While the 2011 World Cup will always be remembered for the prestigious MS Dhoni, who ended the Indian wait for lifting the World Cup, it was a completely different story in 1996 because India's campaign turned into tears.
On March 13, 1996, India fought the neighboring country Sri Lanka in the prestigious Eden Gardens for a place in the final. It was a tournament that India had started as a favorite and defeated the arch-rival Pakistan and entered the semi-finals as a favorite.
India opted to bowl first, and with Roshan Mahanama (58), Arvinda de Silva (66) made a half-century, as Sri Lanka ended their innings at 251/8.
The hosts were cruising on a platform, in which the small master Sachin Tendulkar was reacting. India were cruising at 98/1 in the 23rd over when Sanath Jayasuriya removed Tendulkar, due to which Romesh Kaluwitharana did some excellent work behind the stump.
India collapsed after that, losing only seven wickets for 22 runs and losing seven wickets. It was too much to see the crowd and soon they were flare-up, the bottles were thrown to the ground and the seats were set on fire.
The players were taken out of the field and later came back, but insanity continued. Match referee Clive Lloyd decided to give the match to Sri Lanka by default.
Vinod Kambli, who was unbeaten 10 out of 29, wiped tears from his face, an image which is still fresh in the mind of many Indian supporters.
In a later interview, Kambli said that he had 'looted' an opportunity to help India win.
He said, "We played in the whole tournament as a spectacular cricket, we had defeated Pakistan in the quarter-finals, all of them looked good to bat while batting, but once we lost it, it was upset I remember that I was watching the five batsmen going through the crease, at least one of them kept me in company, we could have made a match of it. Received that I was robbed of the chance to do this for my country, "he said.
Sri Lanka defeated Australia in final
