Looking back at the 2003 Cricket world cup final

[RamP]

for me, the 1996 semi final loss is more painful than 2003 final loss. we had the game in our pocket till sachin was there. and the moment he got out, we lost the plot

[Ranjha]

Letting the Aussies bat first was the biggest mistake ever. You don't let a team like Australia put pressure on you in the finals. The safe bet is to put runs on board and let the great Aussie team do the work to get past them.

[Ranjha]

Middle order was full of Ordinary players like Kaif, Mongia. Yuvraj was not half as good what he is now, Dravid was the only good one we had. Bowling was below par only in the final, throughout the tournament our bowling was as good was the Aussies.

You cant expect a team made of 11 sachin tendulkars or brian laras to chase down 350ish 7 years ago.

[Ranjha]

I turned off the TV and played some cricket with my neighbors after Sachin's wicket! I think I was like 13 years old and knew that if anyone in the world who could have seen us through that mammoth target then it was Sachin. Therefore there was no point in watching after Sachin's departure. Ponting belted almost everything that came his way. This is when he really made a mark in my brain as one of the bests in current cricket. Player of the match RT Ponting (Australia) Player of the series SR Tendulkar (India) It was all Tendulkar to bring us that close to the WC! Player of the series nuff said

I doubt even 11 tendulakr or laras chasing down that mammoth total in a worldcup final against the greatest odi team on a centurion pitch.

[Andy]

You cant expect a team made of 11 sachin tendulkars or brian laras to chase down 350ish 7 years ago.

Umm we could have put on a Fight, couldnt we?

[Chalks]

Worst. Game. Ever. I hated one-day cricket for a long time after that.

[Jersey #10]

I doubt even 11 tendulakr or laras chasing down that mammoth total in a worldcup final against the greatest odi team on a centurion pitch.

are you out of your brains bro? How can you even say that? India could have gotten much closer to the target than they actually did. Something over 300 was possible and could have been a good consolation fight for not winning the final.

[ZodiaC]

Middle order was full of Ordinary players like Kaif, Mongia. Yuvraj was not half as good what he is now, Dravid was the only good one we had. Bowling was below par only in the final, throughout the tournament our bowling was as good was the Aussies.

As good as? Maybe not. But yes, clicked as a unit when needed. Agree, we sorely missed someone like Raina/Dhoni/Kohli in the middle/lower middle order.

[Zero_Unit]

Looking back at WC 07 ... Tears that's all I can say ... Looking forward to WC 11 ... Trophy baby TROPHY!!

[Ranjha]

are you out of your brains bro? How can you even say that? India could have gotten much closer to the target than they actually did. Something over 300 was possible and could have been a good consolation fight for not winning the final.

Getting close to the target is not the same as chasing down the mammoth total, bro. U think 350 could hve been chased down in 2003? In a wc final?

[Castro]

Letting the Aussies bat first was the biggest mistake ever. You don't let a team like Australia put pressure on you in the finals. The safe bet is to put runs on board and let the great Aussie team do the work to get past them.

I still maintain Ganguly's decision to bowl first was the right one. You see, before this game, the Australian bastmen were very inconisistent, they had to rely on the lower order to get them out of trouble in games against England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. In the last two games against Kenya and Sri Lanka, whom their attack were not as destructive as India's attack, the Australian batsmen failed to fire. So........on the day the final, this probably played on Ganguly's mind, a damp wicket, a lethal in form Indian bowling attack and a inconsistent Australian batting line up. With the Indian bastmen on form, all of this would have favoured India batting second. On the day, Australia just had the belief they would fire and they butchered the most prized Indian bowling attack. Australia suprised everyone by putting up their best ever total, I believe everyone thought it was going to a be tight game.

[Hindustani]

for me, the 1996 semi final loss is more painful than 2003 final loss. we had the game in our pocket till sachin was there. and the moment he got out, we lost the plot

India couldn't score even half of the runs so I am not sure how can you all it as "game in our pocket" :--D 90s are filled with such performance from team India

[Castro]

India collapsed sensationally in the world cup 96 semi final. The players were saying the wicket turned big time. 98-1 in 23 overs just before Tendulkar got out with Manjreaker at the crease and still Azharuddin, Kambli, Jadeja and Mongia to come and Srinath and Kumble could hold the bat well too. The run rate was climbing to 6 an over on a hard wicket. To be honest, it was a near one man team back in those days. It was a good world cup overall, had some fascinating games in the Ind vs Pak QF, the two collapses in the semi finals.