November 26 is seen as a day of tragedy in India due to the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 but in 2011 and 2012, India had some contrasting fortunes in cricket at the Wankhede stadium.
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The date November 26 will be etched on the memories of a billion Indians for a long time. It was on this day in 2008 that 166 people were killed in a terrible terror attack in Mumbai. The incident scarred the nation badly. Relations between India and Pakistan were never the same again, with both nations playing only one bilateral series against each other in the last 13 years. On the cricket field, the nation healed in a spectacular manner. Sachin Tendulkar managed to hit a fourth innings ton to help India chase down 387 against England in Chennai. It was a moment that showed the world the power of sports in healing.
But, in the years 2011 and 2012, there were some contrasting fortunes for the Indian side when it came to Tests at the Wankhede stadium. In 2011, India and West Indies played out the ultimate stalemate. But, in 2012, India was undone by England’s version of the ‘spin twins’ and a knock for the ages from Kevin Pietersen. That it happened on the same day in different years was providence.
In Test cricket, what are the kinds of results? Win, loss, draw and a tie, right? There is another result. It is a match drawn with the scores level. The difference between this and a tie is the number of wickets. If the scores are level and all the wickets are lost, then the match is a tie. In case the number of wickets remains and the scores are level but the time has run out, then it is match drawn with the scores level. This is exactly what happened in 2011.
The match was already highly anticipated for the moment of Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th international ton. West Indies dominated proceedings, with the top five getting starts. Darren Bravo smashed 166 and fifties from Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, and Marlon Samuels helped West Indies to 590.
In response, Gautam Gambhir hit fifty and was ably supported by Rahul Dravid who hit 82. Tendulkar stole the show with a superb exhibition of batting as he neared his 100th ton. On 94, the anticipation at the Wankhede grew to a fever pitch. But, he edged Ravi Rampaul to Darren Sammy at slip as the 100th international ton continued to elude him. Ravichandran Ashwin smashed a century as India ended on 482.
West Indies were bowled out for 134 in the second innings with Pragyan Ojha taking 6/47. Needing 243 for a win, Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli blasted fifties as India came close on the final day. Things became tense as India was reeling at 189/6.
When Kohli and Ishant Sharma fell, India needed four runs. In stepped Ashwin. He had already saved India with the bat in the first innings and would do it again. In the final over, with two balls to spare, Ashwin played out a dot which meant that India could not lose the match. In the final ball, he smashed a full delivery to long-on and set off for a couple. However, he was run-out and India ended on 242/9. The scores were level and the match ended in a draw. This was the second time such a particular result had occurred in Tests. In 1996, the Harare Test between Zimbabwe and England ended in a similar way.
In the very next year in 2012, Wankhede dished out a dustbowl. The series was between India and England. The Poms had not won a series on Indian soil for close to three decades and they did not start well. In the Ahmedabad Test, England lost by nine wickets to go 0-1 down in the four-Test series. Their similar frailties against spin were exposed.
In Mumbai, the ball started to spin on day 1 of the Test match. Cheteshwar Pujara smashed 135 and Ashwin hit another fifty to end on 327. Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar took five and four wickets respectively. Confronted with a massive challenge, England was 68/2. Then came the partnership that changed the entire match. Kevin Pietersen launched a vicious assault on the spinners. Alastair Cook dropped anchor as the duo shared a 206-run stand. Pietersen blasted 20 fours and four sixes to smash 186. Cook hit 122, his second century as England took a lead of 86.
Armed with a potent lead and with the pitch becoming unplayable, England seized the initiative. Panesar and Swann were on top of their game as they completely spun a web around India. Gambhir top-scored with 65 but the rest of the batting collapsed in a heap. Swann took four wickets while Panesar ended with six as India was shot out for 142. Panesar and Swann took 19 wickets in the entire match combined, with James Anderson taking one wicket.
Needing 57, Cook and Nick Compton chased the target down with ease to ensure England leveled the series in style. The scars of Mumbai would carry into the Kolkata Test. Cook hit yet another century and Panesar was the star again. Anderson put in a superb exhibition of reverse swing as England won the second Test. After the draw in Nagpur, England’s 28-year jinx was broken. The main base for England’s stunning effort was due to their effort at the Wankhede stadium.
