In India, if cricket is hailed as a religion, the cricketers are certainly nothing less than God and idols. It all changed post the 1983 World Cup victory under the phenomenal Kapil Dev’s leadership. He was the first man ever in the history of Indian cricket to instil a sense of fearlessness in the team that come what may, they can rise from the ashes like a phoenix even if they are termed as underdogs. While Kapil Dev was the first to start this in Indian cricket, it was under Sourav Ganguly’s fearless leadership did things become even better in Indian cricket. By then, India was a fierce competitor in global cricket and it is no wonder, they played well together as a team on many occasions. From the time of Kapil Dev to Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and now Rohit Sharma, Indian cricket has over the years seen many victories. While all forms of victory do taste sweet, it’s even sweeter when you don’t expect it. Ain’t it? Well, that’s why, when the match turns upside down and you win a game out of nowhere, the emotions are indeed at an all-time high for real. So today, we are all set to explore and look back at a few such victories in Indian cricket which were snatched from the jaws of defeat.
India Vs West Indies (1983 World Cup Final): While West Indies were already heavyweights in cricket at that time having already won multiple World cups, nobody gave India even an outside chance to defeat them. Add to that, a low score of just 183 certainly didn’t help the team and everyone expected the Caribbeans to dominate Indians like never before. However, that wasn’t the case to be as India defended that low score and not just that, they also managed to win their first World Cup title ever in the history of cricket. One of the greatest victories ever, if not the greatest.
2001 Kolkata Test Against Australia: Australia were undefeated for more than 15 Tests when they came to tour India. The mighty Aussies under Steve Waugh’s leadership could literally crush any opponent on their given day. On the other hand, the Indian team was then in a transition period under Ganguly’s leadership post the match-fixing controversy. While India was completely down and out till atleast day 3 of the game, it was a supremely commendable effort from Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman that not only help India save the Test match but also win it in grand style. It completely changed Indian cricket’s fortunes forever and not just that, it also brought to an end Australia’s arrogance about being unputdownable in Test cricket.
Adelaide Oval Test Vs Australia (2003): Around the time of 2003, Australia were certainly the heavyweight in both formats of cricket aka ODI and Test cricket. While they were fresh from the victory of the 2003 World Cup, they were pretty much indomitable even in Test format. At a time like this, to go to Australia and defeat them in a Test match on their home soil is nothing less than an achievement. But India managed to do that with more than 28 overs remaining. A brilliant effort of 72 runs from Rahul Dravid’s end ensured team India win the test match in grand style and we loved it.
2007 T20 World Cup Final Against Pakistan: It was the inaugural season of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. A lot of critics went all guns blazing against the BCCI for ignoring some of the greats of Indian cricket and going ahead with a young team. This was the first time when the BCCI decided to go ahead with a young group of players and when nobody expected them to do well, they went ahead to win the tournament. It was an epic final game against Pakistan and when the game almost slipped away from India’s hands due to Misbah-Ul-Haq’s brilliance, it was an over from Joginder Sharma that changed the fortunes. S Sreesanth took that catch when it mattered the most and the rest is history.
2011 World Cup Final Against Sri Lanka: Before 2011, it never happened that the host nation managed to win the World Cup title. But in that year, when it happened in India, things were completely different and the entire scenario changed under MS Dhoni’s leadership. Throughout the entire tournament, Yuvraj Singh had done a phenomenal job of ensuring India reach the final. On the day when it mattered the most, India was chasing a big score of 275 on the night of the finale. The likes of Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni took the statement ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’ statement very seriously. That’s why a fighting 97 from Gambhir and a wonderful 91* from MS Dhoni set the tone right and it helped India lift its second-ever title. The game was nothing less than magical, especially after much-lost hope post-Tendulkar and Sehwag’s dismissal.
NatWest Trophy 2022 Final Vs England: Many victories might come and go in Indian cricket but if we have to name the best in ODI cricket, this has to rank at the top. Sourav Ganguly, the ‘then captain’ of the Indian cricket team had gone ahead in media to discuss many times how his team was doing well to reach finals but eventually was losing there. Henceforth, neither Indians nor Ganguly could have dealt with another loss in the final stage. India was completely pushed back after wickets kept tumbling in regular successions and a lot of Indian fans even started leaving Lord’s cricket ground expecting an Indian loss. However, it was a magnificent partnership between Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh that changed things completely. Kaif’s 87 was one of the best and even Ganguly couldn’t control his emotions and ended up taking off his shirt.
India Vs England Champions Trophy Final 2013: Team India hasn’t been the most amazing squad over the years when it comes to ICC tournaments and hence, even Indians all over the country have wanted the team to win a tournament. The last time India won an ICC trophy was the Champions Trophy in 2013. The matches were held in England and it was a crucial encounter. MS Dhoni’s captaincy brilliance ensured team India win the game by 1 run and eventually lift the trophy.
ICC T20 World Cup Match Against Pakistan 2022: Last but certainly not least, we have the latest example of the T20 game between India and Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 game. After having made early inroads, Pakistan had almost torn apart the Indian batting line-up. However, the likes of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya had other plans. That’s why, when almost many lost hope, Virat Kohli perhaps played the best knock of his career under pressure to ensure India win the game in grand style. Not only did he prove his critics wrong, but he also gave billions of Indians a reason to celebrate.
Yes, team India couldn’t do much when it comes to winning ICC tournaments in the recent past. However, what’s important on the day of the day is to move on from the past and work towards a better future. With the ICC World Cup ODI 2023 game happening soon, here’s hoping the people who matter learn from their past mistakes, take inspiration from these special past glories and make the country proud by lifting the all-important trophy this time. Come on India, ‘Chakde’ this time indeed.