Eight iconic images that defined cricket in India

#5 Sourav Ganguly removing his t-shirt after the 2002 Natwest Trophy final in Lord’s

Ganguly twirling his t-shirt

During a commentary session with Sourav Ganguly, former English captain and commentator Geoffrey Boycott said, “You must mention your experience about taking your jersey off and flying it in the air at the Mecca of Cricket: Lord’s! Oh, you naughty boy!”

Boycott was referring to Ganguly’s antics at Lord’s, when the former Indian captain had taken off his t-shirt to celebrate the Indian team’s victory over England in the finals of the Natwest Trophy 2002.

Facing a stiff target of 326 runs, India had half their side back in the pavilion with the score at 146. And not many fans would have anticipated an Indian victory. But the two youngsters at the crease, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif, had other ideas.

Together the two took India to 267 before Yuvraj fell, after scoring 69 valuable runs. Kaif then took centre stage and ensured that India emerged as the winners. If the match was not enough to excite the fans, Ganguly’s antics certainly were.

In a bid to reply to Andrew Flintoff (who had taken off his t-shirt during celebrations at Mumbai), Ganguly took off his t-shirt on the Lord’s balcony and stunned the Englishmen present at the venue.