India in finals

Its a known fact that India has not done well in the finals. But, what are the numbers? Let us get some more perspective here and check out how India has done over the years.

Out of a total of 50 finals contested, India has won 18, lost 27 and there have been 5 no-results in the finals. Of the ones that India has won, obviously the first few that comes to my mind are:

• World Cup 1983 (The BIG One)
  
• Benson & Hedges Cup 1985 (India won all its matches in the tournament)
  
• NatWest Series 2002 (chasing 325 in the final)
• Coco-Cola Cup 1997-1998 (Sachin Tendulkar's tournament where he scored 2 centuries back-to-back)
• Hero Cup 1993-94 (Sachin Tendulkar's bowling in the last over of the Semi-finals against SA and Kumble's 6-12 in the finals)

The last time India has won the finals was the NatWest Series in England during the 2002 season. Prior to that, it was in 1998-99. Hence, its been a long time coming for the Indians. Hope this time, the team will have a new beginning under the mentoring of Greg Chappell.

India has won the finals playing first SIX times whereas in the other 12 finals, they have batted second. Hence, there might be a good chance that India will win if it bats SECOND this time. Hope so...

In Harare, India has played one final earlier - Losing by 16 runs against WI in the 2001 Coco-Cola Cup. WI scored 290 batting first. Corey Colleymore reduced India to 80-5 before RS Sodhi and S Dighe ignited the hopes of the Indian fans with a century partnership. But, it was not meant to be and India lost the finals once again. Note: The lineup was very powerful even then. It contained Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid, Sehwag!!!

How many times have India and NZ played each other in a final?
TWICE.

• 1987-88 in Sharjah Cup in UAE - India won this match thanks to Ravi Shastri (72 runs in 66 balls, 3 sixes off an attack consisting of the great Richard Hadlee) and Hirwani (4 wkts in the match) Shastri was the Captain as well as the MOM in the finals.
• 2000-01 in ICC KO in Nairobi - Zaheer Khan had made his mark alongwith Yuveraj Singh in this tournament but Chris Cairns won it for NZ in the finals. Sourav Ganguly scored a century for the Indians. Hope the Indian skipper can make atleast 50% of the runs this time.
  

Hence, the record as it stands is 1-1. Hope India can inch forward in the overall records against NZ in the finals.

Sourav Ganguly, Dravid, Yuveraj, Agarkar remember the match in 2000-01 whereas for the Kiwis - Fleming, Astle, Cairns, Mcmillan, Styris are the ones who played in the previous final.

ALL THE BEST INDIA!!!