Top 5 moments of S Sreesanth’s cricket career
S Sreesanth decided to call it a day on his cricketing career on March 9. He had last represented India in 2011 and the veteran pacer was also an integral member of the Indian squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
While his alleged involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal during the IPL 2013 proved to be the turning point of his promising career that had a lot more to offer, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth also had a lot of memorable moments. Without further ado, here’s a look at five of those instances.’
The 2007 T20 World Cup-winning catch
After being reduced to 77/6 chasing 153, Misbah-ul-Haq kept Pakistan in the hunt by taking the Indian bowlers to the cleaners in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup final in 2007 was played in Johannesburg. Misbah brought the equation down to six from four deliveries.
Medium-pacer Joginder Sharma bowled a slow delivery way outside the off-stump as the batter walked across the wickets and played a scoop shot. Initially, it appeared as if the ball would make it to the boundary but, Sreesanth ended up taking a good catch under pressure at short fine-leg as India were crowned the first-ever T20 world champions.
Leaving Jacques Kallis shell-shocked with a bouncer
Kerala speedster had stunned the legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis with an unplayable bouncer during the second innings of the Durban Test in December 2010 with the hosts needing 215 runs to win the contest.
The India quick had bowled a short of a length which rose sharply and came back at the batter who could only try and defend his face. Unfortunately, the ball made contact with his gloves and went straight into the hands of Virender Sehwag at gully.
The match-winning spell in the T20 World Cup semis
Sreesanth bowled a fiery spell during the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2007 against the then mighty Australia, led by Ricky Ponting. While he finished with 2-12 in his four overs, the pacer castled the in-form opening duo of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden as India set up a final date with Pakistan.
An out-swinging yorker to dismiss Darren Ganga
The then-emerging fast bowler had bowled a dream delivery to get rid of Darren Ganga during the fourth and final Test between India and West Indies at Kingston in Jamaica in July 2006. The out-swinging yorker stunned the opening batter as his off-stump went for a walk. India won the match and the series by 49 runs.
The famous dance celebration
This famous incident took place during the first Test between India and South Africa at Johannesburg in December 2006. The Proteas pacer Andre Nel had sledged Sreesanth Nonetheless, the tail-ender made Nel shut his mouth by hitting him for a straight six and that was not all, Sreesanth then kept dancing merrily as he charged down to the bowlers’ end.
