Cricket is a game of uncertainty where individuals give their 100%.
Representing their respective country on the international stage, not disappointing the fans and winning the game for their team, with so much pressure and burden on themselves, some of the experienced individual's show a lot of character and absorb the pressure while some players get carried away and deteriorate their game. And the second scenario shifts the game momentum.
The fans who get so involved in the game expect their favorite team to win each and every match but if the result goes the other way fans don't take it lightly and this increases the degree of competitiveness.
However, a team can not win all the matches and sometimes they end up as the second-best despite playing their hearts out, which is surely tough to handle, not only for the players but for the die-hard fans as well.
We have witnessed several matches where everyone waited anxiously for the next ball to see what the result would be.
The same happened in ICC World T20 in 2016 where Bangladesh required 2 runs of 3 balls against the all-mighty India. With 2 successive wickets in 2 balls, the equation came down to 2 runs of just one delivery. And who could forget the MS special, which prevented India from getting knocked out from the T20 World cup?
Even though it was a nail-biting affair for fans of both the teams, it ended in heartbreak for fans of The Tigers.
Here, we look at 5 most heartbreaking matches which not only left fans but even players flabbergasted. And on some occasions, players also failed to hold back their tears.
1) England Vs New Zealand
We were all set to get new Champions as England and New Zealand were competing one last time in the ICC World Cup Final.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting surface.
At the end of first power play, New Zealand managed to survive and lost only one wicket of Guptill. As the game proceeded Nicholas provided first half-century of the match and the necessary assistance came from the Kiwi captain Kane Williamson who played sensibly as they both stitched a partnership of 74.
New Zealand were on 141 when Taylor departed, from here Latham with the help of Neesham, Grandhomme and Santner scored the most crucial runs and took New Zealand to a fighting total of 241.
The dominant batting side came out to chase a mere total of 241 but New Zealand bowlers came out with a better plan.
The hosts were reduced to 86-4 and the things were looking pretty tough for the England side.
The saying of 'Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man' could not have been more suitable for Stokes.
With the help of Buttler, Stokes took the match deeper and with 15 runs required of last 4 balls it really called for a miracle. Stokes went for a maximum and then most crucial or one could term it as an unfair moment of the match came. The cricketing world wasn't prepared for that outcome. Stokes played the ball towards deep midwicket where Guptill was standing, throw from deep got reflected from Stokes bat and it went for a boundary. No one in the world saw that coming. 6 runs were added and 3 runs were required off 2 deliveries. After 2 successive run-outs in 2 deliveries, the match went into the super-over. The super over also ended with a tie and England has crowned Champions on the boundary count when the trophy should have been shared.
The pathetic rules made by ICC lost New Zealand their first ICC Trophy.
Whole cricket fraternity erupted after having witnessed one of the most thrilling matches ever.
2) South Africa Vs New Zealand
Cricket fraternity surely hasn’t forgotten the emotional Semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand of ICC world cup 2015.
Once again the rain god affected the game as the match was reduced to 43 overs per side.
Proteas chose to bat first after winning the toss. After the early scalps by Trent Boult, Faf with the help of Rilee Rossouw build a crucial partnership. As they survived the fiery Boult and the brisk Matt Henry, who was called up at the last minute to replace Adam Milne, both the batsmen soaked up the pressure rather than succumb to it.
As things started to settle rain played a spoilsport and on resumption Africans plundered 65 in five overs, mainly due to David Miller's 18-ball 49 as they adjusted to 298 in 43.
Kiwi's explosive batsmen Mcculum and Guptill smashed Africans bowlers all over the ground. In the first 6 overs, New Zealand scored 71. Later the Kiwis were pushed to 149/4.
Elliott and Corey Anderson who came to rescue played composed innings and were pushed into a position of authority by a stand of 103.
Later the equation came down to 5 of 2 balls
Elliott smashed a cracking six the very next ball to put an indelible seal on an extraordinary home campaign for the co-hosts.
South Africans were on the ground. Morkel, who gave it his all with the ball. Du Plessis who weathered the storm with the bat, and ran every ball down in the field. All were weeping. Even Steyn.
Tears were all over the ground.
3) India Vs Australia
2015 was not a great year for MSD - the captain. And there were speculations 2015 World Cup that would be Dhoni's final battle.
India played well in the tournament to reach the semis. And India were all set to play the mighty Australians. After winning the toss Australia opted to bat first.
The hosts lost Warner early. From there on they never looked back. As Finch and Smith stitched a partnership of 185. Later Maxwell, Watson, and Johnson helped Australia to set a mammoth total of 328.
India needed the highest successful chase of the tournament, but they also had some of the finest chasers in world cricket.
India started off well with 76 runs stand between Shikhar and Rohit.
The most crucial moment came when Virat Kohli top-edged Johnson to be caught by Haddin for 1.
Still, the 1.3 billion didn't lose their hope as the Indian captain was still out there struggling and fighting. His presence always remained a threat to the Australian team.
But the dream ended with a perfect throw from Maxwell as he only had one stump to aim at and he dead-eyed it. The normally cool Dhoni was then seen teary-eyed during the presentation ceremony after the game.
4) Bangladesh Vs Pakistan
Bangladesh was all set to play its first Asia cup final. After winning the toss Bangladesh opted to bowl first.
Pakistan didn't start the way they wanted and struggled a lot with building partnerships but they posted a fighting total of 237 runs for Bangladesh.
In return, Bangla tigers got a solid start with openers adding 68 runs for the first wicket.
Later the equation came down to 9 runs of the final over.
Unfortunately, Abdul Razzak got bowled in the 5th delivery and Bangladesh lost by a margin of 2 runs.
Bangladesh will remember that they were just one stroke away from the Asia Cup title.
5) England Vs South Africa
The rain has always played a spoil sport for the Proteas.
It was 1992 World Cup Semifinals where they were facing England in the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A one-sided affair had an interesting twist where South Africans needed 22 runs of 13 balls to qualify for the World Cup Final. The South African dressing room looked cheerful.
But the rain god wasn't happy to see South Africa qualifying for the final.
After the rain stopped D/L was applied and the equation came down to the famous 22 runs of 1 ball.
It was an impossible target for any team and therefore South Africa lost the match by 19 runs.
