SK Flashback: When crowd paranoia knocked India out of the 1996 World Cup

All hell breaks lose from the stands

Match referee Clive Lloyd awarded the match to Sri Lanka after the crowd at the Eden Gardens began to throw objects onto the field

Anil Kumble had just joined Vinod Kambli on the field when the crowd began to throw different objects onto the field including cans, bottles, plastic bags, whatever they could get hold of.

Arjuna Ranatunga told the umpires about this and the Sri Lankans refused to take the field until and unless the crowd would settle down. The match was halted but the drama persisted even when match referee and two-time World Cup winning captain Clive Lloyd entered the field. After a few minutes, seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Lloyd awarded the match to the Sri Lankans by default and India were knocked out of the tournament.

Tears began to roll down the eyes of Vinod Kambli as he left the field along with Kumble because he believed he could have inspired India to the final. Aravinda de Silva was adjudged the man of the match for his 47-ball 66 and was also adjudged the man of the match in the final for his brilliant century which helped Sri Lanka to their first World Cup win.

Since their semi-final, India have gone on to reach the World Cup final twice, winning once and losing once and have beaten Sri Lanka in three out of four meetings at the World Cup but their semi-final defeat to Sri Lanka 21 years back will always be remembered by the Indian fans for all the wrong reasons.