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After India’s independence in 1947, no one gave the subcontinent country the opportunity to excel in sports. However, after 78 years of independence, India is currently one of the evolving sporting countries around the globe. In cricket, India is a major powerhouse, while in hockey, the country has got one of the best teams that possesses the potential to defeat any side on a given day.
In football and many other major sports, India has gone through ups and downs, but is expected to be an evolved side in times to come. As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, SportsTiger discusses the five underdog triumphs that defined the country's sports.
5 Underdog triumphs that define Independent India’s sports
5. Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic gold medal victory in 2008
In 2008, Abhinav Bindra scripted history after guiding India to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men's air rifle category. However, before his success, Abhinav went through a difficult period. He picked up a back injury that prohibited him from lifting a rifle for almost a year. Besides that, his failure at the 2004 Athens Olympics also left him shattered and despondent.
4. India's Test win against Australia at the Gabba in 2021
In 2021, Team India’s triumph against Australia in the Test match played at the Gabba was nothing short of a miracle for the victorious side. Despite the absence of their key players, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, India played extraordinarily and stunned the Aussie side, who were favourites to win the contest. Before that defeat, Australia’s last loss came at the venue in 1988. Rishabh Pant shone with his bat and played the match-winning knock of an unbeaten 89 in the second innings. India won that game by three wickets.
3. India’s T20 World Cup title win in the T20 World Cup 2007
In 2007, when the maiden edition of the T20 World Cup was played in South Africa, Team India were underdogs. With the experience of only one T20I match, India weren’t expected to lift the title. The absence of mainstay players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Zaher Khan was also expected to be missed by India. However, under MS Dhoni’s leadership, the young side performed magnificently and succeeded in pulling off the coveted trophy. During their campaign, India vanquished Pakistan, Australia, England, and South Africa.
2. Indian hockey team’s bronze medal success in 2021
In the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, India’s hockey side won the bronze medal after an intriguing 5-4 win against Germany. It was India’s first medal in hockey in the summer games in over four decades. Earlier, in the group stage, India concluded their journey in the second spot with four wins and a loss in five contests.
1. India’s Cricket World Cup 1983 victory
Team India were ridiculed by the English media when they toured England for the World Cup 1983. After the miserable campaigns in the 1975 and 1979 editions of the One Day International (ODI) tournament, India played a ferocious brand of cricket under Kapil Dev’s leadership and lifted the trophy after beating the West Indies at the iconic Lord’s. During their triumphant journey, India also hammered Australia, Zimbabwe, and England.
