Random Cricket Photos Post 70


#RandomCricketPhotosThatMakeMeHappy

What did Indira Gandhi have to do with cricket?
Well, she did send a telegram to Kapil Dev after the 1983 World Cup win, saying, "My slogan is ‘India can do it’. Thank you for living up to it.”

But the fate of at least two matches were directly affected by Indira Gandhi. The first was the Bangalore Test of 1978, which marked Malcolm Marshall's debut.

At the end of the 4th day, West Indies were 266 ahead with two wickets left in their final inning while the new ball was due. A fourth innings chase of 280+ was on the cards for India on the final day.

On the final day of the Test, however, Indira Gandhi, no more the PM now, got arrested. This was the first time that a former prime minister was imprisoned for breach of privilege and contempt of the house anywhere in the world. The violent disturbances that followed resulted in the abandonment of the final day of the Test.

Exactly 35 years ago, in 1984, India were playing in Pakistan and Dilip Vengsarkar was batting on 94 with India comfortably placed at 210 for 3 at the end of the 40th over. A final flourish seemed to be on its way when the news of Indira Gandhi's assassination came through. The match was abandoned right there and the tour was cancelled.

Luckily for Vengsarkar, he would get to his first and the only ODI ton in the next match he'd play, against England in Pune. Mohnder Amarnath, who captained India in the ODI, however, would never get another chance to lead the national side again.

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