Sunday, April 3, 2011

Indian Cricket 2.0

A new era started with Ganguly at the helm. The young brigade of India replaced fear with belief. Belief that could overcome problems with technique, playing in foreign conditions, or fitness concerns. Dhoni has taken this belief one step further and harnessed it to make India a serious force to reckon with. Let us see a few matches in the last decade or so that has made an impact on every Indian.

  • A glimpse into the future (India South Africa Centurion 2001/02)- It was a league game, not a final. The reason it was special because, since 1992, we had not won a single ODI against South Africa on their home soil. The best part about this victory was: With Kumble and Bhajji at their peak, we turned and won the game on a fairly seaming track. The stumping of Kallis bambooozled by a Bhajji doosra was a delight to watch. The only weird part was, if Kallis couldn't read the ball, how did Deep Dasgupta, India's worst keeper to-date, manage to read it.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66100.html

  • True Grit (India England Natwest Series 2002) – A year before this game, I had gone to see India play England at Wankhede in the final of 5 ODI's. England outdid India in a close game and Flintoff, after taking the final wicket, removed his shirt and swung it around. Ganguly was livid. India got their opportunity again in the final of the Natwest Series, but it was a tough ask. In reply to a massive 325, India had their back to the wall at 146/5. I switched off the television and went down to chat with friends. An hour later, India were still hanging on and suddenly people started going back to check on the scores. Young Yuvraj and Kaif had scripted one of the best comebacks in ODI history and won us the series. And then, the usually gentlemanly Lords crowd went berserk when Dada removed his shirt and swung it around. Sweet revenge.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66292.html

  • Sach, moment of truth (India Pakistan World cup 2003) – With Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib and a score of 273 to defend, Pakistan were sitting comfortable after the 1st half but the Little Master had other plans. He came out in a totally different mood to bat and whacked the seamers all around to set up a comfortable win.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65268.html

  • The comeback kid (India Australia CB 1st and 2nd final): A tour known more for the wrong reasons, the monkey-gate, sledging, some horrible decisions against India in tests. India were trying their best to end the tour on a high. Personally too, Sachin was coming back from an injury, being criticized for his recent form, he had more than a point to prove. With good support from young Praveen Kumar in the bowling department and the top order, Sachin made a great comeback and shut his critics by handing India the cup.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/cbs/engine/series/291340.html

  • The Landmark (India South Africa 2009/10) – Could it ever be done? A 200 in an ODI would not only require batting through the innings but also scoring at a brisk rate. Sachin, once again, set the record books on fire by scoring the only double ton against a bowling lineup that boasted of Steyn and co. The consequence – India made 401 and won the match, easy. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/441828.html

  • The Beginning (World cup 2011 Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)- 3 big games, 3 convincing wins. Battles that were won fighting hard, out-thinking the opponent, move-by-move. With each game, the challenges got more difficult, and the boys came up a solution to every problem. Every run was cheered and every tactic was scrutinized. With overflowing emotions and euphoria, the whole of India bled BLUE. It is a dream come true. And at the center of it all, was a 38 year old man who donned the blue color 22 years ago waiting for this very day. Fortunately, this is just the beginning.

The Wonder years: Pre-2000


As India and the millions of Indians abroad bask in the World cup glory, I reminisced some of the ODI’s of our generation that have been special to me and will never leave my mind.

P.S. The below are not match summaries, I’m just writing them out of my mind, as I recollect them. Please feel free to contribute if I missed a match/series. Alongside each match is a link to the scoreboard (for statistician’s delight):

Below is the first installment, pre-year 2000, in the order in which they were played:

  • The Beginning (1992 World Cup India vs Pakistan): A relatively young India with Kapil and K. Srikkanth as the guiding force. Although I have very faint memories of watching this live, what I do remember is the Miandad-More duel. Miandad imitating More’s enthusiasm by jumping up and down got the Indian team charged up. Soon after, a young (and very skinny) Javagal bowls Javed out to the sheer delight of the Indian fans. Duel wonàmatch won.

Scorecard: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65133.html

  • Last over, anyone? (1993/94 Hero Cup Semi final): The resurgence of South Africa in world cricket had taken everyone by surprise and India needed something special to reserve a place in the final of the Hero Cup. We made a paltry score (<200) and with the batting depth of the Proteas, we had almost been written off. What followed was a disciplined bowling effort by our premier bowlers, but somehow it wasn’t enough. 6 runs required off the last over. Decisions, decisions. And whom does Azhar go to? A young and enthusiastic Sachin, who bowls a splendid mixture of everything (leg-spin, off-spin, medium pace) and just gives 3 runs off the over to secure a fantastic win.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65971.html

  • Bangalored (1996 India Pakistan World Cup): A high-voltage quarter-final. Jadeja set Bangalore on fire by destroying Waqar Younis and set a good total. Their openers started off brilliantly, and it took a rush of blood by Sohail to rub Prasad and the whole of India the wrong way. Prasad showed Sohail the way to the dressing room and India showed Pakistan the exit door.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65187.html

  • 6 runs per over (1995/1996 India Pakistan Sharjah): A league match, however, a significant one due to the following reasons (other than India winning):
    1. This was the first time in ODI’s that India crossed the 300 mark.
    2. Sidhu and Sachin scored scintillating centuries.
    3. Siddhu’s tiff with Sohail and Siddhu walking over to Sohail with the bat and a young Sachin calming him down.
    4. Azhar blasting Ata-ur-Rehman for 29 off 10 deliveries.
    5. The first time I saw Sachin giving the batsman a sendoff after taking the last wicket of Saqlain after shattering his stumps by a yorker.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65757.html

  • Kanitkar, please Connect-Kar (India Pakistan, 1996 Dhaka): It had never been done before; chasing a score of 314 put up by Pakistan would require rewriting the record books. And that is what we did. 2 balls, 3 to win and Kanitkar pulled Saqlain in darkness to a famous victory to bring home the Independence cup.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66136.html

  • Grandmother’s recipe (India Australia Titan cup 1996): India were folding meekly to the Aussies, needing a further 53 with 3 wickets in hand. The local boys, Srinath and Kumble, take guard and within minutes, we see scenes of frenzy with Srinath’s mother, Kumble’s grandmother, everyone from their family cheering them on and praying them to complete an improbable victory over the Aussies. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66061.html

  • Fly Robin Fly (India Zimbabwe, Paarl 1997): India were in deep trouble in South Africa as Robin fought dehydration, puked on the field but almost rescued us with a brilliant 48 to tie the game. The last ball was a wide, which, if given earlier, wouldn't have induced a crazy run-out...Damn you Rudi Koertzen...arghh. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66070.html

  • Dadagiri (Sahara Cup 1997, India vs Pakistan, Toronto): The rise of an empire as Sourav grabbed a record 4 out of 5 man of the match awards and the man of the series after great performances with the bat and ball.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/61010.html

  • What a wonderful player (India-Australia Sharjah, 1998): There were sandstorms and then there was Sachin. A full-strength Australian side found it difficult to cope with one individual, SRT. The six of Warne and Moody over his head and Tony Greg’s animated commentary is still fresh in our minds.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/61026.html

  • Lateral movement (India England 1999 World cup): India can’t handle swing, said the Poms, but could they? In an amazing match that spanned 2 days, India out-swung the English and won the game in some style. Famous words by Jadeja to Mohanty “Inko kuch samajh nahi raha hai, ball andar jaa raha hai ya baahar”.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65217.html