New Delhi: Cricket has always been a game of innovation. Either with bat, as mostly seen, and quite at times with the ball. While some does pay off, lifting the player to a super-human position in the eyes of the fans. But, failures dip down in bitter humiliation.
Let us take a walk down memory lane to the final of ICC World T20 2007. It was arch-rivals India and Pakistan battling it out at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Chasing a modest target put forth by Team India, squared down to the last over.
13 needed of it. No wicket in hand for Pakistan. Misbah-ul-Haq was at strike. Joginder Sharma was with the ball. Wide, then a dot and which was followed by a six off a full toss delivery. Pakistan needed just 6 runs off the remaining four deliveries.
Just when things seemed over for India, Mishab gambled with the bat to hand over the trophy to India. The right-handed batsman went on for a daring scoop off the next delivery in the hope of finishing the game early. But much to his surprise, Sreesanth was there at fine-leg to take an easy catch.
He must have had plenty of sleepless nights thereafter, not to forget severe criticism the veteran batsman faced in the wake of final lost, that to at the hands of India. He did well to fight back and earn back his position, but one indelible mark was left.
A similar situation was seen at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur on May 10 when Delhi Daredevils were put to chase a massive total of 195.
A gritty knock of 96 runs from young Shreyas Iyer brought back Delhi's hope with each falling wicket on the other end of the pitch. But the equation was down to 9 runs off 6 deliveries. Basil Thampi was into the attack. Iyer departed off the second delivery and all visitors could expect was a miracle.
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7 off 4 now. Amit Mishra walked in. Third delivery and Mishra shimmied down to smack the low full toss down midwicket for boundary. Delhi needed 3 off 4 now. Thampi changed the line for the next delivery and paced off the ball to go for a high and slow full toss, well to the off-side.
Mishra saw it coming, shifted to the right, waited for the ball and scooped it down to fine-leg for a boundary, just like Misbah did years ago, but with a different result. A sudden roar broke out at Kanpur as Delhi successfully chased down yet another big total.
Regardless of all, the win failed to create much of an impact on the points table for Delhi. While the shot was indeed astonishing from Mishra, the 34-year-old emerged as a hero with social media praises raining over him.
