"I was very sad because Sachin Tendulkar got out for 98 (2003 World Cup)" : Shoaib Akhtar

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Lol. Australia would have won that final even if they had dropped him 5 times.

Yeh kuch zyada ho gaya.

Sachin in 2003 World Cup

11 matches 673 runs

I am pretty sure you didn't watch that match or world cup live but at least do some research before posting nonsense.

 

[smoothcriminal]

While Razzaq got a bit of flak for dropping Tendulkar - he gave a detailed explanation as to why it appeared that he dropped.

Razzaq has said that over the years he'd known Tendulkar to be also very adept at pinching quick singles along with his boundary shots in the first 15 overs. And that Razzaq had practiced coming in a few steps as the bowler bowled his ball to cut off those singles. If you look at the catch - Razzaq had to absolutely leap into the air to grab the catch. Had he stayed at the edge of the circle without moving in - that would have been a straightforward catch - of course it is moot if Tendulkar would have played that shot - had he realized Razzaq was right there at the circle.

Wasim did yell at Razzaq why did he move in so quickly from the circle.

It is these little fine details that only players who were on the field can explain which provides a lot of insight into how things have unravelled.

For outside viewers - it just looked like Razzaq had dropped the catch - but I thought it was interesting what led to that catch being dropped.

Thanks for that. That does provide interesting context. Also, whatever you say about it, it was a tough catch, and given how lightyears India were ahead, they would have still gone on to win it.

The momentum had shifted twice during the match (1: When Waqar got two wickets in two balls, and 2. When Shoaib got Tendulkar out finally). In Pakistan bowling attack's heydays, this would have been ripe for the bowling line to fire up a collapse, but they couldn't in both situations. Kaif and Yuvraj (top players who were at their peak, especially post 2002 Natwest Final) easily saw through whatever fumes were left in the Pakistan bowling attack.

It was a watershed moment/match. The passing of the guard. The dominance had officially ended. Tendulkar's six was iconic for many reasons. End of an era for us. One we have never quite recovered from.

 

[Markhor]

I always felt that after Pakistan won that ODI series in Australia 2-1 in 2002, the success went to Shoaib Akhtar's head & he totally went off track. Pakistan looked like hot favorites after that epic ODI series win in Australia but next 6 months , they fell off badly in ODIs ( remember Morocco , Nairobi , ICC Champions trophy & South Africa series ) & at 2003 WC they came with lot of hype on paper but little substance

I remember that Nairobi tri-series vividly, we were even labouring to beat Kenya ! There was a match where we needed to chase 130, and we lost 6 wickets.

From there you could sense trouble ahead.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Lol. Australia would have won that final even if they had dropped him 5 times.

I mean Pak dropped VK and got him very next ball in CT.

Maybe SRT would have been clean bowled in the next delivery or maybe he could have scored a match winning 100. It's just speculation at this point.

The fact is India lost the momentum when he got out and of course full credit to that great Aussie team.

 

[leonidas_alexandar]

Thanks for that. That does provide interesting context. Also, whatever you say about it, it was a tough catch, and given how lightyears India were ahead, they would have still gone on to win it.

The momentum had shifted twice during the match (1: When Waqar got two wickets in two balls, and 2. When Shoaib got Tendulkar out finally). In Pakistan bowling attack's heydays, this would have been ripe for the bowling line to fire up a collapse, but they couldn't in both situations. Kaif and Yuvraj (top players who were at their peak, especially post 2002 Natwest Final) easily saw through whatever fumes were left in the Pakistan bowling attack.

It was a watershed moment/match. The passing of the guard. The dominance had officially ended. Tendulkar's six was iconic for many reasons. End of an era for us. One we have never quite recovered from.

Those 2 moments you pointed out were so important.

I still remember Ravi Shastri in the commentary box exhorting Indian fans that Pakistan will bounce back (this is after Sachin slashed that six off Shoaib). Ravi who played against Pakistan when Pak had a stranglehold over India - perhaps was scarred by the many Pakistani comebacks.

