Playing It My Way: My Autobiography (36 page)

Within five weeks of the double surgery I picked up a cricket bat and even played a few shots to tennis balls. My family and friends Atul Ranade and Jagdish Chavan were with me throughout the recovery and I got them to bowl at me from 18 yards to get used to the extra pace that I was likely to encounter in the West Indies. In hindsight I concede that I probably pushed myself too hard. When my physio and doctors asked me to play thirty balls a day, I played sixty.

After practising to short-pitched bowling for four days, I asked one of my friends to bowl at me from the full 22 yards, to get used to swing and seam movement. All was fine until I felt a sudden jerk. I immediately stopped and one look was enough to frighten me. My biceps was hanging like a hammock and my first impression was that I had ruptured it again. I was desperate to speak to John Gloster and report what had happened, but John was then in the West Indies with the team and, because of the time difference, I had to wait eight or nine hours before I was able to speak to him. Those hours were a real nightmare. John advised complete rest for the next few days. The incident had really shaken me up. A week later I went to Chennai and met up with our trainer, Ramji Srinivasan. I wanted to work on my physical fitness, even if I couldn’t bat. I trained hard for a week but it was to no avail. I had lost confidence completely and decided not to go to the West Indies for the June 2006 Test series.

Led by Rahul Dravid, who had replaced Sourav Ganguly as captain, the team played outstandingly well. Rahul batted brilliantly in truly trying conditions and we won the four-Test series 1–0. It was our first series win in the Caribbean for thirty-five years – and I was frustrated at missing every single bit of the action. I called my team-mates after the victory and congratulated them on a fantastic series win.

By the time the team returned from the West Indies and were ready to go to Sri Lanka for three ODIs in August, I had recovered enough to join them, though throwing was still a bit of an issue. Disappointingly, the Sri Lanka series was a washout – only twenty-two balls were bowled in the first game because of rain and the second and third games were abandoned completely – although it did at least allow me more time to recover. Frustrated because of all the rain, we ended up sitting out on the hotel-room balcony playing carrom.

The next tournament was a tri-series in Malaysia in September 2006 against Australia and the West Indies, and I was delighted to score a big hundred in the first game of the competition against the West Indies. My innings of 141 not out finally put all my injury concerns to rest, though it was disappointing to lose the rain-shortened match by the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Heartened by my successful comeback, I kept promising my team-mates that I would get them a run-out in the tournament. I said that all the opposition players were aware of my injuries and were bound to take some risks against me, assuming I wouldn’t be able to throw hard. It happened exactly as I had predicted and I got Australia’s Damien Martyn run out when he took on my arm while fielding at third man. I celebrated by sprinting back to the wicket and my team-mates were delighted that I had kept my promise. I was back.

1st Test. Bangalore. 6–10 October 2004

Australia 474 (MJ Clarke 151, AC Gilchrist 104, SM Katich 81, JL Langer 52; H Singh 5–146, A Kumble 3–157) and 228 (DR Martyn 45, SM Katich 39; H Singh 6–78)

India 246 (PA Patel 46, SC Ganguly 45; GD McGrath 4–55) and 239 (R Dravid 60, IK Pathan 55; JN Gillespie 3–33)

Australia won by 217 runs

2nd Test. Chennai. 14–18 October 2004

Australia 235 (JL Langer 71, ML Hayden 58; A Kumble 7–48) and 369 (DR Martyn 104, AC Gilchrist 49; A Kumble 6–133, H Singh 3–108)

India 376 (V Sehwag 155, M Kaif 64, PA Patel 54; SK Warne 6–125, JN Gillespie 2–70) and 19–0

Match drawn

3rd Test. Nagpur. 26–29 October 2004

Australia 398 (DR Martyn 114, MJ Clarke 91, DS Lehmann 70; Z Khan 4–95, M Kartik 3–57) and 329–5 dec (SM Katich 99, DR Martyn 97, MJ Clarke 73; Z Khan 2–64, M Kartik 2–74)

India 185 (M Kaif 55,
SR Tendulkar 8
; JN Gillespie 5–56, GD McGrath 3–27) and 200 (V Sehwag 58, AB Agarkar 44*,
SR Tendulkar 2
; JN Gillespie 4–24)

Australia won by 342 runs

4th Test. Mumbai. 3–5 November 2004

India 104 (R Dravid 31*,
SR Tendulkar 5
; JN Gillespie 4–29, NM Hauritz 3–16, MS Kasprowicz 2–11) and 205 (VVS Laxman 69,
SR Tendulkar 55
; MJ Clarke 6–9, GD McGrath 2–29)

Australia 203 (DR Martyn 55; A Kumble 5–90, M Kartik 4–44) and 93 (ML Hayden 24; H Singh 5–29, M Kartik 3–32)

India won by 13 runs

Australia won the series 2–1

1st Test. Kanpur. 20–24 November 2004

South Africa 510–9 dec (AJ Hall 163, Z de Bruyn 83, HH Dippenaar 48; A Kumble 6–131) and 169–4 (GC Smith 47; M Kartik 2–17, H Singh 2–39)

