Navjot Singh Sidhu 94 vs Srilanka @SINGAPORE SINGER CUP 1996

Mr. Devotor

In the heat of Singapore during the Singer Cup 1996, Navjot Singh Sidhu played one of his most determined innings against Sri Lanka. Facing a difficult pitch that tested every batsman, Sidhu stood firm with a courageous knock of 94 runs from 116 balls, guiding India to a fighting total.  This match was a true test of resilience, as both teams struggled on a surface that had produced runs just a day earlier. But Sidhu’s grit and determination made the difference, laying the foundation for India’s narrow 12-run win.  Relive this classic moment in cricket history—Sidhu’s patient yet priceless innings that showcased character, courage, and class.  🏷️ Hashtags  #NavjotSidhu #SidhuBatting #IndiaVsSriLanka #SingerCup1996 #ClassicCricket #IndianCricket #CricketHistory #CricketHighlights

Transcript

00:00In the sweltering heat of Singapore during the Singer Cup of 1996, Naja Singh Sudhu produced

00:06one of his most determined innings, crafting a battling 94 runs from 116 deliveries against

00:12Sri Lanka.

00:13It was an effort built not on flamboyance but on sheer grit, including just four boundaries

00:19yet brimming with resolve.

00:21However, on the previous day, runs had cascaded freely on the same surface, but this time

00:26the pitch had turned treacherous, its bounce gone, its pace unpredictable.

00:31Batting became a laborious task and every run had to be earned the hard way.

00:36Amidst the struggle, Naja Singh Sudhu stood tall.

00:38For three long hours, he weathered the storm, showing patience, composure and an unflinching

00:44determination to carry India innings.

00:50Well, that's well played, that's beautifully driven into the gap, and for Paul, well that's

00:56his first boundary now, he's been playing second fiddle out there to Sashan Tendulkar, that's

01:02only his nice delivery but watch the shot, what a lovely drive that was through the gap.

01:06Yes, Sudhu hadn't, hasn't had much of the strike, but that time, not a bad delivery by Vikramasinghe,

01:13Sudhu waiting for the ball to come into it, leaning into it and going through with that

01:16shot.

01:17Well, that's a good shot, now God Singh, Sudhu leaning on that one, hitting it down the ground,

01:26won't quite get to the fence.

01:28So, Sudhu looking good there, that one right in the slot for the drive, Sudhu leaning into

01:34it and picking the gap, let's pass into the slot, Sudhu waiting for the ball to come into

01:42him.

01:45Well, that's well balled and well played, there was a bit of bounce in that one, and

01:53nudged away, pretty light, cut that one, now to third man for two, this is the shot again,

02:03shortened it back a little bit, nicely played.

02:08So, a lot of experience, compact player, keeps the score moving all the time, looking for

02:15runs, looking for the gaps.

02:21Oh, he's hit the stumps, that's well filled it.

02:25Well, these Sri Lankans, they hit the stumps on a regular basis, and that always gives them

02:31the chance of a run out.

02:32That's Apul Chandana, the newcomer to the Sri Lankan side today, quick throw, a direct hit

02:40from the stumps, and that must have been very, very close.

02:43I wonder whether he got his back down, let's have a look, this will be very interesting.

02:47Now, there's nothing we can see from there, except the stumps were shattered.

02:51That view from sideways on is the one, now there we are, I think that he's probably out.

02:58Very difficult to see there, the bails are off, is his back just over the line, is it on the

03:05line, does he get the benefit of the doubt?

03:07I think it may just be one of those, yes?

03:09Benefit of the doubt to the batsmen, that's the right decision.

03:15So, that single brings up the half century, 50 for one this one.

03:25Dropped.

03:26That was a quarter of a chance, he tumbled over and the ball went out of his hands.

03:31Well, it will be interesting to see if it carried, tossed up by Moolidharan here, inviting

03:36the batsmen to drive, deceiving Sidhu in the flight, playing a little bit too early, and could

03:42have just fall short of Moolidharan.

03:44Down to the fine leg, they should get two, or possibly three, in Jadeja game, so they

03:59get three.

04:00Ninety-one for four.

