The upcoming World Cup final will see an undefeated India against five-time champions Australia. This highly anticipated final will take place at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the biggest cricket ground, on November 19. Ahead of this clash, the AFP news agency has selected six unforgettable matches from two powerhouses.
“Tendulkar’s Desert Storm: April 22, 1998”
This match occurred during the tri-nation Coca-Cola Cup’s league stage in Sharjah. Australia batted first and posted 284 runs, taking 7 wickets. India needed 276 runs to win but faced a sandstorm, interrupting the match. Despite the odds, India chased the revised target of 276 runs, and to advance to the final, they required 235 runs. While India didn’t win, they had scored more runs than New Zealand, securing a spot in the final. Sachin Tendulkar’s pivotal innings of 143 runs in challenging conditions earned him the moniker “Desert Storm”.
“Ponting’s Domination: March 23, 2003”
This match was the final of the World Cup held in Johannesburg. India won the toss, but Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, emerged as the true hero despite losing the toss. Opening with Matthew Hayden, Ponting’s initial partnership of 105 runs in 14 overs set Australia on a firm footing. His unbeaten partnership of 234 runs with Damien Martyn (88*) propelled Australia to 359 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Ponting’s personal contribution was 140 runs from 121 balls, comprising 4 fours and 8 sixes. His innings stood tall amidst a massive score, and India fell short, managing 234 runs in 39.2 overs in response to Australia’s 359.
“So Close Yet So Far: November 5, 2009”
In a Hyderabad match during a bilateral series, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh scored 145 runs for the first wicket for Australia. While Watson scored 93 runs, Marsh made a remarkable 112. Australia set a strong total of 350 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Despite Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliant 175 runs in an innings played across 141 balls, the majority of India’s batsmen struggled. Except for Suresh Raina’s 59, no other batsman could cross the fifty-run mark. Seven out of eleven batsmen got out in single digits. India lost the match by just 3 runs despite having two overs left. Ricky Ponting praised Tendulkar’s innings, calling it “one of the best matches and one of Sachin’s best innings in adverse conditions.”
“Knocked Out Punch: March 24, 2011”
Powered by Ricky Ponting’s 104 runs, Australia set a target of 260 runs for India in the World Cup quarter-final. India needed big innings after Sachin Tendulkar’s 53 and Gautam Gambhir’s 50, and it was Yuvraj Singh who stepped in. With just 14 balls left, Yuvraj’s unbeaten 57 runs helped India win with 5 wickets in hand. Later, India won against Pakistan in the semifinal and Sri Lanka in the final to lift the trophy.
“Batting Dominance: October 16, 2013”
In a match held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 100 off just 52 balls. Although Australia scored 359 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, Kohli’s batting led India to win by 9 wickets with 8 overs to spare. George Bailey of Australia praised India’s batting as “spectacular” after an unbeaten 92-run innings by Glenn Maxwell at the end.
“Smith’s Revenge: March 26, 2015”
In the World Cup semifinal, Australia defeated India in their own backyard. Australia batted first and scored 328 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, with Steven Smith scoring 105 runs in 93 balls. Despite Smith’s heroics, India couldn’t chase down the total, losing by 95 runs, and Australia went on to win the World Cup by defeating New Zealand in the final.
