When we say that a team has to chase down a target of 300+ in this day and age, it doesn’t seem that difficult. You just have to play at a run rate of around 6 what’s the big deal right? That wasn’t the case before, as before the advent of T20 cricket in 2006, chasing a score of even 280 was a huge task and required some amazing cricket. One of the best chases in Indian cricket history is the 325-run chase in the 2002 NatWest Series Final and in this article, we will go back in time and relive that moment. And yeah this is the match in which Ganguly took off his shirt in celebration, which has become one of the most iconic celebrations of all time.
Flintoff’s Shirtless Celebration At Wankhede
The context for this match was already set before when England toured India for a six-match ODI series. The final game was played at Wankhede in Mumbai with India leading the series 3-2. The final match of this ODI series went down to the wire with India needing 11 off the last over to win. However, Flintoff who was bowling the final over of the match snatched a victory for England from the jaws of defeat and Indian lost the match by 5 runs. The series was drawn at 3-3 and Andrew Flintoff celebrated the win by taking off his shirt at the Wankhede stadium and this would foreshadow for the things to come.
Also read: Champions Trophy 2013 Finals – The Last Time India Won An ICC Tournament
2002 Natwest Series Final
The 2002 NatWest Series was an ODI tri-series between England, Sri Lanka, and India that was played a few months after India’s disappointing loss at the Wankhede. India was able to make it to the finals where it was to play England in Lord’s – The Home of Cricket!
Before the 2002 NatWest final, India had lost 9 consecutive ODI finals between January 1999 and June 2002, out of which 5 losses came while chasing. This just shows how difficult it was for India to win pressure games and would end up choking.
England Bat First
England bat first and on the backs of Trescothicks century and Nasser Hussain’s only ODI century in his career, set a huge total of 325 for India to chase. In the end, Andrew Flintoff also played a cameo inning of 40 runs off 32 balls to take the momentum for England.
India’s Chase Starts Well
India’s chase of 325 starts very well as both the openers Ganguly and Sehwag start attacking the England bowling attack and take India to 106 runs for 0 wickets in just 14.3 overs!
Indians Lose The Plot
However, England soon makes a comeback in the game by taking wickets of both the openers in successive overs. From 106-0, India have a collapse and end up at 146-5 in the 24th over. So now all the advantage that the openers gave was lost and India was looking towards a defeat in the 2002 NatWest Series Final – their 10th consecutive final defeat.
Interestingly, after Sachin got out, all hopes of victory in the 2002 NatWest Series Final were lost, so much so that Mohomaad Kaif’s parents decided to switch off their TV and went out to watch Devdas! Kaif was still yet to play but his parents thought there was no way India is winning from that position especially after Sachin was out.
Yuvraj And Kaif’s Memorable Partnership
When all hopes were lost Yuvraj Singh started the onslaught, he was able to hit England bowlers for 4s and 6s and was joined by Mohammad Kaif who supported him from the other end. Both the youngsters in the team brought up their half-centuries to keep India’s hope for a victory alive.
In one instance, Kaif defended a ball and since Yuvraj was hitting 4s and 6s, Ganguly from the Lord’s balcony indicated to Kaif to take a single and give Yuvraj the strike. That’s when Kaif played a superb pull shot for a six and silenced his captain.
Years later, Yuvraj Singh and Kaif recount this incident on an Instagram live, and the best part of the incident was when Kaif came up to Yuvraj and said,” Hum Bhi Khelne Aaye Hai!”
“I’ve come to play too!”
In the NatWest series final in 2002, Ganguly wanted Kaif to give Yuvi the strike, but Kaif had plans of his own pic.twitter.com/D1UZnRQ3XS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 23, 2020
Kaif Bats with the Tail
Yuvi and Kaif’s partnership of 121 runs for the 6th wicket took India to 267-5 in 42 overs with 59 runs needed in 8 overs. That’s when Yuvraj gets out and it was up to Kaif now. Kaif continued his attack on the English bowlers and was supported by Harbhajan Singh on the other end. At one point, India was in a commanding position with 12 needed off 16 balls with 4 wickets in hand. However, two wickets of successive deliveries brought England back into the game.
It was up to Kaif now to take India home with Zaheer Khan batting at the other end. Kaif held his nerves to bring the equation down to 6 runs off 7 balls and then hit a four leaving 2 runs to score in the final over.
The Last Over
India needed 2 runs and had just 2 wickets in hand. Zaheer Khan was on strike and he couldn’t even hit the ball with the bat for the first two deliveries. However, he finally touched a ball with his bat and just ran blindly to give Kaif the strike, an overthrow from the fielder allowed them a second run and India won the match by 2 wickets!
However, the best moment in the whole match came when India’s captain Sourav Ganguly took his shirt off and waved it in celebration, just like Flintoff did in Wankhede.
This victory was sweet and was also a trailer for the things to come, as India’s young brigade of Sehwag, Yuvraj, and Zaheer Khan would go on to become legends of the game and make India one of the best white-ball teams in the era.
#OnThisDay in 2002, Yuvraj and Kaif led India to the NatWest Series title at Lord’s.
Ganguly’s celebration is legendary 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pi2ZXGGoKv
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 13, 2020
With that, we come back to the present, India are now one of the best cricket teams in all formats and has exceptional players who can destroy any bowling attack in their day and can chase any target. However, it all began on the day of the 2002 NatWest Series final which gave a lot of self-belief to the team and for the generation to come. We hope you enjoyed reading this article, and comment down your favorite moment from the match, we’ll keep bringing you stories like these till then adios!
(Image Sources: Screengrabs – England & Wales Cricket Board on YouTube)