Some more moments of pure joy...
7. Australia’s tour of India, 2001
After sweeping test series against India (yes, it started with India), Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies, Australian juggernaut, having already broken West Indian record of 11 straight test wins, came to, according to their captain Steve Waugh, the final frontier. Things couldn’t have gone better. They pummeled India in the first test within three days. In the second test, they forced India to follow on. By the end of the third day, India was down four wickets and only Dravid and Laxman remained. On the fourth day, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamjee began their journey into Mordor. They will end up destroying the Invincible Ring. Such was the class of batting that nine bowlers were used and not a single wicket fell. Some brilliant bowling from Harbhajan and Sachin saw India registering an unbelievable win over the 16-on-the-trot-winners Australia. The Indians went to the third test match full of confidence. Sachin made a long-awaited century, unplayable bowling by Harbhajan, and a nail-biting chase by India in the fourth innings saw them win the final test match and with it, the series. Australia will have to wait some more to win a series in India.
Why I love it: Laxman became Very Very Special, Harbhajan became The Turbanator and Ganguly was promoted to Maharaja. I was studying for the chemistry exam next day and,at the same time, watching VVS and The Wall bat. At the end of the day I was sure India will be able to draw the match. That looked as a great achievement. But, the next day, after the exam, when I came to know that India actually won, I ran to my home hoping to catch at least the presentation ceremony. The comeback was nothing short of a miracle. And I, who has never seen one, will always brag about watching it live. Team India will never be the same again.
8. India vs England, Natwest Trophy Final, Lord’s, 2002
India played pretty well in that tri-series – losing only one match before the final. But Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain made brilliant centuries in the final to take England to 325 – a record for a Lord’s final. Things looked England’s way until India started its reply. Ganguly and Sehwag batted with such arrogance that there was every chance that the record would be broken. But this did not continued for long and wickets fell quickly. When Sachin got out, India were 5 wickets down for 146. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were more used to smashing quick runs at the end of an innings, but this time they had a major reconstruction job on their hands. And they did it in style. Nail-biting started after Yuvraj got out, but Kaif, being young and inexperienced, displayed maturity and kept his cool as if he had a hundred matches under his belt. Any of the three results were possible till the last over, it was that close a match. In the end, it was India who won the match, and the trophy.
Why I love it: It was the reaction of Sourav Ganguly that made me moist in my eyes. During the then recently concluded England's tour of India, Andrew Flintoff, after winning the last ODI in Mumbai, took off his shirt and waved it to the crowd. Everybody, including me, who witnessed that, felt utterly disrespected. But when Ganguly returned the gesture (and that too at Lord's), it signified that we Indians are no more the Mr. Nice Guys. So don't mess with us. More importantly, this win started the era where India would no longer heavily depend on the batting of Sachin Tendulkar. And no one was more happy about it than the Master himself.
9. The Small One, 2007
Nobody gave India a chance when Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly announced that they will not play in the T20 World Cup, and nobody was alarmed, because nobody gave a shit. MS Dhoni was named captain and he had a team which was vastly talented but very much inexperienced. What followed became history. India beat Pakistan in a bowl-out thriller, Yuvi hit 6 sixes against England after a spat with Flintoff (again telling the Union Jackasses that we are not Mr. Nice guys, don't mess around), won against teams like SA, Australia and Pakistan to win the cup. What was most heartening was to see this bunch of youngsters playing top quality, fearless cricket. They had nothing to lose so they never tried to prove anything, played like a unit, watching each other's back.
Why I love it: The joy, the celebrations, the experience. My roomies forced me to watch the whole final standing (according to them, India plays well when I stand and watch), which I obliged happily. The tension when Misbah took Pak very close, the O-mouths when he played the final shot in the air, the two second silence when psycho Sreesanth took the catch, the deafening shouts originating from our flat (and neighbouring ones), the victory lap and the presentation ceremony, and the streets of Noida with thousands of people shouting Chak De India and Jai Hind, these moments will remain forever in my heart.
