Cricket in pictures: 10 Unforgettable moments of 2021

The year 2021 for the game of cricket was utterly special. In international fixtures, finally, the ICC hosted its first-ever WTC final. After a hiatus of five years, even the 7th edition of the T20 World Cup got itself served. The bilateral cricket for that matter also left no stone unturned to even complete the unfinished business of 2020.

In the realm of global T20 Leagues, the ECB launched its mega 100-ball cricket competition. The IPL, on the other hand, not only made massive strides to complete its full 2021 season but also unveiled an addition of two new franchises. Overall, whether you are an international cricketer or a T20 freelancer or even a domestic player of any country, 2021 has been obedient to all of us.

Here are the 10 unforgettable moments of 2021:

1. India’s iconic Test series win in Australia

If you are a team India fan, then the iconic 2021 Test series win in Australia was the biggest euphoria for you. In this bittersweet year, where the team was supposed to bag the two ICC events, attaining the Gabba heist meant securing the seventh heaven. A side that was heavily plagued with injuries moved heaven and earth to obtain its biggest ever triumph in its overseas history.

In the Sydney Test, when team India was jolted to chase a 350 plus target, a loss certainly had looked inevitable. But the heroics from the likes of Pujara, Pant, Ashwin and Vihara resulted in an unimaginable draw. However, entering the Gabba and chasing a 328-run target on the final day was definitely inconceivable and beyond anyone’s belief.

Overall, to defend and retain the Border- Gavaskar trophy at the Australian soil also became a perfect tribute to India’s 50-year old historic overseas Test triumphs of 1971. No doubt, now skipper Kohli and his men are the best travelling team when it comes to the hardest form of cricket.

2. New Zealand winning the WTC final

For New Zealand, securing the ICC trophies has always been a strenuous and emotional affair. Since the 2015 ODI World Cup, the Blackcaps have constantly dwelled themselves into the penultimate or ultimate stages of many ICC events. In the 2019 World Cup, despite equalling the runs tally, they sadly lost the final on the boundary count.

However, the game’s first-ever WTC cycle definitely had pulled out all the stops to make sure the nicest boys do historically triumph. Even before the WTC final, the Kiwis built a perfect platform by defeating England. In fact, with the rain gods also helping them to bat last, the entire finale at the Southampton seemed to be a tailor-made winning script for them.

By winning this mega trophy of Tests cricket, this NZ cricket team has definitely etched a big noble chapter in the game’s eternal history.

3. Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul

For Ajaz Patel, surely 2021 has now become a massive turning point in his career. With all-stars lined up for him, the spinner certainly will get an elongated rope after his momentous 10- wicket haul. However, grabbing all 10-wickets in an innings still considerably requires a massive element of luck specifically more if the bowling lineup is of NZ’s stature.

Perhaps for the 33-year old, personally his heroics are a lot more particularly special and unique. Born in Mumbai and then emigrating to NZ and bagging a 10-wicket haul at his birthplace seems to be very surreal and mystic. The southpaw also became the first bowler of the 21st Century to claim such a feat.

For skipper Williamson and his team, the 10-wicket haul would be the only jubilant moment of the Test match at the Wankhede stadium.

4. Australia winning the 2021 T20 World Cup

For Australia and their head coach Justin Langer, winning the 2021 World T20 was an ultimate challenge. Though they had entered the mega event with a spree of losses, their fortitude and determination never really paled. In fact, with many of their elite players not having T20I game time, the cricketing pundits from around the world never gave them a chance.

To even flourish in the group stages, the Kangaroos were also placed in the group of death involving prominent teams like England, South Africa and West Indies. In between skipper Aaron Finch and his players also badly lost to England in their group stage clash. But by keeping themselves afloat with a better NRR, Australia brought their A-game in the knockouts.

In fact, they defeated the best team from the group stages (Pakistan) in a nail-biter semi-final, Aussies almost had etched their name into the glory. Overall, the innings from Matthew Wade in the semi-final was the biggest testimony on how the Aussies become invincible when the going gets tough. Possibly for them, this was the only elusive trophy that was missing from their supernova of World Cup glories.

5. Virat Kohli’s hug to Mohammad Rizwan after a 10-wicket loss against Pakistan

Often in the India-Pakistan encounters, the atmosphere is always intense and nerve-racking. In between, we have also seen the players of both teams get into a tussle inside a cricket field. Sometimes the violent nature of crowds can also indulge some heat amongst the individuals.

In a competitive run-chase of 151, both skipper Babar Azam and his deputy Mohammad Rizwan had smoothly helmed Pakistan to its first-ever World Cup win against India. Both the batters stood till the end also ensured that no one else had to come and amass the winning runs. Perhaps such a pursuit had remarkably impressed Virat Kohli that even made him applaud both the batters with a hug.

