On This Day: Two moments that gave heartbreak and joy to Indian cricket fans

Debasis Sen: For many cricket fans in India, March 23 will always be remembered for two matches, one that gave heartbreak while the other which brought sheer joy to millions of fans. Talking about March 23, 2003, Sourav Ganguly’s men lost the World Cup final to Australia at the Wanderers ground in Johannesburg. The same day in 2016, Mahendra Singh Dhoni showed his brilliance behind the stumps, to clinch a victory out of the grasp of Bangladesh in the last ball of the 2016 T20 World Cup at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

During the 2003 World Cup final, the first overs in each of the two innings set the tone of the match. Zaheer Khan ended up giving 15 runs in the first over bowled to Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden.

As if that was not enough, he sledged both the Australian openers who went on a rampage to put on a century opening stand. Then it was left to Australian captain Ricky Ponting who played a blazing 140 runs knock that took the total 359/2 out of reach of the Indian batsmen.

India had a disastrous start losing Sachin Tendulkar in the first over bowled by Glenn McGrath. Tendulkar mis-hit a short-of-length ball from Glenn McGrath to be dismissed for 4.


Flashback to 2016 T20 World Cup in India, Bangladesh looked on course to a comfortable win against the hosts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. India batting first posted 146/7. Bangladesh in reply fell short by 1 run, thanks to a sheer presence of mind coupled with brilliant glovework from Indian captain MS Dhoni. Bangladesh needed 11 runs from the final over being bowled by Hardik Pandya. On crease was Bangladesh’s two experienced campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim and Riyadh Mahmudullah. The wicket-keeper batsman slashed a delivery outside off stump for a boundary of the second ball, reducing the target to 6 runs off 4 balls. Mushfiqur followed it up with another boundary, hitting a scoop hit over short fine leg. Bangladesh required 2 runs from 3 balls and looked on course of winning the game. But trying to seal the game off the next ball, Mushfiqur was caught at deep mid-wicket off Dhawan. The following delivery Mahmudullah too made the mistake by trying to send a full toss to the stands and skied it to deep mid-wicket. Rabindra Jadeja took a stunner running in from the boundary. The Tigers needed 2 to win off the last delivery. Shuvagata Hom failed to connect the ball and scampered for a single only to see non-striker Mustafizur Rahman falling short of the crease. India ended up winning the nail bitter by 1 run.