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THE BEST TAIL ENDER

TURBANATOR BHAZI

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

Can you decide, who is the best TAILENDER of India, Nay OF World, in CRICKET??

Let us review records:-

1. India vs Australia, 3rd test, Chennai, 2001.

India had won Kolkata test. History was made. Mighty Australian's Unbeaten run of 16 Tests had been stopped. Though the final nail in the coffin was yet to be driven. They moved to Chennai for the series decider. It was such an important match for Indian Cricket point of view.

Nobody had imagined even in their wildest dream that India could pull off a series victory against an unbeatable team.

It couldn't have been closer.

After five days of enthralling Cricket, on final day of Chennai test, India was standing on the verge of a miracle as 4 was needed with only two wickets remaining. Aussies were making it immensely difficult for India as they had taken last 6 wickets for only 50 runs. Remaining 4 runs seemed like 400 and In-walked our number 10 batsman.

Under humongous pressure, he held his nerve and scored 3*(5) to win the match and series for our Country. It was an unimaginable series victory and went on to be engraved in history as one of the most consequential for Indian Cricket.

He had already turned the tide in the series singlehandedly with the ball but believe me, his 3* was pure Gold.

2. India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd test, Delhi, March, 2002.

India was 1–0 up coming into this final test of the series. Andy Flower’s 92 helped Zimbabwe to put 329 on board in the first innings. In reply, Dada played a fierce knock of 136 and India was able to steal a vital lead of 24. Match was even by then.

In the second innings, Kumble and Harbhajan took 6 and 4 wickets respectively which resulted Zimbabwe all out for 146. A fourth innings target of 123 looked quite easy until Indian batters screwed it up horribly and found themselves reeling on 105–6. No Indian fan wanted an embarrassment against Zimbabwe at home.

Then this number 8 batsman came out there, hit 2 fours and a Six to finish it off for India.

3. India vs England, NatWest Trophy Final, Lord's, 2002.

Who doesn't cherish this match?

After having lost 9 consecutive finals, India was yet again in another final with a task of chasing 326 at Lord's. They were down to 146–5 with all big guns back to the pavilion, and then Yuvraj and Kaif produced a magical partnership that brought India close to an improbable victory. Yuvraj couldn't finished it off as he gifted his wicket with India still needing 59. Md. Kaif was left out there with tailenders. There came our number 8. He played like a champion in such adverse condition. He smoked even a Six, scored 15 off 13 and put an indispensable partnership of 47 with Md. kaif.

Without his contribution, Cricket World wouldn't have witnessed Sourav Ganguly's heroic act From Lord's Balcony.

4. India vs England, Second Test, Trent Bridge, 2002.

This entire series was eventful. Coming into second test, India was 0–1 behind. India saved the second test by a very close margin, thanks to Dravid, Dada and Sachin's fighting innings and Little Parthiv's courageous 19* on the last day of the play. But people forgot India's first Innings third highest scorer which came from our number 9. He scored fiery 54. He completed his half century in only 33 deliveries. Back then it was the second fastest Indian half century, next to Legendary Kapil Dev.

Without his 54, India would not have reached to a respectable total in the first innings itself,  and who knows what would have happened later.

5. India vs Australia, 1st test, Bangalore, 2008.

In a reply of Aussies' 430, India were struggling on 195–6 with Ganguly left the crease. Our number 8, batting with Dada, not only saved follow-on for India, also he stitched another 80 runs with Zaheer. India went on to score 360 and he himself made 54 off 110. Test was draw at the end.

If India had followed on that day, there was no way that test could have been saved.

6. Same Series—4^Th test

In the fourth test of the same series, India, in their second innings, was struggling on 165–6. Again, our number 8 made a half century and India went on to put a target of 382 against Aussies which proved to be enough to regain Border-Gavaskar trophy.

7. India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup, 2010.

It was a very tensed contest. It had to be,  because of obvious reason. He walked out to the middle at number 8 when India was needed 49 off 29. He gave a tremendous support to Raina. But Raina lost his wicket in the last over. Despite Shoaib Akhtar's constant verbal attack, our number 8 showed his skills and temperament all over again and whacked a mighty Six to win the match.

He roared, roared, and kept roaring as Pakistan was out of the tournament.

8. India vs West Indies, 1st Test, Jamaica, 2011.

On the first day, Edwards and Rampaul made Indian top order dance on their tune. India was down to a shameful figure of 85–6.

It was the time for our Number 8, yet again. He joined Raina and there came a partnership which not only saved the face for Indian team, also it helped to win the match. They both added 146 together. He made 70 and India scored 246. It changed the momentum in a big way. They then  came hard as a bowling unit and folded WI for 173. Match was almost decided by then.

Later every elite-expert agreed that without his contribution it would have been impossible to dominate the match for India, let alone a win.

I think I have shared enough to consider him as the best tailender in the World.

Cricket looks like a game dominated by numbers but, I have always believed that, this sport transcends the effect of Numbers. 10 runs might be greater than a century or 0* can save the Test in a better way than many other big inning. It is not the Runs, or wickets—it is—in which situation you got them

In Cricket, just like the real life, small factors(moments) matter in a huge way and somehow we forget or ignore them in front of big ones.

The man, I’m talking about here, has played countless such important innings throughout his career, though he was already a champion Cricketer with the ball in his hand.

If you are still not convinced then let me share one more information with you — In 2010 against New Zealand, in INDIA,  he scored two Centuries in two consecutive tests in Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.

The Indian Cricket would have lost much of its colour in DADA’s period without HIM.

Source:- Sports Magazine