Such a gesture from the Indian skipper after a heavily built IND-PAK game became one of the laudable images of the World Cup. The ardent fans of both the teams also made it the most trending image on social media platforms. Though, these two teams now barely face each other, the camaraderie always looks to be immensely well intact.

6. Retirement of AB de Villiers

Certainly, in 2021, the retirement of AB de Villiers from the game is one of the most emotional moments. Whether you liked Proteas/RCB or not, surely you have loved this cricketer in his monumental career. Though ABD had hung his international boots way back in 2018, the batter never lost his zeal while playing global T20 cricket.

Even in the IPL for the red army, de Villiers was averaging more than 50 in the first half of the 2021 season. A dip in his form during the second half might likely have contemplated him for his retirement. Playing the sport since 2004, ABD just took the art of batting to a superman level.

All in all, in T20 cricket this gentleman of the game scored a total of 9424 runs at an average of 37.24 from his 340 games. Even the strike rate also sublimely has stood at 150.13.

7. CSK’s fourth IPL title

While when CSK had failed to qualify in IPL 2020, many thought this might be the recession of the franchise in the cash-rich league. Even the skipper of the yellow army when had announced his international retirement in 2020, it seemed like an indication about his final IPL days. Also with the franchise carrying more of the old top dogs, the IPL 2021 seemed to be a very steep mountain to climb.

But by making some valuable purchases in the auction of IPL 2021 and continuing to back some of its veteran players, CSK was seen back with its normal services. In the first half of IPL 2021, the franchise had comfortably soared in the top two positions. Even in the IPL’s second half, captain Dhoni and his men continued just from where they had left. Their strategy to brim themselves with all-rounders did wonders for the franchise.

However, barring their top-notch performances, the IPL 2021 was also termed to be a year where the yellow army will win the title for its beloved skipper. And indeed to turn their goal into a happy reality, the Super Kings eventually won for their ‘Thala’ and the impassioned fans.

8. Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s heroics against Sri Lanka

Just when team India had endured a difficult loss against New Zealand in the WTC final, the extended squad was travelling to Sri Lanka for a white-ball tour. The veteran 36-year old Shikhar Dhawan was made the captain of the team for the ODI and T20I games. In fact, under his leadership, India smoothly won the first ODI by seven wickets.

But in the second match, when Sri Lanka gave India a challenging total to chase, a total of five wickets were tumbled at a score of just 116. Barring Suryakumar Yadav, the team had lost all their main batters. By the loss of the 7th wicket, India needed more than 80 runs to win. At this point the match was proposed to be a Sri Lanka’s contest to lost, but both Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar then stitched a match-winning 83-run partnership.

To break down their astonishing partnership, Chahar smashed an unbeaten 69-run innings that included seven fours and a six. In support, Bhuveshwar also scored a valuable knock off 19 runs from 28 deliveries. Overall this duo’s valiant stand definitely raised a lot of eyebrows amongst the worldwide fans and pundits.

9. Akila Dhananjaya’s getting hit for six sixes and picking hat-trick against West Indies

When it comes to bagging most hat-tricks in T20Is as a nation, Sri Lanka is at the forefront. The list initially starts with the legendary bowling of Lasith Malinga and as of now concludes with Wanindu Hasaranga’s recent performance against South Africa. However, before his magical figures, even Akila Dhanajaya had fetched a hat-trick against West Indies in Antigua.

Setting West Indies a modest target of 132, Dhananjaya had immediately scalped a hat-trick after a quick 52-run stand amongst the openers. The spinner first bagged the crucial wicket of Evin Lewis after which both Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran fell immediately in the spinner’s bowling. In fact, at a score of 62, even the well set Lendl Simmons lost his wicket.

However, though the 28-year old spinner had convincingly brought Sri Lanka back into the game, skipper Pollard then whacked him for six consecutive sixes. After claiming his hat-trick, Dhananjaya finished with a poor figure of 4-62-3-15.5. Apparently, in a matter of an hour, Dhananjaya’s hat-trick ecstasy turned into misery because of the fibrous batting of captain Pollard.

10. Babar Azam bowling for the first time and picking a wicket

Even in the year 2021, Babar Azam again left no stone unturned to consistently perform for Pakistan across formats. In the limited-overs cricket, both he and his impassioned partner, Mohammad Rizwan scored a pile of runs and won many games. In the 2021 World T20, this duo emerged out to be the backbone of Pakistan’s brilliant run in the tournament.

As the year ended, Pakistan’s best batter also has exhibited his finesse, especially his bowling skills. Recently in the second Test against Bangladesh, Babar bowled an over of off-break in the first innings along with scalping a wicket in the second. The 27-year old skipper while rolling his arm bagged his maiden wicket of Mehidy Hasan via an LBW.

Though Babar was seen bowling for the first time in international cricket, the cricketer has picked a total of 21 scalps in his domestic career.