10. India's tour of Australia, 2008
For the first time in my life I had some expectations from an Indian side going on a tour to Australia. They lost the first test, according to the tradition. The second test in Sydney was an example of how low a captain can go for a win. Despite India's loss and the whole Monkeygate affair, I felt a trickle of happiness that the mighty Australians considered India a big threat in their own den. But the real pleasure was the win at Perth. WACA was the last place on Mother Earth where I thought India could win a test match. But they did it. Sounds like a cliche - India lost the series but won the hearts. In the ODI series, Ricky Ponting was, for once, right when he said that there won't be a third final. India won the first two finals and with it, its first ODI series win in Australia since 1986.
Why I love it: My favourite moment of the tour was obviously the win in Perth. But there was one more moment in the ODI series, when in a league match Sachin hit Brett Lee for 3 fours in an over. The sheer disregard for a world class bowler, it decimated the Australian strategy and chances for a win defending that meagre total (they made 159). Those three boundaries set the pace for the Indian team which managed to win the series.
11. 200, Gwalior, 2010
Harry Potter won the Triwizard Tournament, Luke Skywalker killed the Sith lord and Frodo Baggins destroyed the ring. One can argue about if these three really deserved such a feat. But one thing no one can argue is Sachin Tendulkar making the first double century in One Day Internationals. No one was more deserving, though many thought that Sehwag or Gilchrist or Gayle would be the one to do it. A 37 year old cricketer, playing full 50 overs and half the balls in an innings, in cricketing world, is like Mother Teresa climbing Mount Everest. That innings was brilliant, that innings was astounding, that innings seemed impossible when you consider that he, a couple of years ago, was suffering from various injuries and was asked (or supposed) to retire from the game.
Why I love it: "The first person to make a double hundred in a One-day. And its the SUPERMAN from India. Take a bow Master." These words from Ravi Shastri made my day....and life.
These are the moments which tell me everyday that life never stops surprising you. Whenever I feel that I have lived my life and there cannot be anything that can make my day or cannot astonish me, I watch these clips (on youtube, ofcourse) and it restores my faith in a very old saying - "Don't count your chicks before they hatch."
Many people may not agree with some of the entries, or may want to add some more. They are welcome to do so, but as I said earlier, I, being me, don't care.
7. Australia’s tour of India, 2001
After sweeping test series against India (yes, it started with India), Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies, Australian juggernaut, having already broken West Indian record of 11 straight test wins, came to, according to their captain Steve Waugh, the final frontier. Things couldn’t have gone better. They pummeled India in the first test within three days. In the second test, they forced India to follow on. By the end of the third day, India was down four wickets and only Dravid and Laxman remained. On the fourth day, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamjee began their journey into Mordor. They will end up destroying the Invincible Ring. Such was the class of batting that nine bowlers were used and not a single wicket fell. Some brilliant bowling from Harbhajan and Sachin saw India registering an unbelievable win over the 16-on-the-trot-winners Australia. The Indians went to the third test match full of confidence. Sachin made a long-awaited century, unplayable bowling by Harbhajan, and a nail-biting chase by India in the fourth innings saw them win the final test match and with it, the series. Australia will have to wait some more to win a series in India.
Why I love it: Laxman became Very Very Special, Harbhajan became The Turbanator and Ganguly was promoted to Maharaja. I was studying for the chemistry exam next day and,at the same time, watching VVS and The Wall bat. At the end of the day I was sure India will be able to draw the match. That looked as a great achievement. But, the next day, after the exam, when I came to know that India actually won, I ran to my home hoping to catch at least the presentation ceremony. The comeback was nothing short of a miracle. And I, who has never seen one, will always brag about watching it live. Team India will never be the same again.
8. India vs England, Natwest Trophy Final, Lord’s, 2002
India played pretty well in that tri-series – losing only one match before the final. But Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain made brilliant centuries in the final to take England to 325 – a record for a Lord’s final. Things looked England’s way until India started its reply. Ganguly and Sehwag batted with such arrogance that there was every chance that the record would be broken. But this did not continued for long and wickets fell quickly. When Sachin got out, India were 5 wickets down for 146. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were more used to smashing quick runs at the end of an innings, but this time they had a major reconstruction job on their hands. And they did it in style. Nail-biting started after Yuvraj got out, but Kaif, being young and inexperienced, displayed maturity and kept his cool as if he had a hundred matches under his belt. Any of the three results were possible till the last over, it was that close a match. In the end, it was India who won the match, and the trophy.
