Flashback: 3 historic sixes by Indian cricketing legends at the ICC World Cup

Be it anything – a straight drive to the boundary, an athletic catch, a high-risk reverse sweep, a splendid run-out, and even a solid front foot defense, in the game of cricket, there is always something to cheer about.

But there is something magical when the ball sails over the boundary line for a massive six! It just gets the crowd going, cheering at their top of their voices, jumping off the stands, only wanting more and more of it. And when it is at the biggest cricketing event – the Cricket World Cup – by none other the cricketing legends of the game themselves, it just can’t get better than that.

Here is a look at 3 historic sixes by Indian cricketing legends at the ICC World Cup over the years:

#1 Sourav Ganguly (India vs Sri Lanka, Group Stage, 1999 ICC World Cup)

Having lost to South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier, it was massively important that India win their rest of the games to stay alive in the 1999 World Cup. It was a match against Sri Lanka on May 26th at Taunton. India lost the toss and was asked to bat first. Little did the islanders know of the storm coming their way. The Tiger of Bengal, Sourav Ganguly, decided to roar that day and scored his career’s best 183.

In his splendid innings, the King of Sixes smashed seven sixes out of the park but amongst them, the best was his superb six off the world’s best off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan that stood out. He simply stepped down and hit it straight over the sightscreen and right at the famous Ian Botham stand.

India ended up scoring a massive total of 376 runs, thanks to the then-highest partnership ever in ODIs. Sourav Ganguly and The Wall, Rahul Dravid added 318 runs and unsurprisingly, won the game by a big margin of 157 runs. Unfortunately, India’s campaign at the World Cup did not last long and ended at the Super Six stage.

Yet the marvelous six by Ganguly will always be cherished in our memory lane.