5 matches where India showcased their true potential

As fans of Indian cricket, we have many fond memories and few sour ones. There have always been those extraordinary innings, magical spells and passionate cricket matches between arch rivals like Pakistan or Australia. Still few matches are more special than others for the sole reason of them being the matches where India showcased their potential and carved out fond memories in every cricket fan's memory lane.

When a batsman like Virat Kohli will look at his career-best innings, he will have plenty to choose from, hopefully, this will make the cut until Top 5.

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#5 India vs Sri Lanka ODI 2012 CB series, 11th match Hobart

Virat Kohli expressing his passion and happiness after an amazing inning in a must-win game for India.

A match which is known for the heroics of Virat Kohli. India was on backfoot even before the match started as they were falling short in terms of run rate for qualifying to the finals of the tri-series and they needed a bonus point. Amid all the pressure, Kohli played an inning that in a way can be considered the rise of the best run chaser of the game.

Dilshan and Sangakkara's brilliance

On the lovely hard deck of Hobart, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara played brilliantly, each scoring a hundred after being put to bat by India. They single-handedly made Indian pacers and part-timers pay for the loose bowling. Sri Lanka was pretty happy with their efforts as they managed to put up 320 runs on the board.

Start of India's Innings

It was a very challenging target for any team any day, achieving it within 40 overs would need a special attempt from the Indian team. Sehwag entertained the spectators with his inning before getting out for 30. Sachin and Gambhir also looked very comfortable in the middle. India was looking at a very good first power play as they had scored 97 runs but they just lost Sachin Tendulkar in 10th over, Indian supporters were still recovering from his departure.

The Pair of Kohli-Gambhir

A few months back, in 2011 World Cup final against the same opponent this pair produced a very crucial partnership and people expected something more special from them this time. Virat Kohli started his game in his own style and scored 21 runs in first 20 balls he faced. As they were looking set to give India the win it desperately needed to be in the competition. As things were looking good for India, bad news came in as Gambhir got run out. After 28th over India still needed 113 runs in 22 to win the match, but they needed to achieve this in 12 overs.

The Magic of Kohli

After the departure of Gambhir, Raina came in ahead of Dhoni at No.5. 113 needed in 12 overs. Although both players showing intent to win the match but what was coming next will transform a good innings [till now] from Kohli into a memorable one. In the next couple of overs, India scored quick runs as both batsmen started dealing in boundaries only. Then came the over that Malinga will never be able to forget. Kohli scored 24 runs from one of the best death bowler's over. After this mammoth over India could see an unparallel win.

India achieved the target in 36.4 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Though India could not reach the finals, this match has been registered in cricket fan's memories as one of the best run chases of all time.

Some quotes from the post-match presentation

Dhoni: "This was some of the best ODI cricket I have been a part of."

Mahela: "You can't do much when they bat like that.. Virat played out of his skin on a true pitch."

#4 India vs Australia, 4th Test - Mumbai 2004

Harbhajan Singh 'The Terminator' was the man of the fourth inning for India.

Counted among the best test wins of India, this Test match is special because of some amazing bowling spells from both the teams. Indian team was under a lot of pressure after losing 1st and 3rd matches on home soil in this series. Indian players were still unable to make a mark in the series. Apart from Sehwag, no other batsman could score a hundred from the Indian side. Recovering from failures in all the departments, India registered one of the best wins in tests, but the journey for this one is interesting.

Indian batsmen continued to fail

Indian batsmen's nightmares continued in the fourth test as well, and they have gone really worse this time. Highest score from the first inning was 31 by Rahul Dravid. Credit to this awful condition of Indian batting goes to Jason Gillespie, who claimed wickets of players like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and ended up with figures 4/29.

Damien Martyn came to Australia's rescue

Australian faced the similar kind of dilemma as India. Spinners did the work India and Anil Kumble took 5 wickets whereas Murali Kartik got 4 wickets. Wickets at regular intervals ensured that Australia does not get away with a big lead. Damien Martyn scored a patient fifty as Australia ended up with a lead of 99 runs.

Micheal Clarke secured career-best figures

Indian batting woes continued in the last inning of the series. Early in the inning, Glenn Mcgrath sent both the openers to the pavilion before Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman had a brilliant partnership on a turning track, both batsman scoring fifties. Hauritz broke the partnership as well as got the valuable scalp of VVS Laxman later in the inning as wicket number 4. Then comes Micheal Clarke and claimed his career-best figures of 6 wickets for 9 runs only. By the end of the third innings, India got a small lead of 106 runs, which was crucial on this pitch.

Final inning miracle

Before the first bowl bowled in the fourth inning, nobody could have predicted that India can win this match. Australia looked set to win the series with 3-0 because all they needed to score is 107, but destiny had different plans. India could not have asked for a better start as Zaheer Khan bowled a peach of a delivery to get Justin Langer out. After one initial blow, Australia had the best partnership of the fourth inning between Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden. Soon Murali Kartik got the wicket of Ponting, and that was the opening India was looking for. From here onwards India made sure Australia does not get away with a partnership. India got wickets of key players as well as tailenders in successive intervals and bowled out Australia for 93. Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowler and he secured a 5 wicket hall to help India a victory by 13 runs.

