India needed 146 off 25 overs with 5 wickets down in the NatWest Trophy Final. Mohammed Kaif (87*) and Yuvraj Singh (69) guided India to victory, with Sourav Ganguly memorably removing his shirt on the Lord's balcony to celebrate.
India won their first major tournament in England since the 1983 World Cup, overcoming England at Lord's in a match the home side appeared to have controlled. The chase was led by two young players who were barely established in the team — Yuvraj Singh (20) and Mohammed Kaif (21).
England made 325/5 — a massive total in 2002. India's reply fell apart: Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Ganguly all fell cheaply. India were 146/5 — needing 180 more from 25 overs with only 5 wickets remaining. The match was effectively over.
Yuvraj Singh hit aggressively from the start — 69 off 63 balls, breaking the defensive mould that had trapped India's top order. When he fell, Kaif remained with the lower order. Harbhajan Singh came in and hit freely for 15. With 8 needed off the final over, Kaif and Agarkar collected them coolly.
India won by 2 wickets. Sourav Ganguly, watching from the Lord's balcony, removed his shirt and swirled it above his head — a direct response to Andrew Flintoff having done the same thing at Mumbai's Wankhede a few months earlier. The image became one of India's most celebrated cricket celebrations.
This was the match that made Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif household names across India overnight.
India 146/5 — 180 needed off 25 overs, match appearing lost
Yuvraj's 69 — the aggression that turned the tide
Ganguly's shirt off the Lord's balcony — the iconic celebration
July 13, 2002
NatWest Trophy Final, Lord's — England 325/5
India innings
India collapse to 146/5 — match seemingly over
Yuvraj and Kaif partnership
180 added for 6th wicket onwards — India back in the match
Final over
India win by 2 wickets — Ganguly celebrates on Lord's balcony
India's ODI record in England improved significantly in subsequent years. Yuvraj Singh became one of India's most important ODI batsmen for the next decade. Mohammed Kaif never quite reached the same heights again but is celebrated for this single innings.
One of the great ODI chases — won by two youngsters nobody expected anything from. The NatWest 2002 final helped establish Ganguly's India as a side willing and able to win in England, a country where India had historically struggled.
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