Team India’s historic triumph in the NatWest Series final in 2002 was one of the highlights of Sourav Ganguly’s glorious captaincy stint.
On Sunday (July 5), Ganguly featured on the show ‘Open Nets With Mayank’ for bcci.tv and recalled his team’s thrilling victory in the NatWest Series final. The former India skipper also remembered his epic celebration after defeating England at the Home of Cricket – Lord’s.
See Also: 'Hated Ganguly when I played against him', says Nasser Hussain
In the show, a fan asked Ganguly to rate his team's journey in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the 2002 NatWest final win over England.
To which, the current BCCI President replied: Ganguly replied: "They both have their own special place. We got smashed by Australia (in the 2003 World Cup final). They were the best team of that generation. But getting to the World Cup, beating every team hands down, except Australia, was a great achievement."
While Australia thrashed Australia by 125 runs in the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg, the Men in Blue snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the 2002 NatWest series final.
Chasing England’s mammoth target of 325, India were tottering at 146 for 5 at one point but Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were on a different mission as the duo added 121-run for the sixth wicket to change the complexion of the match. While Yuvraj scored a blistering 63-ball 69, Kaif remained unbeaten on 75-ball 87 to guide India home with 3 balls and 2 wickets to spare.
The Natwest final also became iconic as captain Ganguly had taken his shirt off at the Lord’s balcony after the victory.
Recalling his celebration, Sourav Ganguly said: "The NatWest (win) has it's own charm. When you win in England on a Saturday in Lord's, it's a remarkable feeling, it was a packed house. It's a remarkable experience when you walk out at Lord's in a full house.”
"I saw the World Cup final there this year when I was commentating, it was a great moment. We all got carried away (after NatWest win) but that's what sport is, when you win you celebrate and when you win a game like that, you celebrate even more. That was one of the great cricket matches I have been a part of," he concluded.
