What are some instances when a single player changed the course of a cricket match?

 2016 World T20,India vs Australia,Mohali

It was a must win game for both the sides as whoever would win the game would Qualify for the semis.

Skipper Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia got a blazing start as they made 52 runs within the first 4 overs as Khawaja and Finch wreaked havoked on the Indian bowlers

But Indian bowlers made a good comeback as they kept taking Wickets at regular intervals and the Aussies could make only 160 runs in their alloted overs.

The chase was never going to be easy for India, and it did so India lost both the openers within the powerplay and soon they lost Suresh Raina at the eighth over. But Virat Kohli was looking good at the crease

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In came Yuvraj Singh to assist Virat Kohli who was already looking good at the crease . They both handled the situation and made a steady partnership of 45 in 38 balls ,before Yuvraj Singh was dismissed by Watson in the 14th over.

Skipper Ms Dhoni made his way into the ground to join his partner in crime Virat Kohli , they both tried to add stability in the middle . Kohli completed his half century in the 17th over ,but he knew his job was only half done.

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The equation was now 39 off 18 deliveries.

Faulkner to bowl.

18th over

• Ball 1: Kohli starts the over with a boundary towards backward square leg
• Ball 2: Kohli opens the face of the bat and hits an incredible square drive for a 4
• Ball 3: Kohli steps out of his crease and delivers the ball into the stands.
• The last three balls of the over yielded 5 runs as the Captain and the vice captain showed their running skills.

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20 off 12 now.

Nathan counter Nile to bowl the penultimate over.

19th over

• Ball 1: Dot ball. Pressure increasing rapidly.
• Ball 2: Kohli uses his wrist to open the face of the bat and Square drive through the point for a boundary
• Ball 3: Another boundary,Kohli pulls and beats the fielder inside the circle
• Ball 4: Another boundary, Kohli on a role here. Run a ball required for the first time.
• Ball 5 :Dot ball
• Ball 6: Kohli, he unfurls his favourite shot, that drive and it is too good for every man on the field, he has bossed this chase. Game set and match now !

4 off 6. James Faulkner has the ball.

20th over

• Dhoni hits the winning runs , India wins the match and it's all over for the Aussies in the tournament.

It was one of the best innings played by Virat Kohli in international cricket, wickets kept falling under regular intervals but Virat hold on one end and made sure that India remain in the game. In the last three overs when the required run rate was going high , Virat Kohli tattered the Aussie bowlers and unleashed the attacking demon in himself to power India towards victory. He rightly won the man of the match award for his fantabulous innings.

What are some instances from test cricket when a team lost despite getting a huge lead?

 A team scored 556 runs in the first innings and lost a test match. A batsman scored 242 in the first innings and still ended up on the losing side.

Yes you heard it right !

Dec 12–16, 2nd test, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2003, Adelaide.

The first test of the series ended in a draw. Steve Waugh, the captain of Australia won the toss and opt to bat first in the second test at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia lost Matthew Hayden early, but managed to put on a mammoth total of 556 runs on the board. Ricky Ponting was the chief contributor with his marathon 242.

Apart from him, Justin Langer scored 58, Simon Katich scored 75 & Jason Gillespie scored 48 runs.

For India, Anil Kumble picked up a fifer.

India in their first innings were in deep trouble with 85/4 at one stage. But then Dravid and Laxman involved in a superb partnership of 303 runs for the fifth wicket.

While Dravid scored a daddy double hundred (233), Laxman was happy to be the second fiddle & scored 148 runs.

India managed to almost negate the first innings as they scored 523 runs in their first innings.

Andy Bichel picked 4 wickets for Australia.

It did seem like the game was going nowhere, but what followed was a sensational bowling effort from India, especially from a pumped up Ajit Agarkar. He bowled the spell of his life (16.2–2–41–6) to restrict Australia to just 196 on still a good batting surface.

Chasing 233 wasn't easy. But Team India was determined. Each and every batsman contributed to the team's total. It was Rahul Dravid again who anchored the chase for India, as his 72* ensured a sensational victory for Team India.

• India won the match by 4 wickets.
• Australia lost the test after scoring 556 runs in their first innings !
• Australia lost the test after one of their batsman scored 242 in an innings !

It was truly sensational from Team India.

Image credits - Google.