Revisit the unforgettable 1996 World Cup: 4 things that proved dearer for Indian cricket team

India's journey in the 1996 Cricket World Cup was eventful and marked by both success and controversy. The 1996 Cricket World Cup, also known as the Wills World Cup, was co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

India had gone with its formidable line-up into the World Cup with Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar as the openers. The bowling pace battery was spearheaded by Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad while Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju were handling the spinning department for India in the 1996 World Cup.

Here is a summary of India's journey in the tournament which also not only a painful exit for the team but also heart-wrenching moments for millions of Indian fans:

India started their campaign well with a victory against Kenya in Cuttack. Sachin Tendulkar was the star performer with the bat as he went on to score 127 runs as India chased the target of 199 set by Kenya.

In the second fixture, India took on West Indies in Gwalior. Continuing their performance, the Indian team bundled West Indies for 175 runs. In the second innings, India comfortably chased the score in 40 overs. India did suffer two losses- against Australia and Sri-Lanka, but booked their spot in the quarterfinal against Pakistan in Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

In the match against Pakistan, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 93 helped India post a competitive total of 288 runs on the board. A blistering cameo, 45 of 25 balls, by Ajay Jadeja also provided a vital edge to the team.

In the second innings, a heated altercation broke out between Aamir Sohail and Venkatesh Prasad. Aamir Sohail played a brilliant shot off Venkatesh Prasad's delivery through the covers for a boundary. After hitting the boundary, Sohail pointed his bat towards the boundary and exchanged a few words with Prasad, seemingly trying to taunt him. This gesture was seen as provocative and disrespectful by Prasad. And, in the very next ball, Prasad shattered the stumps of Sohail. This incident became a symbol of the intense India-Pakistan cricket rivalry and is often replayed as one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history.

4 Things That Went Wrong for India in 1996 World Cup

• Batting Collapse in Semifinal:

India's most significant setback in the 1996 World Cup was the semifinal against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India was chasing a target of 252 runs but suffered a dramatic batting collapse, losing wickets quickly and managing to score only 120 runs. The crowd's hostile reaction, including throwing objects onto the field, forced match officials to award the game to Sri Lanka. This incident was one of the lowest points in India's World Cup journey.

• Over-dependence on Individual Performances:

India relied heavily on individual performances rather than collective team efforts during the World Cup. While players like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad had standout performances, the team lacked consistency in all departments of the game. In a tournament like the World Cup, relying solely on individual brilliance is not enough to win matches consistently, and India lacked in that aspect.

• Opening woes:

Despite Sachin Tendulkar’s impeccable form, India did struggle to form a formable opening pair which would give India a good start. Other players did struggle to find form which became a huge concern for India during the 1996 world cup.

• Inconsistent Bowling:

India's bowling, particularly in the death overs, was inconsistent during the 1996 World Cup. They struggled to contain the opposition's batting line-up in the final overs in crucial games. In limited-over cricket, effective death bowling is crucial, and India's inconsistency in this aspect proved dearer for them in the 1996 World Cup.