Recollecting India’s Natwest Trophy victory at Lord’s in 2002, then Indian manager Rajiv Shukla Monday claimed that skipper Sourav Ganguly wanted all members of the team to do the ‘shirt act’ but seniors Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid refused.
India, chasing England’s imposing 325 for five, rode on a match-turning partnership (121 runs) between Mohammad Kaif (87 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (69) to chase the target with three balls and two wickets to spare in July 2002.
Mr. Ganguly, watching the tense final moments from Lord’s balcony with his teammates, immediately removed his blue jersey when Mr. Kaif hit the winning run and swung it around his head like a lasso thrower.
Speaking at News24 cricket conclave here, Mr. Shukla said Mr. Ganguly did it as a riposte to what England’s Andrew Flintoff had done following a series-levelling ODI victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai the previous year.
“Ganguly wanted the whole team to do that act. But senior players like Sachin and Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman refused to do so.”
