Mohammad Kaif Reveals How Sourav Ganguly Inspired The Team To Script History In The 2002 Natwest Trophy Final

Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian batsman, opened up on the dressing atmosphere before India’s record-breaking run-chase in the final of the Natwest Trophy final back in 2002.

England had posted a monumental 325 in the first innings and Kaif revealed how Ganguly motivated the team in the change room during the break.

“It hadn’t started so well. I remember the scene in the dressing room just before we went out to chase. We were struggling to figure out how to chase big totals those days and there was a feeling of ‘here we go again’,”Mohammad Kaif wrote in his column for the Indian Express.

“The mood was low. John Wright, our coach, stood at one end and it was more a players’ meeting. We stood around as Sourav Ganguly spoke: “Don’t panic. We will just start well, try not to lose any wicket and take it on later,” he added.

“And he (Ganguly) did what he said”- Mohammad Kaif

And, Ganguly did exactly what he had promised in the dressing room. He and Virender Sehwag went on to give India a swashbuckling start, racking up more 106 runs in a mere 15 overs.

“And he (Ganguly) did what he said. He hit a six over covers, as he and Virender Sehwag gave us momentum. But then wickets fell and I was in the middle. I had never batted in such an atmosphere, in at no. 7, Sachin was out and still some 180-odd runs needed in 24 overs,” he added.

India, however, lost their way in the middle as they lost 5-40, including the prized scalps of Sachin Tendulkar [5] and Rahul Dravid [14], post which the duo of Yuvraj Singh [69] and Mohammad Kaif [87*] rose to the challenge.

The duo added a quickfire 121 runs for the 6th wicket and even though Yuvraj was dismissed for 69, Kaif kept his cool, and along with Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan took India past the finishing line.

Also Read: Yuvraj Singh And Mohammad Kaif Recall Natwest Trophy Triumph On Its 18th Anniversary