The rapidly changing landscape of Cricket has unleashed many thrills. Yet amidst this tectonic shift, the old-fashioned lure of ODI Cricket has been challenged. A 50-over match, offering an even tussle between bat and ball, is a beauty in cricket that remains unmatched. For many of us who followed the game pre-2015 mainly, the nostalgia of cult classics is a feel that’s hard to describe. Today, we will revisit one such Sri Lanka-India classic from 2013.
In mid-2013, Sri Lanka was facing India in the final of a triangular series in the West Indies. India was the reigning Champions Trophy winner, crowned merely weeks before. They had secured their place over Sri Lanka in the semi-finals. Both teams had won one game each against each other in this tournament. India’s main man, MS Dhoni, was back for the final. The pitch at Port of Spain wasn’t the usual flat track but one that was destined to test both batters and bowlers.
Sri Lanka batting first found it hard to push the pedal. Tharanga and Mahela, who had made the Indian attack look like a secondary school attack only days before, perished without much noise in the game that mattered. With two early wickets down, it was time for Sri Lanka’s superstar Sangakkara to make his mark. At this juncture, Sangakkara was changing the game in ODIs. He was morphing into a white ball monster too. The signs were obvious. A scrumptious match-winning ton at the Oval against England a few weeks prior was an indicator. But on this day, grit and grind were the requirements. Sangakkara, in partnership with Thirimanne, obliged.
From 49-2, the pair steered Sri Lanka to 171-2. With a well-set launch pad, Sri Lanka was placed to boss the game. With the track crumbling, 240 was surely going to be a match-winning score. Thirimanne’s dismissal, followed by a miscalculation from Sangakkara immediately afterwards in a quest to score quick runs, opened the floodgates for India. Wickets tumbled like nine pins, unable to withstand Ravi Jadeja’s relentless bowling. Sri Lanka lost the last eight wickets for 30 runs, ending up with a paltry 201. The late-order collapse highlighted the value of Sangakkara’s skill. His 71 off 100 wasn’t a knock that many would remember, but it was a display of skill, fitness, and most importantly, the ability to rise when it mattered amidst a never-ending glut of games.
202 was supposed to be a cakewalk for the mighty Indian lineup. However, it wasn’t to be. Indian innings followed the same pattern as Sri Lanka. Thanks to some excellent deliveries, Dhawan, in top form, and Kohli, Sri Lanka’s newfound nemesis, were quickly dismissed. It was the turn of Rohit, who was turning everything he touched into gold, having led Mumbai to their first title win in IPL and establishing himself as an opener to drive India ahead. Partnering him was Dinesh Karthick, who, on his own, was in the middle of a purple patch. As the duo steadied the ship through old-fashioned accumulation, Sri Lanka’s Test star Herath intervened in style, snaring Karthik. Raina and Rohit dashed any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback, steering India back on track. It was a critical phase for Raina as Kohli had led India in MS Dhoni’s absence earlier, leading to even an ugly spat in the field with Jadeja revolving around the snub. However, nothing mattered as India seemed to have cracked the code in the chase.
Again, it was Herath’s turn as he clean-bowled Rohit with a delivery that was kept low. Immediately afterwards, Raina played a loose drive, edging the ball to Sangakkara. Suddenly, the Sri Lankan hopes were alive. Yet, India boasted a strong lower order. The game was in the balance.Any hope of a lower-order resurgence was thwarted by the brilliance of Herath. A Test match specialist was turning the heat on as he trapped Jadeja and Ashwin within a blink of an eye, pushing India to 152 for 7 with only Dhoni left. India inched slowly towards the target with the stubbornness of Bhuvaneswar Kumar and Vinay Kumar alongside Dhoni. However, the tail-enders didn’t last long, and both were dismissed, with India still 20 runs short of victory.
To make matters worse for India, Dhoni was literally batting on one leg and wasn’t finding it easy to run. All things combined, it looked like Ishant Sharma played out an over to set Dhoni up for a final over climax. From needing 20 from 23 balls, the equation was down to 15 off 5, with Eranga in action. The nature of the track meant that Malinga was taken away for runs and wasn’t available for the last over.
In true Dhoni style, Dhoni struck 6,4,6 to take India home without breaking sweat. The bowler worked for the man with the Midas touch, taking it deep and pressurising. As for Sri Lanka, it was so close yet so far. The Indo- Lanka rivalry was at its peak, characterised by high-quality cricket during this phase, making a final loss to India particularly painful. Despite the outcome or the context, the title clash at Port of Spain was a game to cherish. It was a game where old-fashioned ODI batting and consistent bowling-sustaining pressure were rewarded compared to the mainstream slam-back styles. Dhoni’s determination triumphed over Sanga’s grit, and India prevailed over Sri Lanka in yet another final. This game would rarely be recollected as a classic. Yet, for those who stayed up late to watch on either side of the Palk Strait, it remains a game that signified the beauty of ODI cricket, a quality often missed in the current landscape of the sport.
Dr. Aravinthan Arunthavanathan is a multi-talented professional, renowned in both medicine and cricket writing. A graduate of Colombo Medical Faculty, he contributes significantly to the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on Medical Marketing and Business Development. He is also known in Sri Lanka as a cricket writer, particularly for his Twitter analyses @Cricket_decoded. Additionally, he is a proficient public speaker with interests in cognitive sciences, medical, and management education. His blend of scientific knowledge, sports insight, and communication skills distinguishes him in both medical and sports domains.
