‘He couldn’t sleep for couple of days. I never saw Sachin that upset’An anonymous person commented
The Indian team is currently in Zimbabwe for a three-match One-Day International series. While India does not play Zimbabwe every year, the two teams used to play on a more regular basis. In the 1990s, India faced Zimbabwe frequently, and one of the most memorable encounters was in the Coca Cola Champions Trophy, a tri-series that also included Sri Lanka.
At the time, Zimbabwe boasted of star players like the Flower twins (Andy and Grant), Heath Streak, captain Alistair Campbell, and Pommie Mbangwa among others. However, that particular series saw the emergence of another young fast bowler, who later became famous for his brilliant delivery to India’s star batter Sachin Tendulkar — Henry Olonga.
In Zimbabwe’s final group game, Olonga wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, taking four wickets of Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and captain Ajay Jadeja to help Zimbabwe win by an incredible 13 runs.
Even today, his delivery to Tendulkar is remembered; the right-arm bowler bowled a short-pitched delivery to the Indian batter, who was caught off guard and found a thick upper edge. Grant Flower eventually apprehended him.
When asked about the delivery, Jadeja, who is currently on Sony SIX’s broadcast panel for the ongoing series between the two teams, said it “changed” Sachin Tendulkar.
“That ball completely transformed this man. We were fortunate to be able to play with him and spend enough time with him. He wasn’t an egotist, but he was proud of his game. And after he got out like that, he didn’t sleep for the next few days. He was so upset the entire night that I had never seen him so upset before. It wasn’t just the ego expressing itself. “We also lost that game,” Jadeja recalled.