Top 10 victories of Indian cricket team since 2000

Cricket - a mere sport in the rest of the world; a "religion" in India. A game which sees a number of "prayers" everytime the "Demi Gods" take the field. The only sport which is capable of transcending boundaries and uniting a billion,sending them into a frenzy whenever a victory is recordedby the men in blue.Cricket is not just a sport in the nation - it is a way of life. On the occasion of India's 68th Independence Day, here's a look at the 10 greatest victories by the team since 2000, which has given the Indians many memories along with an unparalleled sense of pride.

#1 India vs Australia, Kolkata (2001)

Widely regarded as one of the finest victories registered in the world of cricket. The Indian team was staring at defeat after being asked to follow on by Australia.

Two youngsters VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid became overnight heroes when they played out of their skin to lead the team to 657/7. Harbhajan Singh grabbed 6 wickets, including a hattrick, as the Kangaroos suffered their most humiliating defeat, thus ending their 16 match unbeaten streak.

The match not only instilled in the players a sense of self belief but also inspired them for greater feats in the years to come.

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#2 Natwest series - India vs England (2002)

The ODI match which possibly changed the face of Indian cricket forever.

Faced with a daunting 326 to chase in the final of the Natwest Series against England in 2002, the team of youngsters led by Sourav Ganguly scripted one of the most historic wins abroad with Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh guiding India to victory.

The never seen before scenes of Dada twirling his shirt in full public view and the outburst of pent up emotions undoubtedly showed what the win meant for a team which was regarded as an underdog in all competitions till then.

This victory filled the Indians with a never say die spirit and the belief that one could win under all circumstances, reasons which consequently saw the team progress to the finals of the 2003 WC in South Africa when no one was willing to give them a chance.

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#3 Australia vs India - Adelaide Test (2003)

One of India’s most hard-fought victories away from home, Adelaide’s triumph was a cause of celebration for Indians.

Under Ganguly, this team gave Australia a fight they probably never expected from India. In reply to Australia’s 556, India replied with Dravid and Laxman troubling the Aussies again. While Laxman made 148, Dravid went on to complete a fine double century, leading India to 523 as the match looked to be heading towards a draw.

But an unlikely hero emerged.

Ajit Agarkar’s only 5-wicket haul in Test cricket came at the most unexpected time. He went through the top and lower order and scalped 6 as the match suddenly came alive. Australia folded for 196 and India chased downt the target after some hiccups, that man Dravid again leading from the front with a fine half-century.

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#4 India vs Pakistan (2004)

Having demolished Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, India toured Pakistan for the first time in almost 15 years!

The two arch rivals faced each other in 2004 in a tour best remembered for Virender Sehwag’s heroics with the bat as he became the first Indian to score a triple century in Multan. India pocketed the series 2-1 for the first time in 50 years.

This win further strengthened the growing dominance of Indian cricket as they were slowly but surely making their presence felt around the world.

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#5 England vs India - Test Series (2007)

Possibly one of the greatest Test victories recorded overseas under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid in 2007.

Playing a 3-match Test series, the Indian team survived a close draw in the 1st match at Lord’s before registering a memorable win at Nottingham with Zaheer Khan picking up 9 wickets.

Another draw at The Oval meant India registered their first series win on English soil in 26 years, a feat which hasn't been replicated in the 2 tours to England that have followed in 2011 and 2014.

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#6 CB Series - India vs Australia (2008)

It was probably the last time Tendulkar was playing an ODI series in Australia and he did not disappoint. After Sri Lanka were knocked out in the tri-nation event, the hosts faced Dhoni’s boys in the best of 3 finals. The odds were against the tourists but the Master Blaster decided otherwise. He scored 117* and 91 in the two finals to give India It's first ODI series triumph in Australia.

Ricky Ponting, in an act of over confidence, had stated "there won't be the need for a third final." His words rung true in the end.

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#7 T20 World Cup triumph (2007)

Not much was expected of the Indian team in the first Twenty20 WC after legends Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly opted out giving the youngsters a chance in the tournament. Under a new captain MS Dhoni, the Indians notched up one victory after another to make the finals of the world event, eventually beating Pakistan to the trophy.

Yuvraj's six sixes in the 18th over of the match against England and the triumph against the fancied Australians in a high octane semi finals clash are moments which will be relieved by fans for a long time to come.

The tournament announced the arrival of a younger set of players who had the responsibly of taking Indian cricket forward.

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#8 India vs Australia, Perth (2008)

An emotional win which was about reputation and self respect more than anything else.

The third Test at WACA was preceded by an ill tempered Sydney Test which saw 11 wrong decisions go against the Indians and more importantly witnessed the ban of Bhajji over the Monkey Gate episode on "racial" grounds. Soon the event became a national issue with the entire country up in arms against the behaviour meted out to the players.

With the pride of the entire nation at stake, the tourists took the field and gave it their all. Fiery spells from RP Singh and Irfan Pathan literally bounced out the Aussies as the tourists registered a memorable victory on one of the bounciest pitches in the world.

The scenes of Bhajji running around the field with the tricolor without doubt filled every Indian with patriotism as they managed to snap the 16 match unbeaten record of the Australians once again.

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#9 India vs England, Chennai (2008)

When the nation was engulfed in tears after the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, cricket gave the countrymen a small reason to rejoice.

The English team returned to India in a show of solidarity to play a Test series, the first of which was held in Chennai. Chasing an improbable 387 for victory, Tendulkar notched up a fine century following Sehwag's heroics as the target was chased down with ease.

The script couldn't have been better for the man from Mumbai as he hit the winning runs and dedicated his emotional knock to the Mumbai Martyrs.

His outrage at the ruthless attacks on his home ground, the applauses from even the groundswomen for his efforts and his proud proclamation "I play for India.. now more than ever" makes the match a personal favourite.

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#10 The World Cup triumph (2011)

The 2011 WC held in the subcontinent was the last time Tendulkar was playing the event. He all time highest run-scorer of the event signed off on a high by winning the prized Cup in front of a home crowd in Wankhede.

Man of the Tournament, Yuvraj’s blitzkrieg and the teams dominance in in the event rounded off a perfect decade for Indian cricket which was started by Ganguly and saw MSD carrying on the baton forward as the team reached the pinnacles of success.

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