Most of you would remember this iconic image: Anil Kumble is congratulated by the team mates on taking 10 wickets in the match against the Pakistanis.
This is one of the most historic moment in the Indian Cricket history and specially for an individual who is presently the coach of the Indian national cricket team, Mr. Anil Kumble. It was amazing display of sheer class and sportsmanship. This gave Indians a memorable victory over Pakistanis and more importantly gave the country one more cricketing hero, this time a bowler named Anil Kumble.
But this answer is not related to this extra ordinary cricketer. It was a moment that showed a great team spirit. Here I am talking about Javagal Srinath, the man who bowled the over just before Kumble took his 10th wicket to create the history.
The situation: Pakistan just lost the 9th wicket at the end of the 60th over when Saqlain Mushtaq was plummed LBW by Kumble. Srinath came to bowl the next over and he literally bowled at 4–5 stump line, a line where even the batsmen were unable to play the ball. He literally bowled all the deliveries wide off stump so that there wont be any chance of getting a wicket in his over. In a way keeping the priced scalp, the 10th wicket for Kumble.
The line of the deliveries bowled by Srinath were in the red zone (Shown below).
The last ball of the over was a bouncer to which Waqar Younus who was at the strike hooked and S Ramesh leaped to get the catch but was unsuccessful. He was literally fired up for trying to take the catch. Such was the level of the team spirit where everyone wanted Kumble to have the moment.
This is the most unselfish deed by a cricketer for me. Imagine if the wicket would have felt. And this was entirely possible as Waqar Younus even suggested that they (Himself and Wasim Akram who was at the non striker end) would run themselves out to prevent Kumble from getting the 10th wicket and equalling Jim Lakers’ record. A fact which was recognised by Wasim Akram himself. See in the link below:
Waqar almost spoiled Kumble’s party: Akram | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis
Thus this deed of Srinath stands as a great advertisement of sportmanship and team spirit and most unselfish one.