Helping Us Be World T20 Champs, Never Playing For India Again And Becoming A DSP - The Story Of Joginder Sharma
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 IST
It was September 24, 2007. India and Pakistan were facing off in the final of the first ever World T20. The Pakistanis needed 13 off the last over and had one wicket in hand. But Misbah-ul-Haq had the strike and was looking in control of the situation. At that point our newly-appointed limited overs skipper MS Dhoni did the unthinkable. No, he did not opt for his more experienced bowlers, but threw the ball to Joginder Sharma. Yes, a new guy who was relatively unknown in the international circuit.
Joginder knew it was make or break. He would either be a hero or be known as the man who made India lose. He ran in with his medium pace as Misbah took strike looking for a big hit. It never came. The first ball was a wide, 12 from 6, but the one after that beat the batsman. Misbah swung, missed. 12 needed from 5 and Joginder ran in again. This time Misbah connected and the ball sailed into the stands. 6 from 4 and the tension mounted.
More drama followed. Joginder bowled a length ball and Misbah looked to scoop it over the leg side for at least a four if not a six. But sadly, the pace or rather the lack of it proved to be Misbah's undoing as the ball only gained height. Sreesanth set himself underneath the ball and took the catch easily. That was it! We had won. India were the champions of this new format. Dhoni was starting a new eraand Joginder was an overnight sensation.
So it has been over 12 years since that famous day. India went on to win the World Cup, Champions Trophy and became No. 1 in Tests. Now, Dhoni is in the twilight of his career and Virat Kohli, a man who was yet to play back then, is leading the side. Thus the obvious question is, where is Joginder?
Well believe it or not, the final vs Pakistan in 2007 was the last international game Joginder ever played. No, we are not kidding. He was part of the CSK franchise in the IPL, but he never played for India again after that.
So what is he doing now? Well believe it or not he is posted as a DSP in Hisar, Haryana. How did that happen? Well, thanks to his feat, the Haryana Government gave him a job in the police department. He rose through the ranks and now is in his current position. He has definitely earned it.
VIDEO
Be it fate or lack of consistency at domestic level, Joginder was never picked to play in the national side. But the man has no regrets as he has worked hard to be where he is. The police job keeps him grounded. But that does not mean he has forgotten the game. In fact he does play when he gets the chance even when in uniform.
12 years ago, he was part of history. Now he is serving his country in another way. Whether he has the ball in hand or a policeman's responsibility on his shoulders, Joginder performs his duties the only way he knows how, with diligence and sincerity.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav (Marathi: श्री. खाशाबा दादासाहेब जाधव, January 15, 1926 – August 14, 1984) was an Indian athlete. He is best known as a wrestler who...
Recently posted . 8K views . 60 min read
During the examination, it was uncovered that the CWG Organizing Committee had paid a messed up sum for planning and buys. The underlying evaluation for putting tog...
Recently posted . 5K views . 2 min read
Asad Rauf, a previous ICC World class Board umpire from Pakistan, kicked the bucket at 66 years old.
Recently posted . 5K views . 0 min read
There's a scene in the movie 'Captain', a freshly-minted Malayalam biopic on former India defender VP Sathyan, which tries to capture the conflict rag...
Recently posted . 4K views . 1 min read
More in Sports
Aaron Finch came within touching distance of becoming the highest individual scorer in T20s before being dismissed hit-wicket.
Recently posted. 847 views . 0 min read
South Africa and India are believed to be close to an agreement on a schedule for a tour of South Africa in January and February.
According to the ...
Recently posted. 886 views . 2 min read
351 players were in contention for 70 possible vacant spots at the IPL 2019 Auctions in Jaipur on Tuesday. When the process was completed, a total of 60 were sold...
Recently posted. 895 views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 3K views
Recently posted . 4K views
The last time selectors determined to "rest" a athlete, he not solely lost his place within the national team however was additionally later unheeded for ...
Recently posted. 976 views . 6 min read
Indian cricketer Shahbaz Nadeem has broken the List-A record for best bowling figures with incredible figures of 10-4-10-8 against Rajasthan in the ongoing Vijay ...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read