5 instances when a batsman had nine lives

Sachin Tendulkar - 85 vs Pakistan, 2011 ICC World Cup

Tendulkar rode his luck big time in the 2011 World Cup semi-final

Perhaps the greatest example of a batsman having nine lives was seen in the semi-final of the 2011 ICC World Cup between India and Pakistan. The beneficiary on this occasion was none other than the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who scored an extremely fortunate 85.

It all started when Tendulkar missed a ball from Saeed Ajmal when on 23 and an appeal from the bowler was upheld by umpire Ian Gould. The master batsmen reviewed the decision and it had to be overturned. Off the very next ball, Pakistan appealed for a stumping against him but replays suggested that he barely made it.

Sachin Tendulkar was dropped by Misbah-ul-Haq off the bowling of Shahid Afridi on 27 and yet again by Younis Khan when batting on 45. The great Indian batsman carried on comfortably for a while before he was put down one more time off Afridi, this time by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Things seemed to be going completely out of hand for the Pakistanis when Tendulkar was dropped for the fourth time by Umar Akmal off Mohammad Hafeez's bowling. The pain was finally over for them when the Indian genius was finally dismissed for 85; however, the night ended for them on a tragic note as they crashed out of the World Cup.