The sun of Indian cricket has always been on the rise. The team over the years has improved its game by leaps and bounds. There was a time in Indian cricket when we found it difficult to beat even East Africa. But today, the BCCI is the world’s most powerful cricket governing body. It is due to our game on the field and due to our management’s planning of the field that today the sun of Indian cricket is shining bright. So, over the years what are the top moments of Indian Cricket history? Which are the moments when the Indian team left every follower perplexed with their talent? Here is an in-depth look:
5) 2001 Eden Test Match Victory is a top moment:
Imagine winning a match after following on! This is exactly what the Indian team did at the Eden Gardens in 2003. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid were the faces of victory. Harbhajan Singh and his hat-trick in the first innings were a delight to watch. Sachin Tendulkar also bowled a match-winning spell in the last innings to seal the deal for India.
Adam Gilchrist recalls having a conversation with one of his teammates about the fact that India would be bowled out once again after following on. The Australian team had the plan to smoke cigars the following evening. But the next day, Laxman and Dravid batted and batted and batted. They took the game away from the mighty Aussies. It was a series-winning partnership.
VVS Laxman was having a terrible back ache and Dravid was having a bit of fever. They inspired the rest of the team. Their performance is one for the ages. India won that series 2-1.
4) 2013 Champions Trophy Victory is a top moment in Indian Cricket History:
The 2013 Champions Trophy was a very eventful time in Indian Cricket. Indian Cricket got one of its deep assets from this tournament onwards. The tournament also saw the rise of Mr. ICC, Shikhar Dhawan. Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, and other younger players helped India get its hands on the trophy.
The senior pros like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Zaheer Khan had bid adieu to international cricket. The team was in a transition phase. Sehwag and Gambhir were dropped after a dreadful Pakistan series. Rohit Sharma was promoted up the order. Umesh Yadav was backed.
It was a group of young players who had gone to England to have fun and eventually won the Champions Trophy. The openers, Rohit and Shikhar were fantastic. Dinesh Karthik also batted well, down the order. India did not lose a single game on that tour. They even won both of their warm-up games. Shikhar Dhawan ended as the top scorer and Ravindra Jadeja ended as the top wicket-taker.
3) 2007 T20 World Cup Win:
2007 was a tumultuous time in Indian Cricket. The management was going through turmoil. Coach Chappell was fired and Lalchand Rajput had to step in as the interim manager and coach of the team. The Indian team filled with senior players like Dravid, Kumble, Ganguly, and Sachin was just kicked out of the ODI World Cup. The fans showed their dismay by burning posters and protesting.
In stepped MSD to lead the team for the upcoming T20 World Cup in South Africa. MSD took the team to victory. It was a team filled with fresh faces. Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, and Joginder Sharma were all new to the global stage. Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and MSD were among the more senior players along with Sehwag and Gambhir.
India emphatically won the tournament. Yuvi hit six 6s to Stuart Broad in the game against England. The game against Pakistan was tied and then we saw a ball-out. The final was also against Pakistan. We had Ravi Shastri’s voice gracing the moment with the lines, “Sreesanth takes it! India win!”
2) 2011 World Cup Victory is a top moment in Indian Cricket History:
The 2011 World Cup was an amazing tournament altogether. The Indian Team played as one unit. Yuvraj Singh in the post-match interview of the final said, “The team dreamt of winning it, and we did it. We did it for one man, the legend himself, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.”
Yuvraj Singh was adjudged “Man of the tournament” for his elite performance with the bat and ball. Gautam Gambhir turned out to be the unsung hero in the final. MS Dhoni was his flaming best in the final and was adjudged “Man of the Match”. Virender Sehwag started 4 consecutive games with a first-ball boundary. Now that speaks volumes of the confidence that Viru had in himself.
Zaheer Khan was splendid in the final. Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra won us the semi-finals. The only difference between the 1983 win and this victory was that these boys had a burden of expectations. And these were expectations from 1.2 Billion Indians.
Honorable Mentions:
- 2020-2021 Border Gavaskar Trophy Victory.
- 2003 NatWest Trophy Final Against England.
- 1985 Benson and Hedges Cup Victory.
- Sachin Tendulkar scoring 100 100s.
- Yuvraj Singh Sixes in an over.
1)1983 World Cup Victory is the top moment in Indian Cricket History:
1983 World Cup victory has a special place in the heart of every Indian. The world was shocked by the merger and the fact that India lifted the world cup against all the odds. The organizers were so sure that India wouldn’t qualify for the final that they did not issue a gate pass for the Indian team.
The team led by Haryana Hurricane, Kapil Dev went against all the odds. The first game saw them beat the mighty West Indies. Then they beat the Zimbabwe team. The next was a beating at the hands of Australia and the West Indies again. Then came a sensational inning from Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe. It is an inning that changed Indian Cricket forever, as claimed by Sunil Gavaskar.
The team consisted of strong characters. Kris Srikanth, Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Balwinder Sandhu, and Yashpal Sharma! Every player stepped up when it mattered the most. Yashpal Sharma was the true unsung hero of that tournament. Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t in his prime but his tips on-filed flipped the games in favor of India.
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