Joginder Sharma: The Unlikely Hero
The 2007 T20 World Cup final was a nail-biter between rivals India and Pakistan. With Pakistan needing 13 runs off the last over, captain MS Dhoni made a gamble, handing the ball to the little-known Joginder Sharma. After being hit for a six, Sharma held
his nerve. With six runs needed from four balls, Misbah-ul-Haq attempted a scoop shot, only to lob it into the hands of Sreesanth. India won, and Sharma, who never played for India again, was immortalised.
Carlos Brathwaite: Remember the Name
West Indies needed an improbable 19 runs off the final over against England to win the 2016 T20 World Cup. Carlos Brathwaite was on strike. What followed was pure carnage. He smashed Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes, sealing one of the most dramatic wins in cricket history. Commentator Ian Bishop's euphoric cry of "Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name!" became the soundtrack to a moment that defined his career.
Hrishikesh Kanitkar: The Dhaka Finisher
In the fading light of Dhaka in 1998, India was chasing a record 315 against Pakistan in the Independence Cup final. The match went down to the wire, with India needing three runs off two balls. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, a relative newcomer, was facing the formidable Saqlain Mushtaq. Kanitkar audaciously swept a boundary over mid-wicket, clinching a historic victory and becoming an overnight national hero for that one, decisive shot.
Dinesh Karthik: The Nidahas Miracle
For years, Dinesh Karthik's career was a story of comebacks. His defining moment arrived in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh. India needed a staggering 34 runs from the last two overs. Karthik walked in and blasted 22 runs off one over alone. With five needed off the final ball, he lofted a flat six over extra cover, pulling off a heist that revitalised his career and gave Indian fans an unforgettable memory.
Misbah-ul-Haq: The Agonising Scoop
On the losing side of Joginder Sharma's heroics was Misbah-ul-Haq. Until that final ball, he had played a lone hand to bring Pakistan to the brink of victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. Needing just six runs from four balls, he chose to play his most trusted shot—the scoop. But this time, it failed him, landing safely in Sreesanth's hands. That single shot, a moment of overconfidence, would haunt his otherwise stellar career.
Chetan Sharma: The Last-Ball Six
Long before the thrills of T20, there was the heartbreak of Sharjah in 1986. In the Austral-Asia Cup final, Pakistan needed four runs off the last ball to beat India. Chetan Sharma bowled a full toss, and Pakistan's Javed Miandad smashed it for a six. For years, that single delivery unfairly overshadowed Sharma's entire career, including the fact that he was the first Indian to take a World Cup hat-trick.
Herschelle Gibbs: The Dropped World Cup
During a crucial Super Six match against Australia in the 1999 World Cup, South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs dropped a simple catch from Steve Waugh. The legend goes that Waugh told him, "You've just dropped the World Cup." While Waugh denies saying it, the sentiment was true. Waugh went on to score a match-winning century, knocking South Africa out and leading Australia to the title. Gibbs, one of the game's greatest fielders, became infamous for that one costly error.
Mike Gatting: The Ball of the Century
Sometimes a player is remembered for being on the receiving end of greatness. In the 1993 Ashes, England's Mike Gatting faced a young Shane Warne's first-ever delivery in the series. The ball drifted, pitched outside leg stump, spun viciously, and clipped the off stump. Gatting stood in disbelief. It was dubbed the "Ball of the Century," a delivery so perfect that it not only announced Warne's genius but also became inextricably linked to Gatting's name.
Graham Onions: The Unlikely Saviour
A fast bowler is rarely remembered for his batting, but Graham Onions is an exception. In two separate Tests in 2009—once in the Ashes against Australia and again versus South Africa—Onions, as the last man, displayed immense grit. He batted out the tense final overs to secure draws for England. His defiant blocking, particularly against South Africa with fielders surrounding him, cemented his place in English cricket folklore not for his wickets, but for his stubborn defence.
Collis King: The Forgotten World Cup Final Hero
In the 1979 World Cup final, the mighty West Indies were struggling at 99 for 4 when Collis King joined Viv Richards at the crease. While Richards was the established superstar, it was King who stole the show. He launched a stunning counter-attack against England, smashing 86 off just 66 balls. His blitzkrieg shifted the momentum completely and set up a West Indian victory. Despite outshining a legend on the biggest stage, it remains the one performance for which he is remembered.
