‘The mood was low’ – Mohammad Kaif on how Sourav Ganguly charged India up before 2002 NatWest Final run-chase

Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian cricketer, revealed an incident when Sourav Ganguly injected confidence into the team during the 2002 NatWest Trophy Final. In the match at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, England had amassed 325 for five on the backs of Marcus Trescothick and skipper Nasser Hussain’s century. Andrew Flintoff also chipped in with a handy 40 in the death overs.

Kaif said that India, back then, faced issues while chasing massive targets down. Just when they were about to throw in the towel, Ganguly chipped in and asked them to not press the panic button. John Wright, the then head coach, was also present when Ganguly spoke to the players.

Sourav Ganguly did what he said, says Kaif

“It hadn’t started so well. I remember the scene in the dressing room just before we went out to chase. We were struggling to figure out how to chase big totals those days and there was a feeling of ‘here we go again’,” Kaif wrote in his column for The Indian Express.

“The mood was low. John Wright, our coach, stood at one end and it was more a players’ meeting. We stood around as Sourav Ganguly spoke: “Don’t panic. We will just start well, try not to lose any wicket and take it on later,” he stated.

Chasing 326, Ganguly took the Men in Blue off to a blistering start. He along with Virender Sehwag put on a partnership of 106 in 14.3 overs for the opening wicket. Ganguly scored 60 off 43 with 10 fours and a six, laying the platform for the rest of the innings.

“And he (Ganguly) did what he said. He hit a six over covers, as he and Virender Sehwag gave us momentum. But then wickets fell and I was in the middle. I had never batted in such an atmosphere, in at no. 7, Sachin was out and still some 180-odd runs needed in 24 overs,” Kaif added.

When Kaif came to bat, India were tottering at 146 for five. But he and Yuvraj Singh got the visitors back into the contest. In the end, Kaif stayed unbeaten on 87 off 75 and took his team to a two-wicket victory with three balls to spare.