Kris Srikanth Aggressive batting vs West Indies at Sharjah in 1989

Mr. Devotor

Relive one of the most fearless opening knocks in ODI history! In an era when batsmen played safe and slow, Kris Srikanth stood out with his aggressive style. On October 16, 1989, at Sharjah, India faced the mighty West Indies in the 4th match of the tournament. With bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Winston Benjamin breathing fire, it was never easy to score runs at the top.  But Srikanth had other plans. He scored a brave 40 off 56 balls, smashing 4 crisp boundaries and giving India a flying start. His fearless intent broke the confidence of the West Indian pace attack, giving the Indian middle order the platform to build a competitive total of 211. The bowlers later did their job, bowling out West Indies for 174, giving India a famous 37-run win.  This video looks back at Srikanth's incredible knock – a bold innings against one of the most feared bowling line-ups in cricket history. A true example of fearless cricket at the top of the order!  I hope you enjoy the video of Kris Srikanth’s Fearless Knock vs. West Indies.   #KrisSrikanth #Sharjah1989 #IndiaVsWestIndies #CricketClassics #ODILegends #MalcolmMarshall #CurtlyAmbrose #CourtneyWalsh #IndianCricketHistory #FearlessBatting #CricketHighlights

Transcript

00:00In the late 1980s, one day cricket was often slow and careful.

00:05Most bestmen played with cautious, focusing more on staying at the crease than scoring

00:09quickly.

00:10But Chris Sirikant was different.

00:12He was one of the few Indian bestmen who believed in attacking from the very beginning, even

00:17against the most dangerous ballers in the world.

00:20On October 16, 1989, in Sharjah, India faced a strong West Indies side in the fourth match

00:26of the tournament.

00:27The West Indies face attack included legends like Malcolm Marshall, Kirtley Ambrose, Courtney

00:32Walsh and Winston Benjamin, fastballers who could scare any bestman.

00:37But Sirikant was not afraid.

00:39He opened the innings with confidence and gave India a solid attacking start.

00:57If that's an indication, Sirikant having no problem in putting that away to the square

01:03leg.

01:04Down to third man, six for no wicket.

01:08There it is.

01:09There it is.

01:10There it is again.

01:11But that was a very good delivery.

01:13I think he hopped a little.

01:15And Richard lets that one go by him.

01:21Oh, fine shot.

01:22Four runs.

01:23Now that's Sirikant.

01:24No guiding the ball there, but brutally forcing it away on the offside.

01:28Square of the wicket.

01:29Four runs.

01:30India in double figure.

01:32Oh.

01:33It's a good ball.

01:34Once again, the angle bat down to third man.

01:39It's two more.

01:59Shot.

02:00Lovely shot.

02:01Second over.

02:06There's a sweeper cover now.

02:24Richardson.

02:25Lovely return.

02:26Played a cramped shot.

02:38Getting a single down to square leg.

02:49That was miscued.

02:52It kept a little low.

02:54Again cramped.

02:55Shrikant is trying to play it away on the onside towards square leg to pick up a single.

02:59I think he played a bit too early.

03:01Got the leading edge of the bat.

03:03And he's very lucky that it fell in the no man's land.

03:07Yes.

03:08Yes.

03:09The bat seemed to have turned in his hand as he played that shot.

03:14There you see.

03:17The bat is turning in his hand and therefore takes the outside edge, the leading edge, and

03:25goes up in the air.

03:26Fortunately, no fielder is close enough for that catch.

03:37Missed field by Ambrose.

03:38Ricochet is off his boots.

03:40What should have been only one.

03:43Results in four.

03:46First bounce.

03:47First bounce.

03:48To Richardson's right.

03:49Ricochet is off his hand.

03:50Richardson completes the fielding.

03:51Shrikant gets a single.

03:52Walsh to Shrikant.

03:53Slow ball.

03:54Best the fielder.

03:55Goal him.

03:56Very injudicious.

03:57But I think this has been brought about by the first bounce.

03:58First bounce.

03:59To Richardson's right.

04:00First bounce.

04:01To Richardson's right.

04:02Ricochet is off his hand.

04:03Richardson completes the fielding.

04:04Shrikant gets a single.

04:05Walsh to Shrikant.

04:06Slow ball.

04:08Bests the fielder.

04:09Goal him.

04:10Very injudicious.

04:11But I think this has been brought about by the first bounce.

04:24This has been brought about by the fact that Shrikant is not feeling well at all.

04:28And rather than stay and delay things, he has decided to have a hoick.

04:32Played a cross batted shot.

04:34Played all over it.

04:36And had his middle stump knocked back.

04:38In any era when one day international often drifted into a sluggish rhythm

04:43and bassmen tiptoed around the crease, wary of losing their vigours,

04:47Chris Shrikant was a glorious anomaly.

04:49More than the runs, it was the manner in which Shrikant played that set the tone.

04:54He took the sting out of the new ball.

04:56Dented the confidence of the ballers early and provided India with momentum.

05:01A rare commodity in those days of cautious ODI batting.

05:04His spirited approach paved the way for the middle order to capitalize.

05:08Thanks to the Shrikant knock at the top, India managed to reach a total of 211 runs.

05:14It was not a huge score, but it turned out to be enough.

05:17The Indian baller bowled well as a team and the West Indies were bowled out for 174.

05:23India won the match by 37 runs.

05:26Shrikant inning was not the highest of the day, but it was one of the most valuable.

05:31He showcased courage played his natural game and helped India to get ahead right from the start.

05:37It was a reminder of how fearless batting at the top can make a big difference even against the strongest team.

05:43In the annals of Indian ODI cricket, it stands as one of those underrated yet crucial innings.

05:49Bold, brisk and beautifully timed.

05:52If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.

05:55Thank you very much.

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