Heartbreaking Moments in Cricket History – Incidents That Made Fans Weep

By: Rohan Last updated: October 9, 2023

Cricket, often referred to as the ‘Gentleman’s Game,’ 🏏, has a way of touching the hearts of millions with its thrilling highs and heart-wrenching lows. While cricket fans celebrate the exhilarating victories 🎉🏆 and record-breaking moments 📜🏏, there have been times when the sport has left us teary-eyed 😢. In this article, we revisit some […]

1. Phillip Hughes Death

It was an incident that made the cricket world cry. 😢 The Heartbreak Incident occurred on November 27, 2014, during a Test match in Australian domestic cricket. Philip Hughes attempted a hook shot to play a giant bouncer by Sean Abbott in the game. However, as he missed, the ball hit his neck directly under his helmet.

Hughes collapsed on the spot and went into a coma. 💔 Blood circulation to the head stopped as the nerves near his neck burst. Attempts to keep him alive on the location were in vain. Eventually, the medical team pumped his heart and tried everything, but he didn’t regain consciousness. He was immediately taken to the hospital in a helicopter. 🚁

Hughes was declared dead at the hospital two days later after receiving no positive reports. Truly, this incident shocked everyone. Almost every cricketer cried when his funeral took place on December 3. The death of a talented cricketer at the age of 25 remains a black day in cricket. Hughes, who remained unbeaten on 63 in the match, was declared 63 not out forever by the Tribute. We miss you, Philip Hughes. 😔 It was one of the most disturbing, heartbreaking moments in cricket. 🏏💔

2. 2019 World Cup Semi-Final (Ind vs NZ)

It was a match that brought tears to the eyes of every Indian cricket fan. 😢 The cricketing world was moved to tears when MS Dhoni was run out and walked into the pavilion. 🏏 In the 2019 World Cup held in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, India showed their dominance and stood at the top of the points table. New Zealand, on the other hand, also excelled and reached the semifinals.

At Manchester, these two sides met in a semifinal and played for two days due to rain ☔. On the second day, the pitch was well-suited for the New Zealand pace bowlers, and the in-form Indian top order collapsed dramatically. But Dhoni and Jadeja composed an excellent partnership and raised hopes for the game. 😊 However, in the end, India lost Jadeja. They needed 31 runs from 12 balls.

Known as the game’s best finisher, Dhoni hit a six off the first ball of the forty-ninth over. 🙌 With this, Indian fans were swayed at once. But Guptill, who ran out Dhoni with an excellent throw on the 3rd ball, broke the fans’ hopes. 😭 Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes as Dhoni was run out and went back to the dressing room. Dhoni, who started his career with a runout, said goodbye to Team India with a runout. It was one of the most poignant and heartbreaking moments in cricket. 💔😔

3. 2019 World Cup Final (Eng vs NZ)

The 2019 World Cup final match, which climaxed in suspense, ended in a very controversial manner. 🏏😮 However, high drama introduced a whole new experience to the cricket world, especially in the last over. The New Zealand team batted first and scored 241 in the final match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s. 🇳🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The English players, who batted very persistently in the chase, brought the game to an end. They needed 15 runs in the last over to win the match, and it was a Golden Chance for the two teams to win the World Cup for the first time. 🏆 The two teams fought very hard for victory. However, luck played a role on the fourth ball of the over, and the England team scored six runs. Guptill received the ball, which Stokes hit towards deep midwicket and threw it towards the keeper.

Nevertheless, it accidentally hit Stokes’ bat and went for four. With this, the anxiety among the New Zealand fans began. 😬 However, the match ended in a tie as Trent Boult bowled the other two balls superbly. But already, the New Zealand fans’ hearts were half broken. 😢 They were moved to tears when England was declared champions by a super over tie and boundary count. It is an enormous heartbreaking moment in the history of cricket. The New Zealand team lost the match due to bad luck that made almost everyone cry. It was one of the most tragic and heartbreaking moments in cricket. 💔😭

4. 2015 World Cup Semi-Final (SA vs NZ)

The South African team, often labeled as ‘chokers’ in cricket, entered the 2015 party with a strong desire to win the ODI World Cup. 🏏🇿🇦 They had reached the quarter-finals after beating most of their opponents in the league stage, raising hopes and expectations. However, the word “chokers” loomed large over the South African team, as they had never won a World Cup knockout match before. 😬

Putting all doubts aside, South Africa embarked on their knockout journey with confidence, defeating Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals. 🎉 The South African fans were overjoyed with this win.

