Sanjay Bangar: Headingley and Motera

Sanjay Bangar, the prolific all-rounder from Mumbai, has been an invaluable asset to the Railways team for more than one-and-a-half decades. Having played quite a significant role in helping his team win four major Championships, he decided to hang his boots on the first day of 2013. He also featured in the national colours for 12 tests and 15 ODIs in a career that spanned for three years. A member of the 2003 World Cup squad, the gritty Bangar is remembered for his two knocks, one in each format, despite having a rather disappointing International career.

Leeds, Headingley (22 August 2002)

Bangar in position to face a ball from Hoggard in Leeds

England had defeated India at Lord’s in the first test and the Ganguly-led Indian side were searching for an outright win to level the series in the third test. But it was Headingley, and the ball was swinging more than ever. Amid oppositions, Dada went for a twin-spin attack, and Bangar was included ahead of Wasim Jaffer, to serve as the third seamer. And there was more surprise, when India came into bat, as Bangar was sent in to open the innings with Sehwag. He was supposed to see off the shine in the new ball and it was a formidable challenge for someone, who was not a regular opener.

Viru found safe hands at the slip cordon in the seventh over, and Bangar found a solid Dravid at the other end. There were qualms about his selection and he knew well that he was under the hammer. But Bangar rose to the occassion, and justified the faith that Ganguly and Wright had on him. He took a leaf out of his partner’s book, batted with guts and precision, and frustrated the likes of Caddick, Flintoff and Hoggard in seamer-friendly conditions.

His domestic experience came to the fore, as he stuck to the basics, dodged deliveries that were outside the off-stump with certainty, and above all, he sent an air of confidence to the dressing room. He was engaged in one of the finest partnerships ever witnessed, making 170 runs with the canny Dravid, who played the innings of his lifetime with a subtle 148. And as Sachin would say later, “It was Bangar and Dravid who gave us the hope to win;” Bangar’s 68 would always be rated higher than Sachin’s and Sourav’s centuries in the famous victory at Leeds. And yes, he was a revelation!

Motera, Ahmedabad (15 November 2002)

Sachin Tendulkar was declared unfit for the ODI series against West Indies. And Sanjay Bangar was given a chance to stake his claim in the limited overs format in the fourth ODI. India decided to send West Indies to bat, but the decision misfired right from the start, as the Indian bowlers were at the receiving end of the rampage, led by Chris Gayle. Chasing 325 for a win, India were left trailing at 231-5 in 38 overs, with Dravid sticking in the crease, as that was the trend then, and Bangar had just arrived.

Both were classical batsmen, and with an asking rate of around 8 runs per over, an Indian win looked extremely difficult, and also Dravid looked tired with the extra burden of keeping wickets. But Bangar brought out an unexpected reassurance to Dravid, as he raised his game a notch above the other batsmen, and he thwarted the Carribean bowlers around the park. It was really an incredible assault from Bangar, that stunned the bowlers, and was more stunning to the Indian supporters.

He made the chase look like a cakewalk, hitting 57 runs off 41 balls, including two hits over the fence, as India romped home with more than two overs to spare. Dravid carved a patient century at the other end, but it was Bangar who made it look way easier.

Sanjay Bangar was not a champion international cricketer, but he will be remembered well for these famous wins, ably supporting Dravid on both the occasions.