04:02And the Quarton Bowl, dropping short, in fact it did touch his both his hands and then

04:14the ball, the thud, really got the ball on his hands.

04:23A bit of turn there for Chandana.

04:25So, it will be interesting to see how Sri Lanka go about it, if they've got to chase a total

04:29of somewhere between 170 and 220.

04:32It will be interesting to see if they go at it with the normal opening onslaught, or whether

04:37they try and approach it a little bit differently.

04:39It's nicely hit by Sidhu, but a bit kept to the single.

04:48And you see here Chandana getting the ideal opportunity to bowl his leg spin with Sri Lanka on.

04:53Once again, Sidhu not doing enough with the loose ball, not finding the boundary.

05:04That does bring up his half-century.

05:09It's taken him a fair bit of time in terms of overs.

05:15And he's got it off 72 balls, which is not slow going at all.

05:23There's a gift.

05:28And that's how things are going for Jaya Saria, a gift which really should have been put away

05:39by Deja.

05:40It's been caught by the outfielder.

05:43Umpire George Sharpe just wanting to make sure that the heels of the fielder weren't up

05:48against the rope.

05:49He has asked for the replay.

05:51Well, there is this full toss at a nice height, a height which every batsman loves to take

06:00advantage of because it is below the waist.

06:02You can more or less control it.

06:04And it's a very, very well judged catch there.

06:07So India have lost their fifth wicket for 114.

06:11Ajay Jareja is the man out.

06:17So the bowling for Sri Lanka, very impressive, that detained India.

06:26The best of the lot, Murali Dharan, two for 17.

06:34Down the track comes Sidhu, sit in the air and in the gap too.

06:37Beautiful shot for four.

06:41That really was a fine shot to break the shackles.

06:44And that's Sidhu coming down the pitch, lofting it, chipping it over the infield and right

06:51into the boundary, bisecting the two fielders down there.

06:59Straight away Srinath going after him, hitting it wide of mid on, into the fence for four.

07:07Ali's no mug with the bat.

07:09He's got to apply himself here and that really was a fine shot.

07:16Chandana back into the attack.

07:18And pulled away by Sidhu in the gap between mid wicket and square leg for another boundary.

07:24So once again a very fine shot by Sidhu.

07:27Upul Chandana dropping it short.

07:30Sidhu quickly pouncing on it.

07:33That's Upul Chandana very, very short.

07:35And Sidhu bisecting the two fielders on the square leg boundary.

07:41And pulled away by Sidhu and this should be four runs again.

07:44In the gap between square leg and mid wicket.

07:47Once again a fine shot by Sidhu showing that he's very much in touch now.

07:52Upul Chandana dropping it short.

07:55Very, very short in fact and Sidhu not making any mistake.

08:02Nice little partnership here developing between Sidhu and Srinath.

08:06Both of whom were back.

08:12Osbaldi pulled away, tried to smash that one to mid wicket.

08:17He saw him I think pulling away, went for the leg stump and that was spot on that delivery

08:23and knocked the leg stump back.

08:26India eventually managed only 199 runs.

08:30Hardly a daunting target in modern terms.

08:32Yet the total proved just enough as Indian baller rose to the occasion and carved out a

08:38famous 12-run victory.

08:39Noticing Sidhu knocked, though, was the bedrock of that triumph.

08:43His vision not only anchored the innings but also epitomized the spirit of preservance.

08:49Exhausted and suffering from heat stroke, Sidhu was later taken to hospital, his effort underscoring

08:54both the physical and mental toll of that inning.

08:57Still, it was a performance that will be remembered as one of his most steadfast knocks in ODI.

09:02Noja Singh Sidhu was never just another name in Indian cricket.

09:06He was a character in every sense.

09:08From being tagged as stroke-less early in his career to reinventing himself as a fearless stroke-maker.

09:15Noja Singh Sidhu's journey was one of the resilience and reinvention.

09:19His straight bat, booming drive, and willingness to take on spinners made him a vital opening

09:24bestman at the top of the order through the 1990s.

09:27If you like this video, please comment, share, and subscribe.

09:30Thank you very much.

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