Recapping Indian hat-tricks
India has always been a powerhouse in the World cricket. They have been world-beaters and have proved consistently that they are one of the best in the business. Though India has been blessed with talented batsmen who have set the bar extremely high, the same has not been the case with the bowlers.
While the trend is changing in the recent past with 140kmph+ becoming a common affair, nothing can match the magnificence of a hat-trick and watching batsmen go back to the pavilion one after another. This piece is an attempt to encapsulate such performances that took our breath away. Take a look at the Indian hat-tricks over the years.
ODI Cricket:
Chetan Sharma
While taking a hat-trick is no mean feat, Chetan Sharma decided to go a step ahead and took a hat-trick in a World Cup match. He achieved this feat in the 1987 World Cup against New Zealand.
He clean bowled Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith, and Ewen Chatfield and ended with figures of 3-51. All of 5’3, this pocket dynamo made his debut at 17 and piled up some impressive performances. He became the first cricketer to score a limited over century and take a limited overs hat-trick and the first person to take a World Cup hat-trick.
A strike bowler and a reliable lower-order batsman, Sharma strung up many memorable performances in a career that was marred by injuries. He will always be remembered as one of India’s finest fast bowlers and Kapil Dev’s bowling partner through the 80’s.
Kapil Dev
This man has single-handedly changed the way Indian cricket has shaped up over the past four decades. Though Kapil Dev will forever be remembered as the captain of the World Cup-winning team in 1983, he was an exceptionally talented all-rounder and has played many a memorable innings all through his career.
Be it batting or bowling, he has always stepped up to the challenge and has lead from the front. The Haryana Hurricane added another feather to his cap when he took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup decider in 1991 when he scalped the wickets of Roshan Mahanama, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Rumesh Ratnayake.
India won the final and Dev became only the second player to score an ODI hundred and take a limited overs hat-trick. He was named ‘Wisden Indian Cricketer Of The Century’ in 2002. Though he retired in 1994, India has never produced another limited overs hat-trick until today.