They were the OG Oz-cricketers, though they played in a deeper shade of blue than India. But an entire generation of Indian cricket fans dreaded their might, and were left heartbroken almost 30 years ago, when India lost in the World Cup semifinals. 13 March 1996 was the OG 19th November.
So when Sanath Jayasuriya posted a picture of the giants the Sri Lankan 1996 World Cup winning team that had defeated Tubby Taylor’s Australia, it sent several Indians down the balances of nostalgia. A defeat that had back then felt like doom, also gave rise to lifetime of respect and adoration for the defiant, gutsy Lankans.
The picture had swashbuckler Jayasuriya, middle order lynchpin Aravind D’Silva and ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan all kitted out in suits. But one man in a long red, close collar shirt was unrecognisable, to the most fervent cricket fans.
Arjuna Ranatunga, looking taller than ever, and considerably leaner, was smiling. And though he held the glass of pineapple punch like he would fling the ball to Chaminda Vaas or Murali any moment, it was a distinctly different looking skipper who earned everyone’s love and respect by winning that final.
Social media was abuzz with comments about how different he seemed, and gushing of Indians who had been awed like rest of the world. Romesh Kaluwitharana, the tiny keeper would open the innings with Jayasuriya, and go bonkers with his pinch-hitting. The heavyweights wouldn’t stop – D’Silva, Ranatunga themselves and then Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tilekaratne in subsequent years as the aggressive batters revolutionized one day cricket.
The team had often been cornered by aspersions cast on Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action, but Ranatunga with his chewing gum ruminating face, blinkless stare and steely resolve, would lead from the front and stand sturdy rallying around the embattled spinner often called by umpires.
Ranatunga would also muscle the ball, and guide several calm chases, butbit was his girth that the ancient trolls would pick on, especially when Sri Lanka defeated one of the big countries. Indian fans were simply in awe of how modern that team’s outlook and unyielding backing of their bowlers, would be. As such, Ranatunga and his rock sturdy leadership helped Sri Lanka drawn several mystery bowlers and unconventional actions in subsequent years.
Under the Twitter post, Indian fans would wax eloquent on the impact the Sri Lankan team had on cricket minds in India, despite the Kolkata semifinal ending in copious tears. While Sri Lanka’s was more a quintet with Vaas than cricket’s famous quartets, they were the stuff of nightmares for Indians. A Delhi fan Harshal in the comments would say, “I’m from 🇮🇳 & I get tremors seeing u guys together 😱 Sanath that is not how u bat in WC match, at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 😉”
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