2002 Natwest Trophy Final: on this day in cricket sourav ganguly led india beat england in natwest tro The ‘insult’ in India was avenged in England, 19 years ago the passionate ‘Dada’ did not just take off the T-shirt

New Delhi: 2002 NatWest Series Final between India and England. Even today the scenes of this match are very fresh in the minds of cricket fans. Brilliant match-winning knocks from young Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif and then the ‘Dada’ T-shirt swirling on the historic Lord’s ground Cricket fans can never forget this scene. Today it has been 19 years for this match, but it does not feel like that much time has passed for the historic match.

England scored 325 for the loss of 5 wickets in 50 overs with the help of centuries from Marcus Trescothick (109) and captain Nasser Hussain (115). Chasing the target above 300 runs was not easy in those days. Indian fans were disappointed only after watching England’s innings because India’s performance in the four-five finals before this was very poor. However, Virender Sehwag (45) and captain Sourav Ganguly (60) shared a 106-run partnership in 87 balls to create hope in the hearts of the fans.

Ganguly returned to the pavilion after being bowled by Alex Tudor. The Indian team could not take advantage of the good start and on sight the score became 146/5. Sachin Tendulkar (14), Rahul Dravid (5), Dinesh Mongia (9) and Viru also got out and returned to the pavilion. Cricket fans started leaving the field as Tendulkar was out. It is well known how much Indian batting depended on Tendulkar.

Yuvi-Kaif took revenge on England

When the Indian team seemed to have lost the match, two young batsmen Yuvraj Singh (69) and Mohammad Kaif (87*) came to the crease. Both showed great running between the wickets and started collecting shots in the four corners of the field. The enthusiasm and excitement of the Indian dressing room and cricket fans returned. Yuvi-Kaiphu put on a 121 run partnership for the sixth wicket. Then Yuvraj Singh gave the catch to Tudor off Collingwood’s ball.

Harbhajan Singh (15) again played Mohammad Kaif well. Both added 47 runs for the seventh wicket. In the end, Zaheer Khan took a run after playing a light-handed shot off Andrew Flintoff. It was an overthrow and the Indian batsmen made history by taking the second run. India defeated England by 2 wickets in the NatWest Series final.

Ganguly gave a befitting reply to England by swirling T-shirt

Let us tell you that before the NatWest series, the England team had come to India on a tour. Then England won the fifth match in a thrilling fashion at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Then Andrew Flintoff took off his T-shirt and celebrated the victory and circled the Wankhede Stadium.

Ganguly was very disappointed with this series loss as he had a great chance to win. After this, when India won the final of the NatWest Series, Ganguly took revenge on Flintoff for taking off the T-shirt and immortalized this scene of Lord’s balcony in Indian cricket history. Ganguly gave a befitting reply to Flintoff by turning the T-shirt in anger. It has been 19 years today, but after India’s victory, this view of the dressing room hardly any cricket fan would have forgotten.