Javed Miandad's iconic last-ball six (Source: @ICC/x.com)
As a stray drop of water hits the searing oil, it sizzles and leaps like tiny, fiery boats, an apt metaphor for the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry. With each face-off between the arch-rivals, scripts of a brave battle sometimes crossed even the boundary lines.
Since the long, some of the bravest moments of the game have enriched the rivalry. Among them, Javed Miandad’s legendary last-ball six in the Austral-Asia Cup stands tall, a single, audacious shot that shattered India’s dream of lifting the trophy.
One shot shatters India’s biggest dream
Over the years, the India-Pakistan face-offs have delivered some unreal thrills. With every passing decade, its intensity has only deepened to the point where even global ICC tournaments feel incomplete without this iconic clash. And when the two sides collide in a final, the spectacle becomes unmatched. The Austral-Asia Cup in 1986 was one such moment, when a single swing of the bat crushed India’s grandest hope.
After an outstanding season at the Austral-Asia Cup in 1986, the arch-rivals met at the high-voltage clash, and Sharjah witnessed a last-ball thriller. While batting first, Team India had a great start as Krish Srikkanth and Sunil Gavaskar crafted a 117-run opening partnership. After Srikkanth walked away, scoring 75 runs. Gavaskar teamed up with Dilip Vengsarkar.
Teaming up with Gavaskar, he notched a thrilling half-century and walked away, and Gavaskar played an iconic knock of 92 runs in 134 balls. With those efforts, they put off a challenging total of 245 runs on the board.
Chasing the total, the Men in Green faced early blows as Indian bowlers shattered Pakistan’s lineup. In that crucial moment, Javed Miandad stood tall, steering his side closer to glory. As partners fell around him, Miandad tightened his hold on the game, crafting a masterful century that swung the contest back in Pakistan’s favor.
The drama ignited in the last over as 11 runs were needed in the final six deliveries. In that tight moment, captain Kapil Dev trusted ace bowler Chetan Sharma with the big responsibility. As the over started with singles, Wasim Akram’s run out was a massive moment for the Men in Blue.
The moment when Team India thought they were close to the desired glory, Miandad’s golden arm snatched the moment. In the final delivery of Chetan Sharma, Miandad smashed a massive six, and the ball landed on the boundary, crushing India’s dream.
With that one-wicket heartbreak, Pakistan crushed India’s dream, and Javed Miandad’s iconic roar against the Men in Blue was etched into cricketing memory forever. Now, as the two giants gear up to face each other for the first time in the Asia Cup final, anticipation is at fever pitch. Every flashback to their past encounters only heightens the thrill, setting the stage for another electrifying showdown.
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