By CricketCountry Staff
September 22 marks the 25th anniversary of the historic tied Test match between India and Australia played at Chepauk in 1986. Chandrakant Pandit, who played in that game as stumper, still believes India could have won the game.
Published: Sep 22, 2011, 04:05 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 22, 2011, 04:05 PM (IST)
Chandrakant Pandit, who played in that game as a stumper, still believes India could have won the match
By CricketCountry Staff
Mumbai: Sep 22, 2011
September 22 marks the 25th anniversary of the historic tied Test match between India and Australia played at Chepauk in 1986.
Chandrakant Pandit, who played in that game as a stumper, still believes India could have won the match.
“As a player, you want to win every match and in the case of the tied Test it was so near, yet so far. The match turned historic. Though for me, even after 25 years, people will still say that India could have won it,” says Pandit.
“Unfortunately Kiran took ill on the first day itself and had to be rushed to the hospital and he returned to the field only on the third day. I still remember pulling his leg by saying ‘because of you I have to be the wicketkeeper’ and we laughed about it,” adds Pandit.
Recalling the final day, Pandit said “It was an absorbing day which towards the end became tense. Given the fantastic pitch even on a final day, we weren’t bothered at the start. We knew we would not lose but no one thought that it would get so close. The positive thinking saw us surge ahead but the pressure go to us in the end.”
“There are certain things of that match that I still cannot forget. Like while batting in the second innings, when we held an upper hand, Ravi Shastri told me that I should make the most of my favourite cut shot. As luck would have it, I chose the wrong ball to execute it and played the ball on to the stumps,” says Pandit. “I regret it because we could have led India to victory.”
