'The way they defeated us in 2003 WC, I literally wanted to kill them' - Sreesanth recalls his spell in 2007 T20 WC semi-final vs Australia

Sreesanth, while playing for India, used to love bowling at the Australian batsmen. Not many must have still forgotten his fiery spell in the T20 World Cup 2007 semi-final against them when the pacer ran in with utter aggression and picked wickets when India needed the most. His figures of 2/12 were the best in the game where more than 350 runs were scored and it also helped the team secure a place in the final.

Recently, the Kerala pacer recalled India’s World Cup triumph in 2007 and opened up on the extreme aggression he showed in the semi-final against Australia. Sreesanth mentioned that he used to get so angry on Australia for the way they beat India in the 2003 World Cup. Winding the clock back, the Men in Yellow had breezed past Sourav Ganguly’s men in the league stages easily by eight wickets after castling India out for just 125.

Again in the final, Ricky Ponting slammed an unbeaten ton to post a mammoth total of 359 runs as India lost the match by 125 runs. Both these losses were in Sreesanth’s mind from a long time, and when he got the opportunity, he made it count. Rather, the cricketer went on to say that he literally wanted to kill them.

“I remember getting hit for a four off the first ball when I tried to bowl a yorker to Hayden. If you see that match I was running in with a lot of passion. I just wanted Australia to be defeated. The way they defeated India in the 2003 World Cup, that was always there in my head. I want to kill them literally,” he said while speaking to Cow Corner Chronicles.

Sreesanth is overwhelmed that fans still remember his spell

Sreesanth’s spell in that game was one of the best of his career and the fans still remember it. The way he had celebrated after disturbing Hayden’s timber at a crucial stage of the game still mesmerises the fans. And the pacer is thankful to God that he got a chance to play the match for India.

“I used to get so angry on Australians. I am so proud and God has been extremely kind that one match everybody talks about is that match. The best I have bowled for my country is that match. I had bowled a lot of dot balls. I remember I had gone for two fours and overall went for just 12 runs,” the 37-year-old added.