00:00The air was humid in the final of the Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge Cup on September 8, 1999
00:06and the match felt special. It was a face-off between the stylish bestman Brian Lara and
00:11young off-spinner Nicol Chopra. Brian Lara started with confidence hitting two clean
00:16fours that showcased his class. It looked like the great bestman was fully in control
00:21and ready to dominate. But Nicol Chopra stayed calm, he changed his face, gave the ball more
00:27flight and tapped at Lara again. This time the ball turned in and hit the stunts. The crowd went
00:32silent for a second then erupted. This wicket became one of his proudest moments. It was more than just
00:38a dismissal. It was a memory that cricket fans still remember. How would you rate Nicol Chopra as a
00:43baller? Leave your comments below.
00:48Just a bit short on that occasion, not much, but it doesn't need to be much with this man at
00:53the crease.
00:54Big back lift, got the par and par again.
00:59Waken mid-wicket area, few bounces comfortably into the boundary lane.
01:07Waken mid-wicket area, few bounces away, few bounces away, few bounces away, few bounces away.
01:10Coming around the wicket, so any captain would be happy to concede two fours to Lara and then get him.
01:21Big celebrations here, in the crowd as well as on the field. All Indian players together
01:40in the crowd. Nikhil Chopra had the tag of a one-day specialist, trusted and limited over battles for
01:56control and discipline. Yet moments like this hinted at something deeper. The patience, the
02:02coil and thrive, that could thrive even in the longer format. In 39 ODIs, he collected 46 wickets
02:08at an average of 27.95. Tidy numbers, yes, but statistics don't always capture the heartbeat of
02:16a carrier. Dismissing a legend like Brian Lara in the final is the kind of memory that outlives
02:22scope cards. It is the kind of moment that turns a match into folklore.
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