India 466 (V Sehwag 164, G Gambhir 96, SC Ganguly 57, R Dravid 54,
SR Tendulkar 3
; AJ Hall 3–93, M Ntini 3–135)

Match drawn

2nd Test. Kolkata. 28 November–2 December 2004

South Africa 305 (JH Kallis 121, JA Rudolph 61; Z Khan 3–64, IK Pathan 3–72) and 222 (GC Smith 71, JH Kallis 55; H Singh 7–87, A Kumble 3–82)

India 411 (V Sehwag 88, R Dravid 80,
SR Tendulkar 20
; M Ntini 4–112) and 120–2 (R Dravid 47*,
SR Tendulkar 32
)

India won by 8 wickets

India won the series 1–0

1st Test. Dhaka. 10–13 December 2004

Bangladesh 184 (M Ashraful 60*, M Rafique 47; IK Pathan 5–45) and 202 (MI Rana 69, N Iqbal 54; IK Pathan 6–51)

India 526 (
SR Tendulkar 248*
, SC Ganguly 71, G Gambhir 35, VVS Laxman 32)

India won by an innings and 140 runs

2nd Test. Chittagong. 17–20 December 2004

India 540 (R Dravid 160, G Gambhir 139, SC Ganguly 88, H Singh 47,
SR Tendulkar 36
; M Rafique 4–156, M Mortaza 3–60)

Bangladesh 333 (M Ashraful 158*, A Ahmed 43; A Kumble 4–55) and 124 (f/o) (T Jubair 31; IK Pathan 5–32,
SR Tendulkar 1–27
)

India won by an innings and 83 runs

India won the series 2–0

1st Test. Mohali. 8–12 March 2005

Pakistan 312 (A Kamal 91, Inzamam-ul-Haq 57, T Umar 44; L Balaji 5–76) and 496–9 dec (K Akmal 109, Inzamam-ul-Haq 86, A Razzaq 71, Y Youhana 68; L Balaji 4–95, A Kumble 4–160)

India 516 (V Sehwag 173,
SR Tendulkar 94
, VVS Laxman 58, R Dravid 50; D Kaneria 6–150) and 85–1

Match drawn

2nd Test. Kolkata. 16–20 March 2005

India 407 (R Dravid 110, V Sehwag 81,
SR Tendulkar 52
; A Razzaq 3–62, S Afridi 3–80, D Kaneria 3–136) and 407–9 dec (R Dravid 135, KD Karthik 93,
SR Tendulkar 52
; A Razzaq 3–80, M Sami 3–82, D Kaneria 3–123)

Pakistan 393 (Y Khan 147, Y Youhana 104; A Kumble 3–98) and 226 (S Afridi 59, A Kamal 50; A Kumble 7–63)

India won by 195 runs

3rd Test. Bangalore. 24–28 March 2005

Pakistan 570 (Y Khan 267, Inzamam-ul-Haq 184; H Singh 6–152) and 261–2 dec (Y Khan 84*, Y Hameed 76, S Afridi 58;
SR Tendulkar 1–62
)

India 449 (V Sehwag 201, VVS Laxman 79*,
SR Tendulkar 41
; D Kaneria 5–127) and 214 (G Gambhir 52,
SR Tendulkar 16
; S Afridi 3–13, A Khan 2–21, D Kaneria 2–46)

Pakistan won by 168 runs

Series drawn 1–1

1st Test. Chennai. 2–6 December 2005

India 167 (V Sehwag 36,
SR Tendulkar 22
; WPUJC Vaas 4–20, M Muralitharan 2–60)

Sri Lanka 168–4 (DPMD Jayawardene 71; A Kumble 3–41)

Match drawn

2nd Test. Delhi. 10–14 December 2005

India 290 (
SR Tendulkar 109
, VVS Laxman 69; M Muralitharan 7–100) and 375–6 dec (IK Pathan 93, Y Singh 77*, R Dravid 53, MS Dhoni 51*,
SR Tendulkar 16
)

Sri Lanka 230 (MS Atapattu 88, DPMD Jayawardene 60; A Kumble 6–72, IK Pathan 3–34) and 247 (MS Atapattu 67, DPMD Jayawardene 67; A Kumble 4–85, H. Singh 3–70)

India won by 188 runs

3rd Test. Ahmedabad. 18–22 December 2005

India 398 (VVS Laxman 104, IK Pathan 82, MS Dhoni 49,
SR Tendulkar 23
; SL Malinga 3–113, M Muralitharan 3–128) and 316–9 dec (Y Singh 75, AB Agarkar 48,
SR Tendulkar 19
; HMCM Bandara 3–84, M Muralitharan 3–90)

Sri Lanka 206 (TM Dilshan 65, KC Sangakkara 41; H Singh 7–62, A Kumble 2–87) and 249 (TM Dilshan 65, DPMD Jayawardene 57, WU Tharanga 47; A Kumble 5–89, H Singh 3–79)

India won by 259 runs

India won the series 2–0

1st Test. Lahore. 13–17 January 2006

Pakistan 679–7 dec (Y Khan 199, M Yousuf 173, S Afridi 103, K Akmal 102*, S Malik 59; AB Agarkar 2–122)

