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.
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
Related News & Articles
The Trinidadian star was crucial for the Maratha Arabians' victory over the Bengal Tigers in the T10 League Eliminator Finals in Sharjah, with four wickets un...
Recently posted . 620 views . 2 min read
Viswanathan Anand is all set to be a part of the Chess Olympiad after 12 years. He will join the Indian team for the tournament that will be held in late September....
Recently posted . 616 views . 2 min read
On the 10th anniversary of Sachin’s historic double ton in ODIs, former Pakistan captain Inzama-ul-Haq gave four reasons why there has never been a cricketer ...
Recently posted . 566 views . 1 min read
India’s batting sensation Rohit Sharma is known for his hitting abilities on the field, but little do his fans know that he almost hit teammate Ravindra Jad...
Recently posted . 501 views . 3 min read
If Bayern Munich are to have any chance of a sixth straight semifinal appearance in the Champions League they will have to do something that only one team ...
Recently posted . 602 views . 39 min read
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 . 6K views . 60 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 . 2K views . 1 min read
These are exciting times for Indian football.
India is set to host a FIFA World Cup and participate in it for the first time. The under-17 World Cup begins ...
Recently posted . 2K views . 2 min read
Virat Kohli is one of the fittest players in Indian cricket team but he is not the fittest of all.
Recently posted . 2K views . 0 min read
More in Sports
A day after India’s Viswanathan Anand had defeated Vladimir Kramnik of Russia within the world Chess Championship healthy in Bonn in October 2008, th...
Recently posted. 574 views . 23 min read
Eoin Morgan scored 51 as India lost to England by seven wickets in Virat Kohli’s debut match as full-time T20I captain. Moeen Ali was the Man of the ...
Recently posted. 693 views . 24 min read
Australia drew their three-day tour game against the Republic of India A at Brabourne structure on Sunday, however there ar some issues which will leave sk...
Recently posted. 563 views . 25 min read
Recently posted . 862 views
Recently posted . 500 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
French civil aviation authorities confirmed that 28-year-old Sala "was on board the plane" that disappeared over the English channel.
&nb...
Recently posted. 540 views . 1 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. 632 views . 2 min read