Players who've won most Man Of the Match awards in losing causes

A number of times we’ve come across the situation when the best cricketer of the match ironically ending up on the losing side. No cricketer wants to be proud of those moments, when his best cannot complete a win for his side. A number of factors including collective failure of his team might have been responsible for the defeat. Those players will simply have to be satisfied with the line: ‘Lost the match, but won many hearts’. Here, let us have a look at the players who not only won just hearts many times but also the most number of Man of the Match awards, when their side failed to cross the finishing line.

#5 Javed Miandad - 5 times

The Pakistani batsmen was known for his knock againsts India with the most popular one in a tournament final at Sharjah smashing the last ball for a maximum leading his side to a win over arch-rivals.

Miandad was one of Pakistan’s great, and a dependable batsman. The right-hander won the MOM award in an ODI way back in 1982, when he hammered 119 off just 77 balls against India at Lahore to help his team post 252 in just 33 overs of a rain-affected game.

However, India made 193 in 27 overs when rained stopped play. India was declared winners by 17 runs as Pakistan were at 175 at the same stage. No Duckworth-Lewis then!

#4 Andy Flower - 5 times

The Zimbabwean was the star of his country who starred by inspiring his team to a few memorable wins. But most of the time found no company for survival facing tough opposition bolwers.

With the modest record of Zimbabwe, he has won many accolades throughout his innings. Not many international teams are blessed with good wicket-keeper batsmen and had he played for a top side, that would have enabled him to reap more rewards for his performances.

The left handed Flower’s memorable moment of his career came in 2001 in a five-day game. When South African top 3 – Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis, put on a mighty total of 600 in first innings, Flower scored 142 that could only see Zimbabwe posting 286 on board. Following on Flower made an outstanding 199* only to be left stranded by the tail that gave him good company before failing.

#3 Aravinda de Silva - 5 times

The Sri Lankan batsman batting at no.3 often pulled off something special for his side. The right hander’s innings of the 105 against Pakistan in the 3rd innings of a Test match at Karachi, 1985 was not enough to help his side avoid losing the match.

He scored some great knocks for the island nation. The rest of his team could only manage 108 and was recognised for his hard work with the player of the match award.

#2 Chris Gayle - 6 times

The West Indian opener known for his powerful hits has been the one of the very few bright spots in West Indian cricket after the end of their golden era. The left-hander from Jamaica has often given the Carribean side handy starts only for the middle order to throw it away and finally end up losing the match.

One of those MOM awards came against India in an ODI match at Motera, Ahemdabad in 2002, when Gayle blasted 140 from 127 balls before India got over the line in a chase of 325.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar - 9 times

The ‘Master Blaster’ himself and who else. The man who carried the expectations of a nation for a long, long time, produced many remarkable innings, but sometimes even his best wasn’t enough.

He was once the lonely fighter for India when the team lacked quality players to finish off the match before the powerful Indian middle order rose to height. Even after them, the ‘God of Cricket’ has played many lone hands.

In recent memory, his innings of 175 in an ODI against Australia in 2009, chasing 350 was a maginificent one that almost single handedly placed India in sight of victory, only for the other players to flop as a group. India lost the match, losing remaining 3 wickets and failing to chase 19 runs from 17 deliveries after Sachin’s dismissal.

In the memorable Test match against Pakistan at Chennai in 1999, Sachin waged a great fight before losing his wicket for 136 chasing 271, Sachin was the 7th wicket at 254 before the side crumbled for 258. There were many good performers for Pakistan, but Sachin was honoured for his effort.