5 heartbreaking Test losses for India where they failed to build on crucial moments

#1 India vs Pakistan, Chennai 1999

For an Indian cricket fan growing up in the 80s and 90s, the loss against Pakistan at Chennai in 1999 ranks as one the most heartbreaking moments in modern cricket history. A heartbreak as big as India's 2007 Cricket World Cup loss to Bangladesh. It was perhaps more than that, simply because the insatiable desire to win of one man had been denied by ten other men's insipid performance that fateful day.

India was hosting Pakistan for a two-match Test series in January of 1999. Pakistan, batting first were struggling at 5/91, but Mohammed Yousuf (53) and Moin Khan (60) gritty knocks helped Pakistan post 238 in the first Innings. Anil Kumble (6/70) was the pick of India's bowlers.

India had a decent start to their innings with the openers putting a 67 run stand. 1/67 soon became 3/72 one of them being Sachin Tendulkar (0) for a duck against Saqlain Mushtaq (5/94). Ganguly (54) and Dravid (53) led India's recovery and helped get a 16 run lead over their arch-rivals. Buoyed by Shahid Afridi's brilliant 141, Pakistan set India 271 runs in the fourth Innings to win the game. At 5/82, it didn't look like India would get anywhere close to the target.

But with Tendulkar still their, the Pakistanis knew the match wasn't over yet.And it wasn't, Tendulkar's (137) single-handed effort on a wearing 5th day Chennai track was a stuff of genius and perfection. Severely hampered by back spasm Tendulkar's innings epitomized his perseverance, skills, temperament and more importantly the will to win in all situations.

Tendulkar did his job that day, leaving just 17 runs to get when he finally got out but unfortunately his teammates couldn't as India lost its last 3 wickets for a mere 4 runs, losing the match by 12 runs.It was a game of blood and tears, perhaps the greatest innings and the saddest tragedy of Sachin Tendulkar's career.

Pakistan 238 (Moin Khan 60, Anil Kumble 6/70) & 286 (Shahid Afridi 141, Venkatesh Prasad 6/33) beat India 254 (Sourav Ganguly 54, Saqlain Mushtaq 5/94) & 258 (Sachin Tendulkar 136, Saqlain Mushtaq 5/93) by 12 runs.