India 410–1 (V Sehwag 254, R Dravid 128*; Naved-ul-Hasan 1–94)

Match drawn

2nd Test. Faisalabad. 21–25 January 2006

Pakistan 588 (S Afridi 156, Inzamam-ul-Haq 119, Y Khan 83, M Yousuf 65; Z Khan 3–135, A Kumble 3–150) and 490–8 dec (Y Khan 194, M Yousuf 126, K Akmal 78; Z Khan 4–61)

India 603 (MS Dhoni 148, R Dravid 103, VVS Laxman 90, IK Pathan 90,
SR Tendulkar 14
; D Kaneria 3–165) and 21–0

Match drawn

3rd Test. Karachi. 29 January–1 Feb 2006

Pakistan 245 (K Akmal 113, A Razzaq 45, S Akhtar 45; IK Pathan 5–61, RP Singh 3–66) and 599–7 dec (F Iqbal 139, M Yousuf 97, A Razzaq 90, Y Khan 77, S Afridi 60, I Farhat 57, S Butt 53; A Kumble 3–151)

India 238 (Y Singh 45, IK Pathan 40,
SR Tendulkar 23
; M Asif 4–78, A Razzaq 3–67) and 265 (Y Singh 122,
SR Tendulkar 26
; A Razzaq 4–88, M Asif 3–48)

Pakistan won by 341 runs

Pakistan won the series 1–0

1st Test. Nagpur. 1–5 March 2006

England 393 (PD Collingwood 134*, AN Cook 60; S Sreesanth 4–95, IK Pathan 3–92) and 297–3 dec (AN Cook 104*, KP Pietersen 87, AJ Strauss 46; IK Pathan 2–48)

India 323 (M Kaif 91, W Jaffer 81, A Kumble 58,
SR Tendulkar 16
; MJ Hoggard 6–57) and 260–6 (W Jaffer 100, R Dravid 71,
SR Tendulkar 28*
; SJ Harmison 2–48, A Flintoff 2–79)

Match drawn

2nd Test. Mohali. 9–13 March 2006

England 300 (A Flintoff 70, KP Pietersen 64, GO Jones 52; A Kumble 5–76, MM Patel 3–72) and 181 (IR Bell 57, A Flintoff 51; MM Patel 4–25, A Kumble 4–70)

India 338 (R Dravid 95, IK Pathan 52,
SR Tendulkar 4
; A Flintoff 4–96) and 144–1 (V Sehwag 76*, R Dravid 42*; MJ Hoggard 1–24)

India won by 9 wickets

3rd Test. Mumbai. 18–22 March 2006

England 400 (AJ Strauss 128, OA Shah 88, A Flintoff 50; S Sreesanth 4–70, H Singh 3–89) and 191 (A Flintoff 50, OA Shah 38; A Kumble 4–49, H Singh 2–40)

India 279 (MS Dhoni 64, R Dravid 52,
SR Tendulkar 1
; JM Anderson 4–40, MJ Hoggard 2–54) and 100 (
SR Tendulkar 34
; SD Udal 4–14, A Flintoff 3–14, JM Anderson 2–39)

England won by 212 runs

Series drawn 1–1

My primary goal now was to win the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. We had made the final four years earlier and had faltered at the very last hurdle. We were all desperate to go one better this time and expectations at home were very high.

We played well in our two practice matches against the Netherlands and the West Indies in Jamaica in early March. We scored 300 batting first against the Netherlands, for a decisive 182-run win, and in the next match our bowlers polished off the West Indies for 85, setting up a nine-wicket victory. We seemed to be getting into a good rhythm for our first group match against Bangladesh on 17 March, but at the same time there was no question of being complacent or taking them lightly. Bangladesh had beaten decent opposition before.

The match was tough for many reasons. When we batted, the pitch was damp and it was extremely difficult to play shots in the first ten overs. Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s medium-fast bowler, was performing well and we had lost two early wickets when I went in to bat. I was batting at number four in this competition, as requested by the team management. I was perhaps a little surprised to bat in that position, because we had experimented with my batting position before, on the eve of the 2003 World Cup, only to agree that I could contribute most as an opener. But the team management’s theory was that the tracks in the West Indies would be slow and low and I would be able to manoeuvre the spinners in the middle of the innings. As it turned out, almost all the wickets had bounce and movement and the strategy backfired on us.

My plan was to see off the new ball before gradually picking up the scoring rate. Sourav and I successfully negotiated the early swing and, with the spinners on, I decided to play an inside-out shot over extra cover. Unfortunately the ball from left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak hit the inside edge of my bat, ricocheted into my pad and went on to hit the stumps. It was not the start to the World Cup I had hoped for.

Not much went right for us on the day. Although Sourav scored 66 while opening the batting, Rahul, the captain, made only 14 and then Dhoni got out for a duck trying to play a cut shot, caught at short third man. It was one of those days when things just didn’t click and we ended up with a below-par score of 191. In reply Tamim Iqbal, the left-handed opening batsman, gave Bangladesh a quick start and they managed to reach the target fairly easily in the end, with five wickets to spare.