The folklore of Natwest final of 2002 has been told and retold so many times in the past 20 years. It was not only one of the greatest wins in the limited overs for Indian Cricket, but it will also be remembered for changing the mindset of Indian players. It also ignited the belief in Indian players that they can win matches in overseas conditions.
The match is also remembered for Sourav Ganguly’s iconic celebration at the Lord’s balcony. Former England cricketer Nick Knight was part of the final and even opened the innings for England. The opener recalled the extraordinary partnership between Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, which snatched the victory from England.
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Didn’t know about Yuvraj and Kaif: Nick Knight
England won the toss on that day and they decide to bat first and scored a mammoth total of 325 for five thanks to centuries from captain Nasser Hussain and Marcus Trescothick. In response Sourav Ganguly and Virendra Sehwag started the innings brilliantly with 106 runs opening partnership but, then India lost their way in the batting and was struggling at 146 for 5. With all their well-known batsmen back in the dugout and a young pair of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif at the crease, it looked like England’s game, but the two put on an epic 121-run stand that steered India to an unlikely victory.
“The game back then was not played the same way it is done now. So 325…I can tell you that when we were back in the dressing room and having some of the best foods we were pretty happy with ourselves. I knew we were playing against a good side with extremely good players but in those days if you got 325, you are the strong, strong favorites,”
Nick Knight said.
The pair of Kaif and Yuvi scored a crucial 121-run partnership before Yuvraj was dismissed for 69. Kaif then stood tall alongside the tail enders in Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan to wrap up the chase with three balls to spare.
“When the partnership began to unfold you started thinking that these are really good players. Yuvraj was just smashing it leg side and over long-on. But what Kaif did affected me a little bit a deep point because a fielder there think he just got to stop the boundary but what he was so good at was hitting the half-length balls and makes you think that you got to come in and stop those twos and threes. They ran us ragging. That partnership was filled with ones, twos and threes. It was one of the best partnerships that I can remember playing the game, When Sachin got out, the entire England crowd, the team and part of the Indian dressing room were thinking that it’s a long way for India to win this game so for those two guys to do what they did was extraordinary.”
Nick Knight on Kaif-Yuvi partnership.
On July 13 this year will be 20th anniversary of the extraordinary win in the Natwest finals and it will remain as the one of the greatest limited overs victory for India in overseas.
