6th December 2009 is a historic day for Indian Cricket.  India became the No.1 Team in the world when Sri Lankan bowling trump card Muthiah Muralidharan was stumped by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni of Harbhajan Singh Singh in the third and final test of the three match Test Series played at Bombay between 2nd December to 6th December 2009. The Test match saw some historic moments and some moments to relish for Indian fans are:-

Moment 1 - Sehwag setting up the Test Match for India with his 293 of 254 balls- The Test Match was set up by Sehwag who played one of the best ever innings of all time.  It was only appropriate that Sehwag set up the Test Match for India because it was only after his arrival on the scene that India consistently started winning matches. Sehwag's arrival made a huge difference to Indias fortunes as he used to get big knocks on a consistent basis and that too at a very fast pace which meant that our weak Indian bowlers had plenty of overs to finish of a Test Match with the luxury of a big score behind him.  With India looking up for a win to top the ICC rankings in Test Matches, it was only appropriate that the man who was responsible for India reaching a stage where they currently are, himself play a big knock.  Sehwag did exactly that scoring 293 of a mere 254 deliveries to set up the match for India.  Sehwag was rightly awarded Man of the Match and Man and Man of the Series in this historic Test Match and Series. The greatest contribution in Indias rise to the top has come from Sehwag and it is only appropriate that his contribution came in a match which saw India reached the top.

Moment 2 - Sri Lankan great Muralidhran was the last batsman to get dismissed:- Before the start of series the obstacle to India was in the form of Muthian Muralidhran.  Indian batsmen took the attack to the world highest taker.  Indian batsman counter attacked him  and shattered his confidence in their pursuit to top the rankings.  India were officially crowned No.1 when Sri Lanka lost their last wicket in the form of Muthian Muralidhran.  Nothing could have been more historic than hitting Muralidharan out of the attack and then claiming his wicket to top the rankings.

Moment 3 - Dhoni effected the last dismissal:- Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished of the game when he stumped Muralidharan taking India to top of the rankings.  It was only appropriate that Mahendra Singh Dhoni finish of the game as has was instrumental in some of the most glorious moments of Indian Cricket.  It was under M S Dhonis leadership that India won the inaugural Twenty 20 World Cup, the No.1 Ranking in One Dayers and now the No.1 Spot in Tests.

Moment 4 - Indians crowned No.1 at Bombay:- India were officially crowned No.1 in Bombay the venue of Test Match.  Bombay has the same significance to Indian cricket as Lords has to English and World Cricket.  Bombay has given to world cricket some of the greatest batsmen in the game of which Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar went on to achieve the status of all time greats.  Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar dominated world cricket for a combined 4 decades in their own ways.  For close to 20 years the most fearsome bowlers and fastest bowlers in the world could not breach Sunil Gavaskars defence and for 20 years Sachin Tendulkar drove the best of bowlers and shrewdest of captains to despair with his amazing strokeplay.

• Written by N R SATISH.
• In category Cricket.
• 14 years ago.

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