5 most memorable performances by Indian players that helped them #ClingOnToVictory

India pulled off a heist against Bangladesh in the ongoing World T20 thanks to a last ball thriller and some brain-fade from Bangladesh batsmen. However, over the years, some Indian players have given us some phenomenal performances against all odds to take the team to victory.

These are performances which stand out and enjoy the limelight because they came against all odds, when the chips were down. Although it is hard to call one more important than the others, given all World Cup wins are equally important, league or knock-out matches, ODI or T20, we try to pick five which really stay alive in memory for any cricket fan.

Just like Castrol Activ’s Actibonds cling on to the engine and offer protection, these players stepped up at the right time to help protect India from defeat and cling on to victory.

Notable mentions: Zaheer Khan’s 3-22 against South Africa in Colombo, when India won by just 1 run in the 2012 T20 World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 ODI World Cup and Irfan Pathan’s 3-16 in the Final of the 2007 T20 World Cup just miss out despite being some of the best performances by Indian cricketers at the game’s greatest stage.

Kapil Dev (175* v Zimbabwe, 1983 World Cup)

In terms of taking the team to the shore, this is one of the greatest ODI innings ever played, leave alone in World Cups and leave alone by an Indian. In a crucial encounter against Zimbabwe, in the 1983 World up at Tunbridge Wells, India were in deep trouble batting first at 17 for five before Kapil Dev played the innings of a lifetime.

Kapil scored a spectacular 175 in just 138 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes. He added 60 for the sixth wicket with Roger Binny, 62 for the eighth wicket with Madan Lal and then an unbeaten 126 runs for the ninth wicket with Syed Kirmani to take India to an impressive 266. Zimbabwe chased well, but could only garner 235, losing the match by 31 runs.

The win gave India vital points in Group B, eventually helping them qualify for the knock-out rounds and eventually winning their first World Cup. Kapil Dev’s strike-rate of close to 127 in the match, two decades before the T20 era even started is nothing short of miraculous.