The 12th edition of World Cup is going to start within hours. Ten teams will be fighting each other to be able to lay hands on the coveted trophy. Before the mega event kicks off and some new records are made, let’s take a walk down memory lane through some unforgettable World Cup moments.
Sunil Gavaskar’s 36 off 174 balls
It was the 1st ever cricket World Cup in 1975. India were playing against England. Chasing a target of 335, Indian opener batsman Sunil Gavaskar stood the ground for 60 overs. But what caught the limelight was the fact that he scored only 36 runs off the 174 balls he faced during his eternal exhibition. India lost the match by 202 runs.
The first World Cup hattrick
The first hattrick in the Cricket World Cup history was taken by Chetan Sharma of India at the 1987 World Cup. Sharma achieved this feat playing against New Zealand. The pace spearhead clean bowled Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield with the last three balls of the 42nd over. New Zealand succumbed to the brunt of Sharma and India won the match by nine wickets.
Most Productive Overs method fiasco
It was the second semifinal of the 1992 World Cup between South Africa and England in Sydney. Chasing a target of 253, South Africa, at one stage, needed 22 runs from 13 balls. Meanwhile, it started raining and this led the target for South Africa being revised. To the Proteas’ poor luck, the Most Productive Overs method gave them an unassailable target of 21 runs in 1 ball and hence they lost the match by 19 runs.
Emotional century by Master Blaster
It was during the 1999 World Cup in the UK, when Sachin Tendulakar lost his father. Tendulkar came back to India for the funeral. Meanwhile, India had to play Kenya next in a must-win game and the master padded up to play one of the best knocks of his life. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar scored a 140 not out off 101 balls and dedicated his century to his middle name. India posted a total of 329 and won the match by 94 runs.
Kenya into semifinals
In 2003, Kenya became the 1st non-Test playing nation to qualify for the semifinals, courtesy New Zealand forfeiting their match due to security reasons. However, in the semifinal Kenya lost to India by 91 runs.
India becomes first country to win Cup on home ground
In the 2011 World Cup final, India defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to become the first country to bag the coveted World Cup trophy in their own home ground. The crowd at the Wankhede Stadium was so amazing and noisy that the umpires, at the time of tossing the coin, failed to hear the then Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakara’s call and eventually the coin was tossed again.