Twitter user @randoncricketp1 shared a brilliant story that happened in IPL 2008 showing how great Late Shane Warne was a captain.
rather strange question. In hindsight, that answer made all the difference.
In the 2008 final, MS Dhoni's CSK had put up a decent total in the first innings, if not an imposing one. The kind of bowlers they had in their ranks, it seemed as if 163 could be defended. The names
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
At the 10th over mark of the chase, RR were 75/3 with Watson and Pathan batting together. It was at this point MS Dhoni introduced Murali into the attack. Now, remember, as mentioned earlier, Murali hadn't picked a lot of wickets but he was the bowler batsmen were choosing to not
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
move as he was expected to put the squeeze on the batters and probably induce a few wickets for the team. And on his 3rd delivery of the spell, he almost did the job for captain Dhoni as Yusuf tried to hit one over midwicket but Raina spilled the chance that came because of
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
to know that he actually had a question for the captain. The question Pathan sent the 12th man with was whether he should go for the big hits against Murali or not. He asked his skipper because the team had lost a couple of wickets and he had been dropped. But Shane Warne being
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
came off against the team's main weapon, it would have an impact on the morale of the entire team. The run rate was inching towards 10 before Murali's second over of the spell. Pathan, having received his captain's approval went for the plan. He hit Murali for back to back sixes
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
happened and Murali's next over saw him again conceding two sixes, one of them coming from Pathan's bat. Murali ended with match figures of 4-0-39-2. Rajasthan needed 25 from 18 after that and although they huffed and puffed to the target, they did reach there with Warne himself
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
Writing about the moment when Tanvir's pull sealed the deal, Warne wrote in his autobiography,
‘Oh my God, we’ve won the first IPL!’
The team that Delhi smashed all those weeks ago had won the whole bloody tournament! I was ecstatic. This was right up there with anything I’d— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022
that moment.
It’s a memory that lives on, almost like it’s still happening; a memory I can call up and see right there in front of my eyes: it’s the moment the Royals won the cup. Imagine the euphoria, imagine those Indian faces and the amazing unbridled joy."@rajasthanroyals
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 28, 2022