5 best India ODI comebacks while defending

#1 India vs. South Africa, 25 September 2002, Colombo

Result: India won by 10 runs

All-round effort from Virender Sehwag led India to the finals

India took on a strong South African side in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2002. After opting to bat first, India got off to a brisk start with Virender Sehwag in attacking mood. Sehwag stroked his way to 59, but three quick wickets in the middle overs brought the run rate down considerably.

Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh had to consolidate the innings and were involved in a . partnership worth 72 runs. Yuvraj top scored with 62 runs providing the impetus the innings needed and guided India to a respectable score of 261/9.

South Africa lost an early wicket when Zaheer Khan got Graeme Smith caught at point to a brilliant flying catch from Yuvraj. The pair of Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis then batted with a great control and put together 178 runs for the second wicket. After getting an aggressive century, Gibbs was forced to retire hurt as the humid conditions in Colombo took a toll on him to such an extent that he was not able to hold his bat.

South Africa were still the favourites at that point with 70 runs required in 13 overs. The next batsman Jonty Rhodes was dismissed to yet another stunning catch from Yuvraj at short fine leg. Harbhajan Singh got the wicket of Boeta Dippenaar in the same over putting South Africa under pressure.

With the spinners bowling well, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly made a great tactical move bringing in Sehwag to bowl for the first time in the match in the 42nd over. Sehwag got the important wicket of Boucher to tilt the balance of the game in India’s favour considerably. The Indian spinners bowled splendidly keeping a check on the flow of runs and denying a well-set Kallis and big-hitter Lance Klusener the necessary boundaries.

With 25 required off 12 balls, Zaheer bowled an excellent over conceding just four runs. Sehwag was given the responsibility of defending 21 runs off the final over. Kallis started off with a six towards mid-wicket, but was out playing the same shot on the next delivery. Klusener could only muster another four runs before getting out on the final delivery as India scripted a grand comeback to enter the Final of the Champions Trophy for second consecutive time.