Anil Kumble and Temba Bavuma playing with injuries (Source:@AnkurDhuri_45?X.com)
The all-important WTC final between South Africa and Australia is turning out to be a thrilling contest. South Africa have a target of 282 in front of them and despite struggling in the first innings, they are doing well in the second.
One of the important players for South Africa in the run-chase is Temba Bavuma. He played well in the first outing with 36 crucial runs, and the Proteas need him to bat long in the run-chase. However, the batter started struggling with his hamstring during the 22nd over and is now finding it hard to move freely. The Proteas skipper is still fighting hard for his team though and is not throwing away his wicket despite visible pain in even running a single.
Thus, Bavuma is carrying a rich legacy of players who have put their bodies on the line for their team previously. Here are some of those knocks.
5. Shikhar Dhawan
In the 2019 World Cup, Shikhar Dhawan scored a fantastic 117 against Australia to take India to a crucial win. The century was special not only because of the World Cup stage and the opponent, but for the fact that the Indian batter batted with a broken thumb.
The left-hander was hit on his left thumb early in his innings, however, he did not give up and kept batting through the pain. Dhawan was ruled out of the tournament after that game but ensured that he helped India get over a major hurdle in their World Cup campaign.
4. Glenn Maxwell
The Australian superstar played one of the most miraculous knocks in the history of the game with a hamstring injury in the 2023 World Cup. Australia had a target of 292 in front of them and were down and out with 91 for seven.
Maxwell was struggling to even stand properly in his crease, but he did not back down. The batter kept hitting his shots while falling on the ground on several occasions and eventually smashed a double century to take his team over the line.
3. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is another example of a cricketer putting his body on the line for his country. In the Test match between West Indies and India in Antigua during the 2002 series, the leg-spinner was hit by a bouncer from Mervyn Dillon. It was a brutal hit and Anil Kumble ended up breaking his jaw.
It was expected that Anil Kumble would not take any further part in the game, but the Indian star came up with a bandage and bowled 14 overs for his team in the final innings. He also picked the wicket of Brian Lara and that act of courage from Kumble will be forever remembered in the history of the game.
2. Graeme Smith
The former South African skipper is known for his leadership skills and grit as a cricketer. The classic example of Graeme Smith's commitment to his country was his knock against Australia in the SCG Test of 2009. Smith had a broken hand and the Proteas already had series in the bag, thus it was expected that he would not walk onto the field after getting hit by Johnson's bouncer.
The left-handed batter though walked onto the field at number 11 to save the game for his side. He batted right till the end with one hand but finally lost his wicket with just 11 balls left. So, South Africa did lose that game, but the Proteas skipper made sure that he would be remembered in the folklore of world cricket for a long time.
1. Hanuma Vihari And Ravi Ashwin
The 2020-21 BGT series is known for plenty of memorable moments. One of the series defining one was the partnership between Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin. It was the SCG Test and India were trying to save the match. Jadeja was already injured, and so they were the last pair who were carrying the hopes of the nation. Unfortunately for India, Vihari also hurt his hamstring during the innings and Ashwin was struggling with a back injury.
However, both the players did not give up and kept batting through the pain. They defied everything that came their way as fearsome Australian bowlers were left short of ideas. India eventually drew the Test and won the final game as India scripted a memorable series win.
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