5 Biggest ODI chokes while chasing a target in the 21st century

4. India vs England in Mumbai, 2002

The 6-match ODI series between India and England in 2002 was set to conclude at the Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. India was leading the series by 3-2 margin and to win the series, they needed to ensure they didn’t lose the match. England, who batted first, got off to a great start with Marcus Trescothick scoring an 80-ball 95. The visitors were 153/2 after 22 overs but Harbhajan Singh’s 5-wicket haul saw England getting bowled out for 255 in 49.1 overs having lost their last 8 wickets for 102 runs.

India got off to a solid start as they were two down for 88 in only 13 overs. Captain Sourav Ganguly took the responsibility of the chase as he put on 67 for the 3rd wicket with Dinesh Mongia. He got out smashing 4 fours and 4 sixes during his 99-ball 80. The home team were still 65 runs away from a win when Ganguly was dismissed as the 4th wicket of the Indian run chase with 13.1 overs to go.

Mohammad Kaif got out at the end of 40th over leaving India to score 50 from the last 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand. India were still favourites to win the match with Hemang Badani at the crease and the required rate being only 5. But Ajay Ratra and Ajit Agarkar got out in the 45th and 46th over respectively denting India who still needed 32 from 28 balls. Harbhajan Singh returned to the pavilion as well and the equation came down to 18 from 2 overs.

Badani and Anil Kumble added 12 runs from the next 9 balls as India continued their fight. Kumble was run out at the striker’s end while trying to sneak in a bye on the 4th ball while Javagal Srinath was cleaned up with Andrew Flintoff on the penultimate delivery. Thus, England won the game by 5 runs and drew the series by 3-3 margin. Indian media carried the tags of “chokers” following the Mumbai defeat as the Indian team missed the chance of winning the series in the previous game itself.

Chasing 272 to win in Delhi, India was firmly placed at 211/3 after 40 overs. But they lost 5 wickets for 28 runs in the 37 balls and were left to score 32 runs from 23 balls with only two wickets in hand. Ajit Agarkar tried his best and brought the equation down to 9 runs from the last over but only got 6 runs. Flintoff ran across Wankhede removing his jersey after sealing a close win. This very incident was the base for Ganguly’s shirtless celebrations during the NatWest Tri-series victory later in the Lord’s balcony.