When Waqar got those two back to back wickets - if you watch the replay now - you can see the classic Pakistan - players absolutely buzzing, jumping up and down and the way they converged like a pack of hyenas. You are right in Pakistan's heyday that would have been the beginning of the end. But Tendulkar was in a different mood - he simply refused to slow down at any time really until the cramps hit him.

The second one you pointed out was also significant - when Tendulkar got out at 98 India still needed more than 90 runs. The spineless India of the 90's especially with their horrendous chasing record would probably have folded but - that was the new India with Kaif, Yuvraj and Dravid also coming into his own.

I am glad that people remember Tendulkar's innings to this day because if you look the stats 98 runs in 75 balls - these innings are dime a dozen these days. But those days in 2003 that was a special innings especially coming against your archrivals in a World Cup game.

 

[Mesozoic]

Yeh kuch zyada ho gaya.

Sachin in 2003 World Cup

11 matches 673 runs

I am pretty sure you didn't watch that match or world cup live but at least do some research before posting nonsense.

We weren't gonna chase 360 against a bowling attack of McGrath, Lee, Bichel and Hogg that too in a world cup final. The maximum threshold was maybe 310 even if Sachin played a blinder amidst 5 dropped chances.

 

[Markhor]

Thanks for that. That does provide interesting context. Also, whatever you say about it, it was a tough catch, and given how lightyears India were ahead, they would have still gone on to win it.

The momentum had shifted twice during the match (1: When Waqar got two wickets in two balls, and 2. When Shoaib got Tendulkar out finally). In Pakistan bowling attack's heydays, this would have been ripe for the bowling line to fire up a collapse, but they couldn't in both situations. Kaif and Yuvraj (top players who were at their peak, especially post 2002 Natwest Final) easily saw through whatever fumes were left in the Pakistan bowling attack.

It was a watershed moment/match. The passing of the guard. The dominance had officially ended. Tendulkar's six was iconic for many reasons. End of an era for us. One we have never quite recovered from.

I think there's two narratives that emerged after the match.

The first I agree with, which is India moved ahead of Pakistan as a cricketing nation after Centurion 2003. The big money began to roll in and they were increasingly professionalising their setup - reflected in their fielding and fitness standards, whereas Pakistan were still using their tried and tested 1990s playbook.

The second narrative, that Pakistan developed a mental block playing India didn't happen after Centurion 2003 but much later. Pakistan-India matches were nip and tuck affairs throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

The point where I really felt India had asserted their dominance was Adelaide 2015. Pakistan were so distinctly second best in every department, the margin of defeat of 76 runs frankly flattered us. They looked fitter, faster, more tactically aware, and self-assured. That day was when seven years of IPL and massive TV deals finally came to bear on the H2H rivalry. It's been one way traffic since with exception of CT17 final.

 

[Hyperion66]

Thanks for that. That does provide interesting context. Also, whatever you say about it, it was a tough catch, and given how lightyears India were ahead, they would have still gone on to win it.

The momentum had shifted twice during the match (1: When Waqar got two wickets in two balls, and 2. When Shoaib got Tendulkar out finally). In Pakistan bowling attack's heydays, this would have been ripe for the bowling line to fire up a collapse, but they couldn't in both situations. Kaif and Yuvraj (top players who were at their peak, especially post 2002 Natwest Final) easily saw through whatever fumes were left in the Pakistan bowling attack.

It was a watershed moment/match. The passing of the guard. The dominance had officially ended. Tendulkar's six was iconic for many reasons. End of an era for us. One we have never quite recovered from.

Best post of this thread.

That match was iconic for so many reasons.

If I remember correctly that was the last time both Wasim and and Waqar faced a top ODI side. That match was truly one of a kind, accelerated the end of an era while symbolizing the dawn of a new one.

 

[Adil_94]

I remember i was in Pakistan on Holiday. 8 years old at the time. The whole village at my Uncles House watching around a small 21 inch TV and everyone was confident after Pak made 270 odd as that wasnt chased much back in those days.

