Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif shared a remarkable anecdote during the recent India vs. England clash in the ongoing ODI World Cup. The match, which took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 29, Sunday, brought back memories of the unforgettable 2002 NatWest Trophy final.
In the NatWest Trophy final, India was chasing a daunting target of 326 runs against England. The Indian top order, including legends like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Mongia, and Rahul Dravid, had already fallen. The situation appeared dire for India until Mohammad Kaif stepped onto the field.
Kaif partnered with Yuvraj Singh and together, they weaved a brilliant partnership that would ultimately secure India’s victory. Kaif played an extraordinary innings, scoring 87 runs off 75 balls with six fours and two sixes.
His contribution was pivotal to India’s successful chase, with Yuvraj Singh also playing a significant role, contributing 69 runs off 63 balls with nine fours and one six. Additionally, Harbhajan Singh, the off-spinner, played a quick cameo with 15 runs.
This exceptional performance earned Kaif the title of “Man of the Match.” The victory became a cherished memory for Indian cricket fans as they won the match by just two wickets with three balls to spare.
The incident Kaif recalled during the recent India vs. England World Cup match involved former England captain Nasser Hussain. During the NatWest Trophy final in 2002, India was facing a difficult situation, and Kaif’s remarkable partnership with Yuvraj Singh was the turning point.
However, it was during this game that Hussain, in an attempt to taunt Kaif, quipped, “I think he must drive the bus, I think he drives Tendulkar around the bus.” Hussain had previously shared this story during a Sky Sports podcast.