Since 2010, August 19th has been celebrated as World Photography Day. The date celebrates August 19, 1839, when the French government bought the patent for the daguerreotype and released it “free to the world”. The daguerreotype, invented in 1837, was the first practical photographic process. For those that love sport, history and images go hand in glove. And in cricket crazy India, we love the sport and just cannot hold ourselves from looking back at history.
So on the day when the world commemorates the joy of photos, we share with you a compilation of some of the momemrable moments from India’s cricketing history.
#10 Ganguly goes shirtless at Lords’
In the Natwest tri-series final at Lords’ in 2002, India were staring at defeat. It was then that Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh came together and stitched together a memorable partnership to steal an improbable win. The runchase of 325 was achieved and before you knew it, India’s skipper was bare chested on the famous balcony. India had the win and Ganguly, his revenge over Andrew Flitoff.
#9 The Amir Sohail-Venkatesh Prasad showdown at Bangalore
The year was 1996 and Saeed Anwar and Amir Sohail were running away with the Quarter-final match against the hosts. Sohail struck a boundary and then gestured Prasad while pointing in the direction of the ball. A stunned but helpless crowd craved for revenge. Sohail repeated the stroke off the very next ball again. This time though, he missed and lost his off-stick. Prasad prompty gave him the send off and we had a moment to savour for posterity.
#8 When it rained sixes
It was the first World Twenty20 event and Kingsmead, Durban witnessed something out of the ordinary. As Yuvraj Singh took strike, Stuart Broad perhaps thought that this was going to just another over. What ensued was anything but that. The first ball flew over cover, the second over backward square leg, the third over extra-cover, the fourth over point, the fifth over midwicket and sixth over long-on. It was a 12-ball fifty and a record across all forms of international cricket.
#7 “What a bonzer little fellow”
Sir Don Bradman admired Indian batsmen. If Sunil Gavaskar to him was “technically very sound”, Gundappa Vishwanath was "all elegance and a sheer delight to watch". But amidst the stalwarts, it was a young Indian batsman that caught his attention. "Tendulkar reminds me of my own batting," the Don once told his wife Jessie Menzies. As the statement captivated a nation and endless comparisions began, the “little master” received an invitation to the Don’s home.
It was Bradman’s 90th birthday and Sachin Tendulkar spent an entire hour with the game’s greatest. "What a bonzer little fellow. He is a lovely chap," Bradman apparently told his son John Bradson, after Tendulkar left.
#6 Sealed it with a six
MS Dhoni took it unpon himself to steer India to victory in the 2011 World Cup Final at Mumbai. When the hosts were 114/3, the target of 275 looked like an ominous mountain. He famously promoted himself and the rest is history. His 91 off 79 balls ensured that India won their second 50-over World Cup. The six off Kulasekera was the icing on the cake and a truly iconic moment.
#5 Follow-on glory
On day 3 of the Calcutta Test of the 2001 Border-Gavasker Trophy, India were 274 runs in arrears and Steve Waugh duly asked India to follow-on. When Rahul Dravid came out and joined VVS Laxman, the scoreboard read 232/4. The duo held fort on day 3 as Laxman completed a hundred. Day 4 was momentous as the pair batted all day to give their side as lead of 315 by close of play. Set a target of 384, India registered a sensational 171 run victory. Considered one of the best Test matches ever, it will always be remembered for the innings of Laxman (281) and Dravid (180).
#4 A ten-for to last a lifetime
Wisden called it the best “bowling performance of all time”. And it came against arch-rivals Pakistan in the second Test at Delhi in February 1999. When Kumble picked up his tenth, Kumble became one of only two bowlers ever (the only other being Jim Laker of England in 1956) to have taken all ten wickets in a Test innings, taking 10 for 74. The loss of Chennai was avenged, India had a new hero and record for posterity was created.
#3 A win that galvanised a nation
The West Indies were the overwhelming favourites in the 1983 World Cup. And when India squared off agianst the defending champs in the finals, very few game them a chance. Being shot of for 183 in the final didn’t help their cause either. But as the Indian medium-pacers, led by the skipper, exploited the conditions – the defending champions capitulated to hand India a 43 run victory. As Kapil Dev held the Prudential World Cup aloft, it was to be the beginning of a love-affair for an entire generation of cricket lovers in India.
#2 The 10,000th run
Sunil Gavaskar was the original Indian “little-master”. From taking on the West Indies without a helmet to scoring runs in a heap, Gavaskar had done it all. But the Mt. Everest like summit of 10,000 runs was yet to be scaled. It was left to Gavaskar to show the way. And it had to come against arch-rivals Pakistan. In the fourth Test at Ahmedabad, when “Sunny” scampered through for his 63rd run the summit was scaled. The world had a new record and India a moment that would last a lifetime.
#1 “The final innings”
It was Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test and India almost came to a standstill as the “little master” walked out to bat for the very last time. Wankede Stadium hosted the West Indies as Sachin played out his 200th Test. As the batting legend walked out of the dressing room, he looked skywards for a fleeting moment. That moment was captured by Mid-Day Media photographer Atul Kamble. The picture won the Wisden-MCC Photo of the year award and India had an image to relive the moment for ever.
Also read: 5 times Sachin Tendulkar was upset with his team
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