But then that knock took the game away from us. Remember the a very forlorn atmosphere after the game. Everyone shellshocked in a way.

Though that was an awful WC for Pak. All we did was minnow bash n lost to all the good teams.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Those 2 moments you pointed out were so important.

I still remember Ravi Shastri in the commentary box exhorting Indian fans that Pakistan will bounce back (this is after Sachin slashed that six off Shoaib). Ravi who played against Pakistan when Pak had a stranglehold over India - perhaps was scarred by the many Pakistani comebacks.

When Waqar got those two back to back wickets - if you watch the replay now - you can see the classic Pakistan - players absolutely buzzing, jumping up and down and the way they converged like a pack of hyenas. You are right in Pakistan's heyday that would have been the beginning of the end. But Tendulkar was in a different mood - he simply refused to slow down at any time really until the cramps hit him.

The second one you pointed out was also significant - when Tendulkar got out at 98 India still needed more than 90 runs. The spineless India of the 90's especially with their horrendous chasing record would probably have folded but - that was the new India with Kaif, Yuvraj and Dravid also coming into his own.

I am glad that people remember Tendulkar's innings to this day because if you look the stats 98 runs in 75 balls - these innings are dime a dozen these days. But those days in 2003 that was a special innings especially coming against your archrivals in a World Cup game.

On the risk of derailing this thread (as it always happens with any SRT thread ) I'll go light on you:

More like a wolf pack!

 

[NishanKonar]

I think there's two narratives that emerged after the match.

The first I agree with, which is India moved ahead of Pakistan as a cricketing nation after Centurion 2003. The big money began to roll in and they were increasingly professionalising their setup - reflected in their fielding and fitness standards, whereas Pakistan were still using their tried and tested 1990s playbook.

The second narrative, that Pakistan developed a mental block playing India didn't happen after Centurion 2003 but much later. Pakistan-India matches were nip and tuck affairs throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

The point where I really felt India had asserted their dominance was Adelaide 2015. Pakistan were so distinctly second best in every department, the margin of defeat of 76 runs frankly flattered us. They looked fitter, faster, more tactically aware, and self-assured. That day was when seven years of IPL and massive TV deals finally came to bear on the H2H rivalry. It's been one way traffic since with exception of CT17 final.

In the 90s India always had that mental block against Pakistan. But the series victory against Australia in 2001 & 2002 Natwest Trophy actually instilled steel & confidence in the Indian camp

In the 90s whenever India played Pakistan , expectation was very low among Indian fans. The 1996 & 1999 WC wins felt so amazing bcoz they were so unexpected. But at Centurion 2003, India actually felt like favorites going into the match. There was not much anxiety among the fans , more a sense of quiet confidence that they will get the job done. While this game is often mentioned as game changer - the process actually began at the 2002 Natwest Trophy

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I think there's two narratives that emerged after the match.

The first I agree with, which is India moved ahead of Pakistan as a cricketing nation after Centurion 2003. The big money began to roll in and they were increasingly professionalising their setup - reflected in their fielding and fitness standards, whereas Pakistan were still using their tried and tested 1990s playbook.

The second narrative, that Pakistan developed a mental block playing India didn't happen after Centurion 2003 but much later. Pakistan-India matches were nip and tuck affairs throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

The point where I really felt India had asserted their dominance was Adelaide 2015. Pakistan were so distinctly second best in every department, the margin of defeat of 76 runs frankly flattered us. They looked fitter, faster, more tactically aware, and self-assured. That day was when seven years of IPL and massive TV deals finally came to bear on the H2H rivalry. It's been one way traffic since with exception of CT17 final.

Stats tell a different story.

In tests, up until Misbah/YK I never doubted this team's chances against India.
In ODIs, Misbah beat them easily at their home. Not many teams won an odi series in India.

Of course, in world cups we just forget how to play cricket and are simply pathetic handling pressure.

