Lords of Lord's: A behind the scenes look at India's 2002 NatWest series triumph

In the team meeting a day before the final Sourav Ganguly tells players the team have done well till now just keep up the good work On reaching Lordrsquos on match day Sourav dumped his bag in the dressing room arranged his kit picked his favourite Oakley shades and stuck new Hero Honda stickers on his batsBattleready Sourav was first out of the dressing room for his warmup He knocked a few balls to get the reassuring feel of ball hitting bat and then went to the middle to check the wicketBack in the Indian dressing room a nervous coach is trying to calm his nervous players John Wrightrsquos message Donrsquot bother about the big final at Lordrsquos just stick to the game plan and fight Before the toss the issue of Anil Kumblelsquos fitness has to be resolved Andrew Leipus physiotherapist puts him through normal warmup drills Anil bowls a few balls but isnrsquot sure The team decide Anil should play even if 75 per cent fitSourav Ganguly swirls his India jersey at the Lordrsquos balcony PicPradeep Mandhani MIDDAY ArchivesThe other debate is about what to do with the four playersmdashWasim Jaffer Sanjay Bangar Parthiv Patel Shiv Sundar Dasmdashwho have arrived in England to join the team for the Test series After much discussion itrsquos decided they should watch the match from the Members enclosure next to the pavilionWhen play starts England seem to run away with the game as edges fall in gaps and players play and miss many times With 325 on the board does England have too many The mood in the dressing room is solemn the team eat in silence but Virender Sehwag is positive VVS Laxman advises Sehwag to play cricketing shots arguing itrsquos not possible to get 326 with desperate hittingStressed out coachDada chooses a bat from the seven lined up next to his kitbag each with multiple grips sticking out on top beyond the handle When the innings starts Sourav is off like a rocket blazing away but is out after a rapid 50 and is furious with himself A stressedout John sits in a corner muttering instructions nobody can hear talking to himself His tension increases as Sachin Tendulkar makes his way back bowled by Ashley Giles At five down for 146 it looked pretty GRIMDespite this crushing blow the mood in the camp is positive with Ajit Agarkar convinced India will win This is the time when all the tashan started Instructions were issued to everyone not to move from their seats This was lockdown time dressing room curfew with all movement prohibited Rahul Dravid and Sachin are marooned on Andrewrsquos massage table for the rest of the game I stood next to the dressing room door like a statueEnglandrsquos Alex Tudor reacts as Mohd Kaif centre and Yuvraj Singh take a run during their crucial 121run stand in the NatWest Series finalDuring this tense period Sourav sends out silent appeals to all the Gods he has on a personal hotline Divine connection established by the captain Kaif 87 not out and Yuvraj 69 add 121 to take India to an unlikely win Sourav unfurls his shirt on the dressing room balcony and zips down the stairs shouting with delight as members in the Long Room applaud Sourav is leaping over the gate before the steward can open it and runs on to the field to greet KaifCash bonanzaDuring the presentation BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya calls to announce a R1 crore cash award for the team Kaif hands me his helmet and a stump match souvenirs before taking off for a victory lapAlso Read Jasprit Bumrah bamboozles England to script 10wicket win for IndiaThe players are in no hurry to leave and the dressing room celebrations are in full swing Ravi Shastri who saw it all from the commentary box at the other end is one of the first to pop in He uncorks a magnum of expensive champagne thoughtfully provided by Pete the superefficient dressing room attendant on Kaif and YuvrajWith mobiles ringing crazily and players screaming and shouting with joy itrsquos anarchy in the Lordrsquos dressing room Pictures are taken and souvenirs collected most coveted being the black match stumpsIn the middle of the chaos Dada announces dinner ldquoItrsquos on merdquo he says even as famished players attack the lamb chops and pasta the postmatch refreshments served by the Lordrsquos kitchen Match highlights are playing on the telly and every hit by Kaif and Yuvi as India get close to the target is greeted with whoops of delightOn the bus ride back to the hotel an emotionally drained Sourav rises from his designated seat window second row on the left behind Sachin to thank his teammates a gracious leader addressing his victorious troops Souravrsquos cell phone keeps buzzing as the whole world is calling or messaging him but he canrsquot get through to his family in Kolkata The St James Court hotel staff greet players with laddoos and champagne Sachinrsquos wife Anjali is among those waiting in the lobby A celebratory dinner at Four Seasons hotel is hosted by Rashmi Mehta the diamond merchant from Belgium a keen supporter of Indian cricketMeanwhile Dravid announces his lsquoretirementrsquo from wicketkeeping duties and wants the bonus announced by the BCCI to be distributed among all 18mdashplayers and coaching staff Typical Dravid selfless and considerateBrave YuviTo end this little recall of a big day in Indian cricket I must tell you that Yuvi played the final with a broken bone On the first ball of the match Marcus Trescothick cut one to Yuvi and chipped his little finger He knew straightaway it was gone a day before it was confirmed by a doctor who he consultedJuly 13 2002 had everythingmdashguts grit and gloryBrief scoresEngland 3255 in 50 overs N Hussain 115 M Trescothick 109 Z Khan 362 lost to India 3268 in 493 overs M Kaif 87 Y Singh 69 S Ganguly 60 A Giles 247 A Flintoff 255 R Irani 264 by two wickets