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On September 24, 2007, in the electrifying atmosphere of Johannesburg's stadium, a moment unfolded that etched itself into the annals of cricket history. Sreesanth, positioned at short fine leg, completed Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq's catch to seal India's victory in the first-ever T20 World Cup. The match was on a knife-edge. India had set a target of 158 runs, and Pakistan was inching towards victory.
With just four balls remaining and six runs needed, the match seemed to be slipping from India's grasp. Misbah at the crease and Pakistan down to their last wicket, the tension was palpable. Misbah attempted a shot over short fine leg and as the ball soared, Indian hearts sank. However, Sreesanth, ready beneath the high ball, caught it, turning him into an instant national hero and propelling India to the status of T20 World Cup champions.
This catch is unforgettable and played a significant role in popularising T20 cricket among fans worldwide. Following this World Cup, the foundation for the Indian Premier League (IPL) was laid, and the first season kicked off in 2008.
A rollercoaster journey of Sreesanth
Sreesanth's journey in cricket, particularly in the IPL, has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. In 2008, he was part of the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). During one of the matches that season, a conflict with Harbhajan Singh of the Mumbai Indians escalated to the point where Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth on the field, resulting in Harbhajan being banned for the rest of the season. This incident was one of the early controversies that surrounded Sreesanth, casting him as one of the IPL's "bad boys."
Sreesanth in spot-fixing scandal
The situation worsened a few seasons later when Sreesanth found himself embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal. No one expected this from him, and his actions deeply disappointed fans. The fallout was intense, with Sreesanth's posters burned in protests across the country. In 2013, while playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Sreesanth, along with teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, was arrested on charges of spot-fixing.
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The investigation found them guilty, and the board imposed a lifetime ban on all three, effectively ending Sreesanth's cricket career. Although he could never play for the Indian team again, a prolonged legal battle resulted in the reduction of his ban to seven years, allowing him a return to cricket, albeit not in the Indian jersey.
Sreesanth's career
Throughout his IPL career, Sreesanth played in 44 matches and took 40 wickets, with his best performance being three wickets for 29 runs. His last IPL appearance was in 2013. Between 2005 and 2011, Sreesanth represented India in 27 Tests, taking 87 wickets, played in 53 ODIs, taking 75 wickets, and participated in 10 T20Is, claiming 7 wickets. After serving his ban, he played in the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Kerala. In 2022, Sreesanth announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
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