Three partnerships that helped India win from near-defeat situations

In the wake of the recent partnership talks that have been doing vehement rounds in the international cricketing roster after Akeal Hossain and Romario Shepherd rocked the touring English contingency with an electrifying display of strokes, the world has started ruffling through the pages of history to assemble the mighty fine partnerships at the toe-end of the tail.

May it be a bowler-bowler combination or a batter-bowler synergy, what matters at the end of the day is the partnership and the various elements that are dovetailed in the perfect proportions to make magic happen from almost ineluctable situations for a team. In this story, we have compiled three crucial Indian partnerships in the lower half of their pecking order that have won them games or saved them from an inevitable drubbing.

1.    Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami – 89*, 2nd Test at Lords, 2021

This partnership was forged at the Mecca of cricket as two Indian fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami came together to build an incredible stand of 89 runs that remained unbeaten till the end to propel India to a winning platform. Before the two combined, the game seemed to be in a crucial phase with the needle switching slightly towards England. However, the duo clawed their way back out of an English storm to allow India to build a significant lead that was more than enough to impose a crushing defeat upon the hosts, penning history. Shami stitched together an incredible half-century from just 70 balls while Bumrah forged a defiant 34.

2.    Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble – 52*, 3rd ODI, Titan Cup, 1996

Back then Australia was in the initial phases of building a world-conquering team and the foundation was led by the future giants in the form of Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Michael Bevan. In the third match of the tri-series, India was up against the mighty Australians and had a point to prove. Australia won the toss and batted first. However, the Indian bowlers spearheaded by Venkatesh Prasad, tormented the Australians as they restricted them to 215 from their 50 overs. Mark Taylor led from the front as he stitched together a blistering ton. Chasing 216, India started teetering way too soon with Tendulkar stitching together his signature masterclass. He continued with the war almost single-handedly that witnessed him garnering 88 runs. However, when his wicket fell, India was still 52 runs short of a win and it needed a miracle to usher India to the winning line. Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath came together to play an incredulous partnership that left Australia scratching their heads. Another iconic scene that got etched into the Indian cricketing fabric forever was the old lady who had her hands clasped in prayers to bail India out of the quagmire. Srinath stitched a 23-ball-30 while Kumble chimed in with a crucial 16 to help India script a remarkable victory.

3.    VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma – 81 runs, 1st Test at Mohali, 2010

This was a volte-face of the Test match that continuously kept on switching momentum of the game from one side to the other. Both the teams stitched together rollicking illustrations with the bat in the first innings while the second innings saw a complete tumble of both the contingencies. With 216 to win, India was left wobbling at 124 for the loss of 8 with Laxman wielding the sole war. That is when a miracle manifested itself with Ishant Sharma chipping in with the knock of a lifetime. He kept at bay the formidable likes of Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus to glide India to 205. He scored 31 runs from 92 balls and most importantly supported Laxman perfectly before he was removed by Hilfenhaus. Pragyan Ojha managed to chime in with 5 crucial runs at the end that saw VVS Laxman sealing the deal for India.