Sourav Ganguly wanted all teammates to do his 'shirt-waving act' after India's Natwest Trophy victory at Lord's in 2002, but Sachin, Dravid and VVS refused, reveals then team manager Rajiv Shukla
Indian players celebrate on the Lord's balcony after beating England in the 2002 NatWest tri-series final in London
New Delhi: Recollecting India's Natwest Trophy victory at Lord's in 2002, then Indian manager Rajiv Shukla Monday claimed that skipper Sourav Ganguly wanted all members of the team to do the 'shirt act' but seniors Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid refused.
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India, chasing England's imposing 325 for five, rode on a match-turning partnership (121 runs) between Mohammad Kaif (87 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (69) to chase the target with three balls and two wickets to spare in July 2002.
Sourav Ganguly waves his shirt from the Lord’s balcony as VVS Laxman and Rajiv Shukla celebrate the win with their shirts on. File Pic
Ganguly, watching the tense final moments from Lord's balcony with his teammates, immediately removed his blue jersey when Kaif hit the winning run and swung it around his head like a lasso thrower.
Speaking at a cricket conclave here, Shukla said Ganguly did it as a riposte to what England's Andrew Flintoff had done following a series-levelling ODI victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai the previous year.
Indian players celebrate on the Lord's balcony after beating England in the 2002 NatWest tri-series final in London. File Pic
"Ganguly wanted the whole team to do that act. But senior players like Sachin and Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman refused to do so."
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