5 times when the tail helped India achieve famous victories

#2 7th ODI - India vs Australia, 2007

Zaheer was at it again, this time helped by Murali Kartik

After emerging champions in the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007, it was MS Dhoni’s first challenge as India’s ODI captain. But his side had been outplayed in the seven-match series and were trailing 4-1 heading into the final ODI at Mumbai, with the first match being washed out. India had consistently failed in all three departments, and it would take something special to bring the Australians down in the last ODI.

The fans had come in numbers as always, and playing in Mumbai, India hoped to give them something to cheer about. Some early surprises ensued as Murali Kartik was included in the team, with Rahul Dravid being rested. But, at the end of the day, the fans had reason to cheer him the most, as he single-handedly took down the Aussie line-up.

After Zaheer Khan removed Michael Clarke first up, it was left to Kartik to weave a web around Australia. He started by removing Brad Hodge, and then the dangerous Andrew Symonds. An Aussie counter-attack could have been on the cards, but Kartik was there to wrap things up. He wiped out the lower-middle order all by himself as he picked up 6-27, with Australia all out for 193.

It was India’s best bowling effort in the series, and a consolatory win seemed to be close but as always, the Indian batsmen found ways to get out cheaply. Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik got out for ducks, and Sachin followed soon after. Robin Uthappa tried his hardest to move the strike around but was soon running out of partners. As Irfan Pathan departed for India’s third duck, India stood at 64-6.

But Harbhajan gave Uthappa a hand, and the duo added a fifty-run partnership. Then both batsmen were dismissed in 20 balls, and at 143-8 with 50 runs to get, India looked done and dusted.

It was once again left to Zaheer Khan and bowling hero Murali Kartik to get India home. Zaheer was bounced, yorked and sledged, but he batted with surprising maturity, only stepping out to hit Brett Lee over long off. Kartik, on the other hand, played and missed, with all of his boundaries coming behind the ‘keeper. At one point, he actually nicked the ball, but the umpire didn’t hear it over the raucous noise the crowd was making.

Zaheer and Kartik batted for 11 overs for 52 runs – India’s second highest partnership – and finally steered them home amidst cheers and disbelieving shakes of heads.