Flashback: 3 historic sixes by Indian cricketing legends at the ICC World Cup 

Be it anything – a straight drive to the boundary, an athletic catch, a high-risk reverse sweep, a splendid run-out, and even a solid front foot defense, in the game of cricket, there is always something to cheer about.

But there is something magical when the ball sails over the boundary line for a massive six! It just gets the crowd going, cheering at their top of their voices, jumping off the stands, only wanting more and more of it. And when it is at the biggest cricketing event – the Cricket World Cup – by none other the cricketing legends of the game themselves, it just can’t get better than that.

Here is a look at 3 historic sixes by Indian cricketing legends at the ICC World Cup over the years:

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#1 Sourav Ganguly (India vs Sri Lanka, Group Stage, 1999 ICC World Cup)

Having lost to South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier, it was massively important that India win their rest of the games to stay alive in the 1999 World Cup. It was a match against Sri Lanka on May 26th at Taunton. India lost the toss and was asked to bat first. Little did the islanders know of the storm coming their way. The Tiger of Bengal, Sourav Ganguly, decided to roar that day and scored his career’s best 183.

In his splendid innings, the King of Sixes smashed seven sixes out of the park but amongst them, the best was his superb six off the world’s best off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan that stood out. He simply stepped down and hit it straight over the sightscreen and right at the famous Ian Botham stand.

India ended up scoring a massive total of 376 runs, thanks to the then-highest partnership ever in ODIs. Sourav Ganguly and The Wall, Rahul Dravid added 318 runs and unsurprisingly, won the game by a big margin of 157 runs. Unfortunately, India’s campaign at the World Cup did not last long and ended at the Super Six stage.

Yet the marvelous six by Ganguly will always be cherished in our memory lane.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar (India vs Pakistan, Group Stage, 2003 ICC World Cup)

4 years later, India were once again up against their arch rival, Pakistan. An India vs Pakistan cricket match isn’t just any other game. In fact, it draws way more attention than even the World Cup final and hence, winning this match becomes imperative, even more than the prestigious trophy itself.

Pakistan won the toss and scored a very respectful 273. Back then it was a very good total especially in an intense World Cup match. As expected, it was now India’s batting vs Pakistan’s fiery bowling attack comprising Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, the most destructive pair of their time, came up the crease. To every Indian fan's dream, they started their onslaught.

Amongst the flurry of impeccable shots, Tendulkar played a masterstroke by smashing the world’s fastest bowler, Shoaib Akhtar over point for a breathtaking six. The entire stadium went insane, beyond any stretch of the imagination, and the six became the moment of the World Cup.

Unfortunately, Tendulkar could not score yet another century and was eventually caught off a fiery bouncer by Shoaib. However, by then, Sachin had brought the game relatively towards India’s side and with a solid innings by Dravid (44*) and the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh (50*), India successfully continued their winning run against Pakistan at cricket’s biggest stage, the ICC World Cup.

Tendulkar was later awarded as the Man of the Match for this excellent show. Unfortunately, India yet again failed to accomplish their dream of winning the trophy after losing to mighty Australia in the World Cup final.

#3 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India vs Sri Lanka, World Cup Final, 2011 World Cup)

8 years after 2003, India were playing another World Cup Final in 2011. The very loss against Australia years back was still fresh in every Indian’s heart and up until that day, was hurting every Indian. After a long wait of 28 years, India once again had the opportunity to win the cricket’s most prestigious trophy on their own soil.

The date was 02nd April, India were up against another Asian giant, Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It was Sri Lanka that won the toss, chose to bat and scored a very much defendable 272 runs and with Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan on their side, it was never an easy task at the World Cup final.

India had the worse start of the tournament, losing both their openers - Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar to red-hot Lasith Malinga. India were 31/2 in just the 7th over. After a decent partnership (83 runs) between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, the out-of-form, MS Dhoni chose to promote himself to safeguard the man of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh from the wily spin attack.

And as we have experienced it on several occasions, the best finisher of the game, with the support of the others around, gradually spoiled the evening for Sri Lanka. It was the 48th over and the victory for Men In Blue was inevitable now with 5 runs needed in 2 overs. Yuvraj Singh ran the single off the first ball of the over and billions of eyes were now on MS Dhoni. Nuwan Kulasekara ran one more time with hope against hope, pitched the ball right up in front and MS Dhoni hammered the ball out of the park over the long on for a massive six to reclaim World Cup after 28 years. The jam-packed stadium erupted in joy and so did the entire nation.

There have been and will be many more sixes in cricket, but MS Dhoni’s six will always remain the most iconic six in the history of the Indian cricket.