Thread by @RandomCricketP1

THREAD ON A CLASSIC IRANI TROPHY CONTEST B/W SOURAV & SACHIN'S MEN

It was 2003 and the Indian team hadn't played much cricket post the high of the World Cup final. As the team was to play New Zealand at home and Australia in Australia in the coming months, BCCI decided that the

players need to play against each other to get back into rhythm. So, after the Challenger Series, a full-fledged Indian side took on the Ranji Trophy winners Mumbai led by Sachin Tendulkar for the Irani Trophy fixture played at Chennai. The Rest of India team was led by Sourav

Ganguly, the then Indian captain. Zaheer Khan, who was at the peak of his prowess back in 2003 brought the Mumbai batting lineup on its knees on the first morning itself as they found themselves knee-deep in trouble at 98-5. Sachin, who watched wickets tumble at the other end

took it upon himself (as he often used to do in India colors) to stage a fightback. With Sairaj Bahutule for company, the Mumbai captain stitched a partnership of 149, attacking Kumble, Bangar and Balaji. After Sachin got out for 94 to Zaheer, the tail could add only 50 more to

take Mumbai to 297, a respectable total for a side that was staring down the barrel at 98-5. Sachin's bowlers, however, ensured it was more than just a respectable total as they gave Mumbai a 95 run lead by bowling the ROI batting lineup for a meagre 202. This was an embarrassing

performance from a lineup that had the likes of Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly and Yuvraj adorning it. Ganguly's bowlers however rose up to the occasion once again and reduced Mumbai to 115-6 out of which Sachin had contributed 50 runs before getting out to Zaheer again. Just

when it looked the match was in Ganguly's pocket, the Mumbai tail wagged to take the total to 244 with vital contributions from Powar, Bahutule and Agarkar. Suddenly, the ROI batting lineup had a mountain to climb as they had to score 300+ in the final innings on a Chennai pitch.

Remember, the highest score made in the match till now was Mumbai's 297. ROI had to make 340 and it looked a distant dream when Bangar got out to Agarkar in the 2nd over of the chase. Sehwag too left after making a 36 ball 36 to leave Dravid in the company of nightwatchman Balaji

Now, Balaji, the man we remember for smashing Akhtar out of the park did what a team would expect out of a nightwatchman. He put a price on his wicket and played the morning session as if his life depended on it. He faced 126 balls for his 26 and departed in the 50th over of the

innings. Dravid, on the other hand was coming into his own and the familiar face of VVS on the other side just gave him that extra motivation he needed. VVS on the other hand had a point to prove after being left out of the 2003 World Cup squad and having dropped Sachin earlier

in the match. And so, the duo decided to treat Sachin's men to the kind of partnership they generally reserved for Steve Waugh's men. Laxman took the attack to the Mumbai bowlers and played at a SR of 80 while Dravid went about his job of crafting a match turning century. But

there were still some twists left in this tale. Placed safely at 291 for 3, the ROI batting lineup slipped to 312-7 in no time, a fall that began with Laxman's dismissal for 99. When Kumble joined his captain in the middle, 28 runs were still required. The Mumbai bowlers licked

their lips in anticipation with only Bhajji and Zaheer to follow. However, Ganguly, who till that point had an average outing, took the responsibility and the duo just took 33 balls to get the remaining 28 runs to script a marvelous victory which gave Sachin his first defeat as

Mumbai skipper since 1993-94. What a great contest involving some of the finest Indian cricketers of their generation. And, to think of it, all of them delivered. Would have been such a great match to watch for anyone who did turn up at MA Chidambaram.

espncricinfo.com/series/irani-t…

All photos barring the last one belong to DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images.