If PCB start to invest smartly and build a team around Babar / Shaheen then this decade we may compete.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

In the 90s India always had that mental block against Pakistan. But the series victory against Australia in 2001 & 2002 Natwest Trophy actually instilled steel & confidence in the Indian camp

In the 90s whenever India played Pakistan , expectation was very low among Indian fans. The 1996 & 1999 WC wins felt so amazing bcoz they were so unexpected. But at Centurion 2003, India actually felt like favorites going into the match. There was not much anxiety among the fans , more a sense of quiet confidence that they will get the job done. While this game is often mentioned as game changer - the process actually began at the 2002 Natwest Trophy

Later, same decade tho, Pak came back from a 0-3 abyss to win 4-3. Tell the whole story, it's fascinating.

 

[Shazzam]

Considering Team India lost there matches when ever Sachin scored a century I get why Akthar was upset.

 

[Thomaskutty]

I remember i was in Pakistan on Holiday. 8 years old at the time. The whole village at my Uncles House watching around a small 21 inch TV and everyone was confident after Pak made 270 odd as that wasnt chased much back in those days.

But then that knock took the game away from us. Remember the a very forlorn atmosphere after the game. Everyone shellshocked in a way.

I enjoy reading these deflating experiences of Pak fans. India's 12-0 streak is still one of the most amusing stats in cricket folklore. Hilarious

 

[BreadPakoda]

Considering Team India lost there matches when ever Sachin scored a century I get why Akthar was upset.

Where do you get these stats from?

 

[BreadPakoda]

I enjoy reading these deflating experiences of Pak fans. India's 12-0 streak is still one of the most amusing stats in cricket folklore. Hilarious

Despite the streak, we have won only 2 world cups in almost 50 years and no ICC tournament after 2013. We have our own share of deflating experiences.

 

[srh]

Wasim was still a force. Just before the WC he took 5 wickets in 3 matches against SA at 16.8!! Waqar took 6 at 22.5 in that same series. Also Shoaib was in and around his peak. There was a solid reason why Pak bowling was so hyped going into that WC. Wasim did fairly well against Aus too.

You guys making it seem like they were bowling like Wahab Riaz and Anwar Ali by then, which clearly is far from the truth.

Nah. Both Wasim & Waqar were almost done. Both were older than Tendulkar and both were genuine fast bowlers whose peak are typically not long enough.

 

[leonidas_alexandar]

Where do you get these stats from?

As far as Sachin's centuries against Pakistan are concerned - there is a lot of truth there.

Sachin scored 5 hundreds against Pak in which India lost 4 times.

I also need to add that Sachin scored 16 half-centuries against Pakistan and India won 10 times.

This is the reason why sometimes jokingly Pakistani's wish that Sachin scores a century against them as statistically - India ended up losing most of them.

Of course it is childish to suggest that Tendulkar's hundreds led to India's losses. If you look at each of those matches you can see a number of reasons for India's losses.

Similar is the case with India winning most of the times when Tendulkar scored a half-century against Pakistan. There were a myriad reasons along with Tendulkar's 50's that led to India winning.

 

[Markhor]

Stats tell a different story.

In tests, up until Misbah/YK I never doubted this team's chances against India.
In ODIs, Misbah beat them easily at their home. Not many teams won an odi series in India.

Of course, in world cups we just forget how to play cricket and are simply pathetic handling pressure.

If PCB start to invest smartly and build a team around Babar / Shaheen then this decade we may compete.

Not sure which stats you are referring to, but they confirm my point.

Between January 2000-Adelaide 2015, in all formats Pakistan won 29 matches and lost 31 to India.

Since Adelaide 2015, Pakistan have lost 7 out of 8 matches to India.

 

[pillionrider]

True.

I personally though rate that six of Caddick higher.

What a monster that was. Made even better because of Caddick's big mouth before the game

 

[pillionrider]

It was a watershed moment/match. The passing of the guard. The dominance had officially ended. Tendulkar's six was iconic for many reasons. End of an era for us. One we have never quite recovered from.

