Calcutta 96 vs Kolkata 09

[vvvslaxman]

Having said that Azhar was no slouch against spin. He was a bit casual giving the return catch to Dharmasena. Kambli was only good for one thing that night. That was crying. But in terms of mental strength Gauti is a far better player than some of the clowns we had that day. Sehwag is also a much better against spin bowling. No comparison.

[zubinpepsi]

Mohammad Azharuddin almost threw the world cup away by choosing to field first that day. The kind of form Tendulkar was in in 1996, we would have won the WC comfortably. Why did you do that Azhar??:((

Azhar did it in 96 , Ganguly did it in 03....:(( the common thing is Sachin was in terrific form in both the WCs,,,,

[Andy]

It was the inaugural ceremony. BCCI had organized a huge laser animated act for the inaugural ceremony and thats what they said ruined the pitch and it had to be relaid in a hurry. Unfortunately, the pitch started turning only when India started batting and in no time it was turning square. As The 'Outsider' said, it was a great display by Tendulkar that day. He and Manjrakar showed the world how to bat against a square spinning ball. They are both wonderful batsmen who read the spin off the pitch and did something almost next to impossible as proved later by the rest of the batsmen. Mohammad Azharuddin almost threw the world cup away by choosing to field first that day. The kind of form Tendulkar was in in 1996, we would have won the WC comfortably. Why did you do that Azhar??:((

In the Group Game agnst Lanka we bated first, scored 250..still lost..!! That might have prompted him!! :((

[Andy]

Azhar did it in 96 , Ganguly did it in 03....:(( the common thing is Sachin was in terrific form in both the WCs,,,,

I remember in 2003 Indian new ball bowlers were in great form..Ganguly may have thought we can dismiss Aus cheaply!! And in addition to dat..in the group game we batted first agnst Aus..and we cudnt last!! This two may have been the reason for fielding first!!

[riya]

Calcuttea 96 was ugly not because India lost,but Vinod Kambil.