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It is very interesting to note that India's decade and half of bowing to Pakistan in the late 80s and 90s began with a single shot. Javed Miandad's last ball six off Chetan Sharma in the Sharjah Trophy final in 1986. India seemed to have lost their marbles against Pakistan since then, and it was also compounded by loss of some luminaries like Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, and decline of Kapil Dev. The team entered a transitional phase, whereas Pakistan marched into their greatest form. The mental scar left by that last ball six was always there, the self doubt lingered till it was put into rest by a similar shot in epic circumstances by Sachin tendulkar. Yes, that uppercut six off Shoaib Akthar in WC 2003 which signalled the end of the golden period of Pakistani bowling. The poles were reversed, Pakistan had suddenly lost 2 of their greatest fast bowlers, 1 of their greatest openers and also marked the beginning of the end for Akthar. India on the other hand was riding a wave of resurgence under a brave captain and emerging into being a true cricketing superpower on the field as well.
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