Beautifully put. Gave me bittersweet feelings. On the one hand, pleasure at the memory so well-described by a rival fan. And yet, a little pain because I've known what it is to be on the other side of dominance, up until that moment.

 

[pillionrider]

One more trivia I remember from a newspaper article back then. Sachin said he took a different guard and exposed his grinning stumps to the Pak bowlers. He was like he knew they'd get excited and bowl more on the stumps for which he was prepared to walk across and whip them on the leg

 

[ManFan]

Miandad’s six gave PAK the mental edge for 17 years.

Sachin’s six has given IND the edge for 18 years and counting.

And now, the gap has grown too far to be closed again.

 

[Romali_rotti]

We weren't gonna chase 360 against a bowling attack of McGrath, Lee, Bichel and Hogg that too in a world cup final. The maximum threshold was maybe 310 even if Sachin played a blinder amidst 5 dropped chances.

Yeah wasn't going to happen, no way they were going to win that 360 chase. At best they would have been 290 all out in like the 42nd over had SRT played a great knock... Indians were deflated after the first match loss to Australia and had demons in their heads...

 

[Adil_94]

[MENTION=139319]Thomaskutty[/MENTION] it is what it is. The only losses that really hurt me for days was Mohali 2011 and Johannesburg 2007 in my lifetime. 2017 CT Final and Aaney do Series made up for that. 2004 BCCI Jubilee match also.

N the superior head to head

 

[Rohan]

Considering Team India lost there matches when ever Sachin scored a century I get why Akthar was upset.

That’s what fans without research use to believe. Do some research, you would be surprised.

Fun fact for Pak fans: Out of 34 hundreds of Lara, only 8 came in winning.

 

[FearlessRoar]

On this day in 2003, Sachin Tendulkar 98 sets up India's win over Pakistan in World Cup

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, on this day 21 years ago, played a classic 98-run knock to lead India to a remarkable victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, marking their fourth consecutive World Cup win against the rival team.

Pakistan opted to bat first and set India a target of 274 runs, thanks to contributions from their lineup, including a notable 101 from Saeed Anwar. Pakistan got off to a good start with opener Anwar, who went on to score a brilliant century (101) and Younis Khan, who added a valuable 32, as they posted a competitive 273/7 in a high-pressure match.

Despite the pressure of a World Cup clash against their arch-rivals, the Indian team responded with remarkable poise. Tendulkar, opening the batting for India, unleashed an array of shots that not only countered the Pakistani bowlers but also set the tone for the chase. His innings included twelve boundaries and a six, showcasing his class and aggression.

Tendulkar's knock was pivotal as it came against a formidable bowling attack comprising Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar, amongst others. His duel with Akhtar, in particular, was a highlight of the match, with Tendulkar dominating the fast bowler in a manner that shifted the momentum firmly in India's favor. Despite falling short of a century, his 98 runs laid the foundation for India's successful chase, which they completed with six wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare.

India had never chased more than 222 in a World Cup before, but Sachin Tendulkar's knock against Pakistan was simply incredible, allowing India to win by six wickets with 26 balls remaining. The Master Blaster was named Player of the Match. Tendulkar dominated Pakistan's pace trio of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis, guiding India to a stunning victory over Pakistan for the fourth time in five World Cup matches. Sachin Tendulkar's 98 off 75 balls will be remembered as one of the best World Cup innings of all time.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2023, Sachin recalled having a "sleepless night" before the match against Pakistan due to outside noise. "I had a sleepless night before the match because you know India and Pakistan is always a big game. When people got to know they had started talking about it, saying 'this game India have to win no matter what happens in other matches'. So, I said what do you mean? There was that pressure, expectations were there," Tendulkar said.

India Today

 

[Cricket Warrior]

i still remember that upper cut played by sachin to shoaib for a six because with such extreme pace its very difficult to execute such shot.