XtraTime Web Desk: Former India cricketer and legend Sachin Tendulkar received one of the most shocking news of his life on this day during the 1999 World Cup in England. The master blaster lost his dear father Ramesh Tendulkar in Mumbai. Tendulkar had to fly back to India ahead of India’s encounter with Zimbabwe at Leicester.
The hype surrounding the 1999 World Cup in England was unbelievable in India. The expectation among the Indian fans was huge as they started believing that Mohammad Azharuddin and his team can repeat the performance of Kapil’s Devils who lifted the World Cup at Lords on June 25, 1983.
Tendulkar was not fully fit leading up to the World Cup as his stiff back kept troubling him. It was so severe that he had to resort to to sleeping on the floor of his hotel room with a pillow below his knees, to ensure that his back stayed flat on the ground.
India started the tournament on a disastrous note, losing to South Africa in the opening encounter at Hove. The team traveled to Leicester to take on Zimbabwe in the next match.
On the morning of match day, Sachin woke up to the calling bell of his room. He was a little bemused to see his wife Anjali flanked by Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh. Anjali drove all the way from London to convey the terrible news of the passing away of his father. Professor Ramesh Tendulkar died due to a fatal heart attack.
The senior Tendulkar was not keeping well over the past few months. He had undergone an angioplasty. Sachin took his father to his West Bandra apartment after he was discharged so that he and Anjali can supervise him. He (Sachin) decided to travel to England for World Cup once his father showed signs of recovering.
Sachin and Anjali flew back to Mumbai the same morning to attend his father’s funeral. On the persistence of his mother, Sachin flew back to England to take part in the remaining matches of the World Cup. In his first game after attending his father’s funeral, Tendulkar scored a splendid 140 runs against Kenya at Bristol to help India register a comprehensive 94 runs win.
Indians falter against Zimbabwe at Leicester
Afer their loss to South Africa in the first match of the tournament, India needed to win all the three matches in group stages to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Super Sixes. India faced Zimbabwe in its second match at Leicester.
Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and elected to field first. In one of its worst show on the field in the World Cups, Indian bowlers gave away 51 extras which included 16 no balls and 21 wides. Zimbabwe ended up posting 252/9 runs from 50 overs. Flower brothers – Grant and Andy 45 and 68 respectively. To make matters worse India were docked 4 overs for maintaining a slow over rate hence the revised target was 253 off 46 overs.
In its run chase India lost the wickets of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin inside the first 9 overs with only 56 on board. Opener Sadagopan Ramesh (55) and Ajay Jadeja (43) brought the run chase on track with a 99 runs partnership for the fourth wicket until Ramesh perished off the bowling of Grant Flower. Jadeja also departed a little later, getting plumbed to Heath Streak with the scoreboard showing 5/174. Nayan Mongia and Robin Singh took the total to 219/7 before the wicketkeeper was bowled by Guy Whittall in the 41st over. With still requiring another 34 runs from 9 overs the match was far from over. Javagal Srinath played some lusty shots, hitting a couple of sixes to take the total within striking distance. India required 7 runs from 11 balls with three wickets to spare. Even the biggest Zimbabwe fan would have lost hopes but another dramatic turnaround saw India losing the match from the grasp of win. India lost three wickets adding just three runs to hand Zimbabwe a 3 run win.
The result proved costly as India failed to qualify for the Super Sixes.