Next up was the semifinal match against New Zealand, and the South African players prepared to play with high hopes of reaching the finals for the first time. The match came down to a thrilling finish, with South Africa needing to defend five runs in the last two balls. 🤞 SA fans were ecstatic at the prospect of their team making history.

But New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott hit a six to break their hearts. 💔 He gave New Zealand a thrilling victory with one ball to spare. The South African players, devastated by the defeat, burst into tears on the ground. 😭 Every cricket fan who witnessed the South African players in tears felt a deep sense of sadness. Even the New Zealand players felt for them and tried to offer consolation. It was undeniably one of the most significant and heartbreaking moments in cricket history. 💔😢

5. Sachin Tendulkar Retirement

The God of cricket, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar 🙌, enthralled everyone with his batting prowess and became an inspiration to countless young talents. He is the driving force behind the intensity of the Indian cricket team today, as he set an unparalleled standard for Indian Cricket before bidding adieu. Every player entering the national team strives tirelessly, with the dream of emulating the greatness of Sachin. 💪🏏

Tendulkar’s influence extended beyond borders, inspiring young talents in other countries as well. Today, he stands as an idol for many current cricketing legends. 🌟 But the cricketing world was plunged into tears when Tendulkar announced his retirement in 2013, after leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

On his retirement day, Tendulkar shared his profound experiences in a heartfelt 70-minute speech. 🎤 Many fellow cricketers acknowledged that Sachin’s retirement was a heartbreaking moment, a sentiment they hadn’t felt even when they retired. 😢 However, almost every cricket fan around the globe shed tears on the day Sachin bid farewell to cricket. 💔 It was undeniably one of the most significant and darkest heartbreaking moments in cricket history. 💔😭

6. 2016 T20 World Cup Final (Eng vs WI)

Who could have imagined that the West Indies team would emerge victorious in the 2016 T20 World Cup final with Ben Stokes preparing to bowl the last over of the game? 🏏🏆 I believe no one did. However, West Indies etched their names in history by defeating England in a nail-biting thriller to claim their second world cup title. 🌴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Both England and West Indies had fought their way to the finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup held in India. 🇮🇳🏏 Batting first, England managed to score 155 runs. The West Indies innings was in a precarious position in the last five overs, needing 52 runs from 30 balls. Andre Russell, alongside Samuels, displayed some brilliant batting, and everyone expected the West Indies to clinch an easy victory. 😅

However, the England bowlers staged a remarkable comeback, putting the game in a situation where the West Indies needed 19 runs in the last over. Ben Stokes was entrusted with the ball, and an English triumph seemed imminent. 🤞 But then, a new batsman, Carlos Brathwaite, stepped up and hit four consecutive sixes off the first four balls of Stokes’ over, delivering a sensational victory to the West Indies. 🙌

With this shocking turn of events, England’s hopes crumbled, and Ben Stokes, in particular, was left emotionally shattered, falling to his knees. 😢 At that moment, not just England fans but the entire cricketing world was in disbelief, witnessing the devastation that had befallen Stokes. It was undeniably one of the saddest and most heart-wrenching moments in cricket. 💔😭

7. 2003 World Cup Final (Ind vs. Aus)

The 2003 World Cup, hosted by South Africa 🇿🇦, is etched in cricket history and will never be forgotten. After a gap of 20 years since 1983, the Indian cricket team, led by Ganguly, reached the finals. 🏏🏆 They had triumphed over every opponent they faced in this World Cup except Australia, raising the hopes of their passionate fans. In particular, Sachin, displaying his batting brilliance, almost single-handedly carried the Indian team to the final. 💥🇮🇳

In the final showdown, they faced the defending champions, the mighty Australian team 🇦🇺. A fiery desire for vengeance burned among Indian fans, as it was Australia who had defeated them in the league stage of this World Cup. 🤬🔥 Everyone was eagerly anticipating India’s victory, seeking to avenge that earlier defeat and secure the World Cup after two decades.

However, the fairy tale did not come true in the final. Australia emerged victorious, claiming their second consecutive World Cup title. 🏆 Every Indian fan shed tears when they witnessed this heartbreaking defeat. 😢 Especially when Sachin, who had amassed 673 runs in this World Cup, fell quickly in the final, many hearts sank with despair. The cricketing world mourned the loss of seeing Sachin win the Golden Bat for his exceptional performance. 🏏🏅 It was undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking moments in cricket history. 💔😭