Comebacks in cricket are often the most memorable and thrilling moments in the sport. They showcase the resilience, determination, and skill of a team or an individual player, turning the tide of a match that seemed lost. Whether it’s a remarkable batting display, a bowling masterclass, or a combination of both, comebacks captivate cricket fans and leave a lasting impression. One of the most common kind of comebacks in cricket is the successful run chase. When a team faces a daunting target and manages to chase it down against all odds, it creates an atmosphere of excitement and disbelief. Another kind of comeback is when a team overcomes a significant deficit or setback during a match. Any kind of comeback it may be, it is always exciting and fun for a cricket fan to watch.
1. Kolkata Knight Riders Versus Rajasthan Royals
In IPL 2008, KKR faced an almost impossible to achieve target of 222 runs set up by Rajasthan Royals. However, they showed great spirit and confidence and chased down the huge target with 23 balls to spare. It was truly a great comeback by KKR after their bowling lineup failed.
2. England Versus Australia 1981
In 1981 Ashes Test series England, following on, were 135 at a loss of seven wickets but Ian Botham’s incredible innings of 149 turned the match around. The innings not only brought England back on track but also helped them to secure a win by 18 runs. This incident shows why one should never lose hope despite great challenges.
3. Australia Versus South Africa
During the Adelaide Test in 2012, South Africa had to chase a huge target of 430 runs. They were in a dire position when one of the best batters in the world, Faf du Plessis scripted a remarkable comeback as he batted for almost eight hours and helped South Africa to a draw.
4. India Versus Australia
India was 232 at the loss of two wickets and were following on against Australia in Kolkata Test in 2001. But VVS Laxman’s 281 and Rahul Dravid’s 180 set up a historic comeback and victory for India after being asked to follow on.
5. England Versus New Zealand
During the 2019 World Cup Final, England were a little behind the required rate, but Ben Stokes’ heroics helped England to get closer to the target and reach the super-over, which they won eventually.
6. South Africa Versus Australia 1997
During the Johannesburg Test in 1997, South Africa chased 271 runs and were 45 for four wickets. They were losing when Lance Klusener entered to bat and hit an unbeaten century which powered South Africa to a win.
7. Sri Lanka Versus Zimbabwe Icc World Cup 1996
Zimbabwe, while chasing a target of 236, was cruising at 132 for three wickets. However, the Sri Lankan bowling line-up made a spectacular comeback and took out the whole Zimbabwe team at just 202 runs, managing to win the game by 34 runs.
8. Rajasthan Royals Versus Deccan Chargers
The inaugural season of the IPL was one of the most exciting and contained matches which kept the fans engaged throughout the season. In one such game, Deccan Chargers posted a target of 214 led by Andrew Symonds’s century. Rajasthan Royals lost four wickets in just a span of nine balls and was looking forward to a defeat when their captain Shane Warne came on the pitch to bat and smacked two fours and two sixes in Andrew Symonds’s last over of the match to clinch an unbelievable victory for his team.
9. Perth Test
South Africa was chasing 414 runs and was in trouble at 286 for loss of six wickets. However, a great partnership between Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers guided South Africa to a historic victory.
10. Natwest Series Final 2002
Chasing 326 runs against England, India found themselves in a difficult position when they lost their top batting order. However great contributions from middle-order batsmen Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif helped India to secure a win with just three balls remaining.
