On This Day in 2002: Sourav Ganguly's T-Shirt Celebration at Lord's, and the Regret

Two decades have passed since cricket fans witnessed one of the sport’s most memorable encounters when India faced England in the final of the 2002 NatWest Trophy on July 13 at Lord’s. The Indian team, known as the Men in Blue, fought valiantly, and their historic victory was sealed when Sourav Ganguly famously celebrated by waving his shirt from the balcony of Lord’s.

WATCH THE ICONIC MOMENT HERE

Under Ganguly’s captaincy, India performed impressively throughout the tri-series, winning four out of five league matches. As they headed to the final against the hosts, there were concerns about whether they could maintain their earlier form. Yet, the team’s remarkable collective effort and Ganguly’s aggressive leadership propelled them to victory and earned them the coveted NatWest Trophy.

IN PICS: HOW TEAM INDIA CELEBRATED THE WIN AGAINST ENGLAND

England batted first and started strongly. Opener Marcus Trescothick established himself at the crease and scored a century, amassing 109 runs from 100 balls, including seven boundaries and two sixes.

Captain Naseer Hussain also reached three figures with 115 runs off 128 balls, while Andrew Flintoff contributed 40 runs. These performances helped England set a formidable target of 325 runs.

In reply, India’s opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Ganguly began the chase positively, forming a 106-run partnership before Ganguly was dismissed for 60 off 43 balls by Alex Tudor. In the following over, Ashley Giles removed Sehwag, who fell just short of a half-century with 45 runs from 49 balls. The middle order struggled, with Dinesh Mongia, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid contributing just 9, 14, and 5 runs, respectively.

With India at 146 for five, young players Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif took charge, crafting a crucial 121-run partnership. Both players reached half-centuries, with Kaif remaining unbeaten on 87 and Yuvraj Singh scoring a rapid 69 from 65 balls.

Their efforts made the chase manageable for the lower order, and when Zaheer Khan completed a double, India secured a historic win. Kaif, for his outstanding innings, was named Player of the Match.

Why Ganguly Waved His Shirt at Lord’s, and Why He Later Felt Embarrassed

In a subsequent interview with Gaurav Kapur on “Breakfast With Champions," Ganguly admitted feeling a bit embarrassed about his iconic celebration. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “We were ahead by 3-2 at Wankhede, and then England won, making the series 3-3. Srinath was out bowled, and Flintoff celebrated by waving his shirt. I thought, ‘Let’s do the same at Lord’s.’"

Ganguly continued, “But I felt a bit embarrassed about the incident. One day, my daughter saw the footage and asked, ‘Why were you doing that? Is it something you have to do in cricket?’ I told her, ‘No, it’s not necessary. I did it in the heat of the moment.’"

WATCH THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

This dramatic celebration at Lord’s came to symbolise India’s passionate and fiery spirit in cricket. Ganguly’s shirt-waving was not just a personal statement but an embodiment of the team’s resilience and determination, reflecting their triumph over adversity and their pride in achieving a monumental victory on such a grand stage.