5 memorable T20I matches played by India

After Yuvraj's six sixes, Broad could only smileThe newest format in International cricket is to some the most intriguing and exciting format, the Twenty20. Here it is like a 100 metres dash where one hardly gets reaction time as the game is played at a breathtaking pace where fundamental elements like technique, quality and class take a back seat.India is a team which has been reasonably good in this format, I will not say excellent because at times they have gifted away matches when it was there for the taking. Keeping all that aside India has played matches which have been etched in the memories and the thoughts of it will always bring a smile on the faces of cricket lovers (Indian fans).Here are the five memorable India’s Twenty20 international matches:

#1 India v Pakistan at Durban, ICC World Twenty20 (10th Match, Group D), September 14, 2007

A league match in which India ended up making a below-par 141 against Pakistan, got off to the worst possible start losing their openers in the first two over’s. It was Robin Uthappa who stepped up his game scoring a 39-ball 50 to give India’s bowlers a hope.

Pakistan too fumbled early; losing wickets till Misbah-ul-Haq took charge and dramatically changed things around smashing a breathtaking 53 off 35 balls. With a solitary run to go over the line off the last ball, Misbah faltered and was run out.

The match was tied and for the first time ever a match was going to be decided via super over, a virgin concept then. India hit the wicket with all the three deliveries whereas Pakistan did not manage to hit even one. It was the most dramatic cricket T20 till date, many will agree.

#2 India v Pakistan at Johannesburg, ICC World Twenty20 (Final), September 24, 2007

This has to be Pakistan crickets’ biggest choke/heartbreak. Virender Sehwag was not playing and India saw a new opener that too in a final, strange! Yusuf Pathan got off to a blazing start in the first over but lost his wicket early.

In a while, one saw wickets falling like nine pins, but Gautam Gambhir held his fort and anchored India to a challenging 157. Pakistan got off to a flier thanks to Imran Nazir, who looked like a man possessed.

They were cruising along because they were ahead on the run rate but kept losing wickets at intervals which pegged them back. When Irfan Pathan got two wickets in one over it seemed the game had tilted generously in favour of India but Misbah-ul-Haq again in the tournament had other ideas against arch-rivals.

Misbah charged Harbhajan Singh taking a liking to him and suddenly changed the equation in their favour with Pakistan requiring just 20 off the last couple and then 13 off the last over. Mahendra Singh Dhoni surprisingly gave the ball to an inexperienced Joginder Sharma who was hit for a six by Misbah narrowing the equation.

When everyone thought that was it Misbah-ul-Haq to everybody’s surprise tried to lap a ball for a boundary only managing to get a top edge to be caught by Sreesanth. A cricketing photo-finish for sure.

#3 England v India at Durban, ICC World Twenty20 (21st Match, Group E), September 19, 2007

It is not every day that somebody whacks six sixes in an over hence this match qualifies as one of the most memorable matches India has played. The start was rollicking thanks to Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Yuvraj Singh walked in when things were looking good from the Indian point of view, they had lost three wickets with the score 155 with 20 balls to go. Yuvraj just got stuck into Stuart Broad smashing a half a dozen sixes and he did not stop there taking Flintoff to the cleaners before being caught out at sweeper point by Paul Collingwood.

India scored 218 runs, but that was too much for England who put up a spirited effort falling 18 runs short.

#4 South Africa v India at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, ICC World Twenty20 (2nd Semi-final), 04 April, 2014

This was an important match as it was the semi-final at an ICC event. India was playing in spinner friendly conditions hence they had the advantage. After the top order collapse in the Proteas batting line-up, Faf Du Plessis and JP Duminy took charge.

Du Plessis scored 58 while Duminy remained unbeaten at 45. With Miller finishing well, the South Africans put up a respectable 172. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers scalping three wickets and a delivery to get rid of Amla was highly praised.

In reply, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane got India off to a good start before Rohit was dismissed by Hendricks. Ajinkya Rahane made a useful contribution by scoring 32 as Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh took India ahead.

With 40 required off the last four overs, Suresh Raina got into the act and brought the equation down to 23 off the last three. Kohli too joined in the party to finish it quick and was later adjudicated as the Man-of-the-Match for his match winning 72.

#5 India tour of England, Only T20I at Birmingham, September 7, 2014

This was the only T20 match of the tour; the stakes were not high, but it turned out to be an exciting affair between the two rivals. Alex Hales played a 40-run blinder off 25 balls to set the tone and then Eoin Morgan’s mind-numbing 71 off 31 balls took England to 180.

Mind you these were swinging conditions of England hence the task was uphill for the Indians. India lost Ajinkya Rahane early, Virat Kohli played a splendid knock 66 off 41, but that was not good enough to see India home as they kept losing wickets in regular intervals.

India were 3 runs shy of the target but put up a great fight hence this match features among the top five most memorable T20 played by India.