5 Most Selfless Innings In The History Of International Cricket; Four Indians Feature In This Elite List

The sport of cricket has been fortunate enough to have a plethora of talent over the years. Cricket is a gentleman’s game and one of the qualities that gentlemen possess stand as selflessness. It takes a lot of heart and courage to forget personal milestones and play for the team.

Cricket is a team game, and many times, individuals have to keep personal desires apart and play for the team. There have been instances in international cricket when a batsman has wholly dedicated his innings to save the honour of the team.

Today, we’ll take a look at those five innings that have portrayed the act of selflessness and proved that it is all about the team on the end of the day.

5 Most Selfless Innings In The History Of International Cricket

5. Robin Uthappa

Rohit Sharma played a historic inning of 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014 at Eden Gardens. At that time, Robin Uthappa was batting for the Indian team at the other end. Robin Uthappa was also making a comeback in the same series at that time.

Robin Uthappa could play big shots, but instead of doing so, he gave Rohit Sharma the strike when he got a chance. This allowed Rohit Sharma to put up a giant individual score of 264 runs which still stands as the highest individual score in ODIs in world cricket.

At that time Uthappa scored only 16 runs in 16 balls, while he batted for almost 11 overs. Even after batting for so long, playing only 16 balls shows that he thought about Rohit Sharma instead of thinking about himself.

4. Virender Sehwag

Former veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag’s name is also included in this list. During the Chennai Test in 2008, the Indian team needed 387 runs to win in the fourth innings. At that time, the path of victory for India seemed was extremely difficult.

When Virender Sehwag came out to bat, he played a brilliant 83 runs in just 68 balls in that match. Later, on the last day of the game, Yuvraj Singh played an important role in registering a big and important victory for the Indian team by playing a handy knock.

Now Yuvraj Singh is credited as the hero of that run chase, but Sehwag’s name is hardly mentioned when someone talks about that run chase. It was due to Sehwag’s aggressive innings that other batsmen could borrow some time for themselves to adjust and then play along.

3. Sourav Ganguly

Whenever Sourav Ganguly is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the NatWest Trophy final played at Lord’s, when Sourav Ganguly waved his T-shirt in the air. But hardly does anyone remember that in the same match, Sourav Ganguly played a brilliant knock with a very selfless spirit.

Sourav Ganguly used to open the innings at that time. The Indian team had to chase a target of 326 runs in the final. They needed an aggressive start. At that time, Sourav Ganguly, along with Sehwag, batted aggressively and played a gritty knock of 60 runs off 43 balls.

Later, youngsters, Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh won India the trophy by playing excellent innings. But whenever the Natwest final is mentioned, everybody talks about Kaif’s and Yuvraj’s partnership but nobody remembers the contribution Dada had made.

2. Virender Sehwag

In 2008, Virender Sehwag was in the fierce flow against Sri Lanka during the Galle Test. At that time, Sehag was enjoying a rich vein of form in international cricket.

Virender Sehwag was batting at the score of 199 in that match, and the Indian team had lost their nine wickets. Ishant Sharma was present as the last batsman. At that time, Sehwag had the chance to take a single and go for his double hundred. Instead, Sehwag risked and hit a boundary on the third delivery of Muttiah Muralitharan’s over just because he did not want Ishant Sharma to face the Sri Lanka bowlers as it would have ended up in the closure of the Indian innings.

1. Michael Clarke

Former Australia captain and veteran batsman Michael Clarke also features in this list. It was in a game against India which was being played in 2012.

Michael Clarke scored 329 runs in that match. When he was playing against India, he could have broken Matthew Hayden’s record of highest individual Test innings. He could have also surpassed Brian Lara’s record of the highest individual score in Test cricket.

However, Clarke decided to declare the innings and bowl out India, which the Australian eventually did. Thus, it is one of the most selfless deeds ever in international cricket.

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