celebrate the victory paid off for the city youth who set off fireworks as they rode their bikes full throttle through the city streets.

"I am euphoric. We won, we won, we won. I can't express the feeling," said an ecstatic Dattaram Kossambe, an avid cricket fan from suburban Borivli.

Several cricket enthusiasts bought their friends free drinks after the victory as they watched it on big screens at Mumbai's pubs, restaurants and sports bars.

Several residential complexes, where the viewing was specially organised on big screens also erupted in victorious cries as India sealed their victory.

The match, swinging India's way due to a responsible knock from Dhoni after the early dismissal of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, became an edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting thriller after Gautam Gambhir's stunning exit.

The last few overs provided a fitting climax to the grand finale and India - over whose victory there were apprehensions before Dhoni's entry - sailed into a well-deserved victory.