Why I love it: It was the reaction of Sourav Ganguly that made me moist in my eyes. During the then recently concluded England's tour of India, Andrew Flintoff, after winning the last ODI in Mumbai, took off his shirt and waved it to the crowd. Everybody, including me, who witnessed that, felt utterly disrespected. But when Ganguly returned the gesture (and that too at Lord's), it signified that we Indians are no more the Mr. Nice Guys. So don't mess with us. More importantly, this win started the era where India would no longer heavily depend on the batting of Sachin Tendulkar. And no one was more happy about it than the Master himself.
9. The Small One, 2007
Nobody gave India a chance when Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly announced that they will not play in the T20 World Cup, and nobody was alarmed, because nobody gave a shit. MS Dhoni was named captain and he had a team which was vastly talented but very much inexperienced. What followed became history. India beat Pakistan in a bowl-out thriller, Yuvi hit 6 sixes against England after a spat with Flintoff (again telling the Union Jackasses that we are not Mr. Nice guys, don't mess around), won against teams like SA, Australia and Pakistan to win the cup. What was most heartening was to see this bunch of youngsters playing top quality, fearless cricket. They had nothing to lose so they never tried to prove anything, played like a unit, watching each other's back.
Why I love it: The joy, the celebrations, the experience. My roomies forced me to watch the whole final standing (according to them, India plays well when I stand and watch), which I obliged happily. The tension when Misbah took Pak very close, the O-mouths when he played the final shot in the air, the two second silence when psycho Sreesanth took the catch, the deafening shouts originating from our flat (and neighbouring ones), the victory lap and the presentation ceremony, and the streets of Noida with thousands of people shouting Chak De India and Jai Hind, these moments will remain forever in my heart.
10. India's tour of Australia, 2008
For the first time in my life I had some expectations from an Indian side going on a tour to Australia. They lost the first test, according to the tradition. The second test in Sydney was an example of how low a captain can go for a win. Despite India's loss and the whole Monkeygate affair, I felt a trickle of happiness that the mighty Australians considered India a big threat in their own den. But the real pleasure was the win at Perth. WACA was the last place on Mother Earth where I thought India could win a test match. But they did it. Sounds like a cliche - India lost the series but won the hearts. In the ODI series, Ricky Ponting was, for once, right when he said that there won't be a third final. India won the first two finals and with it, its first ODI series win in Australia since 1986.
Why I love it: My favourite moment of the tour was obviously the win in Perth. But there was one more moment in the ODI series, when in a league match Sachin hit Brett Lee for 3 fours in an over. The sheer disregard for a world class bowler, it decimated the Australian strategy and chances for a win defending that meagre total (they made 159). Those three boundaries set the pace for the Indian team which managed to win the series.
11. 200, Gwalior, 2010
Harry Potter won the Triwizard Tournament, Luke Skywalker killed the Sith lord and Frodo Baggins destroyed the ring. One can argue about if these three really deserved such a feat. But one thing no one can argue is Sachin Tendulkar making the first double century in One Day Internationals. No one was more deserving, though many thought that Sehwag or Gilchrist or Gayle would be the one to do it. A 37 year old cricketer, playing full 50 overs and half the balls in an innings, in cricketing world, is like Mother Teresa climbing Mount Everest. That innings was brilliant, that innings was astounding, that innings seemed impossible when you consider that he, a couple of years ago, was suffering from various injuries and was asked (or supposed) to retire from the game.
Why I love it: "The first person to make a double hundred in a One-day. And its the SUPERMAN from India. Take a bow Master." These words from Ravi Shastri made my day....and life.
These are the moments which tell me everyday that life never stops surprising you. Whenever I feel that I have lived my life and there cannot be anything that can make my day or cannot astonish me, I watch these clips (on youtube, ofcourse) and it restores my faith in a very old saying - "Don't count your chicks before they hatch."
Many people may not agree with some of the entries, or may want to add some more. They are welcome to do so, but as I said earlier, I, being me, don't care.
i would applaud you for penning (keying) down all these feats. It makes up for a good collection of adreline-pumping moments for indian cricket. The manner in which you have managed to unfold the drama, for each of these 11 incidences, its stupendous. This whole blog is for life-time keeps sake.
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