#3 India vs New Zealand ODI, 3rd ODI - Auckland 2014

Ravindra Jadeja showed India the face of possible victory

A young team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were on the tour of New Zealand, a place which is famous for small boundaries, cold weather, and fast pitches. This was similar to most of India's abroad tours where India struggles to win matches. This match's story is one of the few where India performed their hearts out.

Martin Guptill sets New Zealand for a big score

After being put to bat by India, New Zealand's Openers started on a positive note but Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled out Jesse Ryder just in time. Martin Guptill continued with Kane Williamson and slowly piling up runs for the team. Kane Williamson scored a fifty and completed 150+ partnership with Guptill before getting out. Soon Guptill completed his hundred and got out for a score of 111 runs. middle order and some blows from tailenders took New Zealand to 314. India did not come close to scoring 300 in first 2 matches so it was looking hard for them.

India off to a great start but...

Indian openers also looked comfortable from the start chasing a big target. Looking at both dealing in boundaries and sixes, India's dugout was quite relaxed. Soon Shikhar Dhawan started the chain of events that gave India worries. India lost both their openers as well as No. 3 & 4 Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane within 15 runs and India's score went from 64-0 to 79-4.

Middle order and all-Rounders gave India hope

India looked in a pickle of a situation after losing first 4 very quickly while chasing a big target. Hopes now moved to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina as they were trying their best to make the situation in favor of India. The duo fall after having a partnership of 67 runs as Tim Southee got the best of Suresh Raina. Next came in Ravichandran Ashwin as India's situation was no good at 146-5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave away his wicket as soon as his fifty completed. Ravichandran Ashwin was playing fearlessly as another all-rounder joined him at the crease. Ravindra Jadeja also looked comfortable from the first ball.

Ravindra Jadeja at his best

After Ravi Ashwin, Jadeja kept on hitting shots all over the park. Last 2 overs and India needed 29 runs. With the help of one six over mid wicket, he was able to score 11 runs and India now needed 18 off the last over. Jadeja started the over with a four and later in the over hit a six and a four as well; 2 needed off the last ball. He played the shot, ran the first run hard but could not take the second one so now both sides were 'TIED". Jadeja later awarded Man of the Match for his all-round performance.

#2 India vs England, Natwest series Final, 2002

Celebration in Lord's Balcony after the win.

The venue for this historical match was "The Mecca of Cricket - Lord's". India played superbly throughout the series, losing just 1 match out of 6. India met the hosts England in the final. Before this match both the teams played 3 matches in the series and both teams won 1 match and 1 was abandoned due to rain, so it was perfectly balanced before the final.

Trescothick and Hussain were the pair for England

Two of the best batsmen of England lineup stepped up and taken the responsibility in this pressure final. Both scored Hundreds with a good strike rate. Andrew Flintoff and Ronnie Irani finished things off with few quick blows at the end and took England to a very good score 325/5.

It was India's turn to play the shots

India started their chase with a positive attitude. Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly ruled first power play and scored over 6 RPO. After openers went back to pavilion Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif performed excellently, and their partnership was game-changing. Both of these players scored fifties and Kaif, along with tailenders, won the match for India.

Iconic Moment

This is one of the most iconic pictures of Indian cricket. Sourav Ganguly took off his shirt and waved it for a good 10 seconds. It was a reply to England's Andrew Flintoff's act in India. Emotions on the faces of the Indian players can clearly be seen.

#1 India vs Australia, Kolkata Test 2001

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid Played exceptionally.

Just one year after Sourav Ganguly was given captaincy of India cricket team, he lead India to one of the most amazing victories for India. There have been only 3 matches where a team was forced to follow on and they went on to win the match, and this match was one of those 3.

Australia piled on runs

Australia started the match with a good opening partnership between Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater of 103. Matthew Hayden missed his hundred by 3 runs and was sent back to the dugout by the pick of the bowler for India, Harbhajan Singh. Later Steve Waugh continued the flow of runs and got his well-deserved hundred on the 2nd day of the test. Harbhajan Singh took 7 wickets for 123 runs and it consisted of a hat-trick.

India could not survive for long

Indian openers came to the ground trailing by 445 runs, and start for them was not good. No other batsmen apart from VVS Laxman scored fifty and India were all out for mere 171 runs in the first inning. Glenn Mcgrath picked up 4 wickets and India were still trailing Australia by 274 runs. Australia decided to force India for follow-on.

Both VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid became 'Walls'

Indian players showed intent in the second inning. India's first wicket partnership was 52 in comparison to 0 in the first inning, but it was the pair of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid that made all the difference in the match. Soon India surpassed Australia's first inning score and started heaping on the lead. Laxman and Dravid played for more than a day to make sure India gives Australia a good target.

Australia fell well short of the target

Australia came to bat on day 5 of the test and was chasing a target of 445. Australia was thinking of a draw but Indians were there to accept nothing less than a win. After a good first wicket partnership, Australia kept on losing wickets. Harbhajan Singh along with part-time bowler Sachin Tendulkar made things hard for Australia. 'The Terminator' went on to take 6 wickets in the second inning.

VVS Laxman played two very patient innings in the match and claimed man of the match, on the other hand, players like Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar played key roles in one of India's amazing victories.