Playing at home had not been a particularly enjoyable experience for India in 1987 after losing to England in the semi-final. But their 1992 campaign was worse and when the World Cup returned to the subcontinent in 1996, hopes were high. India had a new top order with Tendulkar donning the role of the opener. This would indeed be his World Cup.

Tendulkar gave a hint of things to come in just the first match India played. Kenya was never going to be too much trouble (although they proved otherwise later) and India restricted them to just 199. Steve Tikolo was the top scorer for Kenya with 65. In reply, Ajay Jadeja (53) and Tendulkar (127*) put on a massive opening partnership of 163. Tendulkar's 127 eventually took just 138 balls and Kenya had been shut out by 7 wickets.

India played the West Indies next and if the loss from 1992 was still fresh in their memory, it did not show! Batting first, the West Indies were restricted to just 173. Richie Richardson (47) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (38) the only real contributors in a small total. Manoj Prabhakar (3/39) and Anil Kumble (3/35) led the attack for India. Led by yet another Tendulkar assault, India got home in just the 40th over but not before there had been an alarm or two! From 2 for 94, India fell to 5 for 127 but Vinod Kambli (33) and Nayan Mongia (24) saw to it that there wasn't a full-scale collapse. India was looking like a team that had the arsenal to go all the way.

By far the most important match of the first round for India was against Australia. Played in Mumbai, the Australians put India under pressure thanks to a fine opening stand of 103 between Mark Waugh (126) and Mark Taylor (59). Thereafter, though, the only significant contribution came from Stuart Law (21) while the rest of the side crumbled. Despite that, Australia managed 258. Tendulkar led from the front yet again with a stoic 90 and was well supported by Manjrekar (62). Once they both fell, however, the Indian innings lost its momentum and was bowled out 16 runs short of the target. The greatest irony of this was there were two more overs available to India and had one batsman stuck it out, they could well have won. Yet again, Australia had beaten India in the World Cup (third time running!) and this would not be the only setback for India in the early stages. The real damage for Australia was caused by Damien Fleming who wrecked the top order with a spell of 5/36.

India's next match was to be against neighbours Sri Lanka. Most would have put India as the favourites, but Sri Lanka was playing in a different zone altogether. Batting first on a misty Delhi morning, Sachin Tendulkar led the charge with a magnificent 137 (137b) and was ably supported by Azharuddin (72 off 80b). 11 wides and 4 no-balls from Sri Lanka also added to the tally pushing it to 272, but the real damage happened when Puspakumara's last over went for 23 runs! In reply, Sri Lanka started with the same aggressive mindset that they had employed through the innings. Jayasuriya and Kaluwithrana put up the 50 in just the fifth over and there was a realistic chance that the match could be over by the halfway mark! But Kumble and Tendulkar bowled 12 tight overs of spin conceding only 48 runs and picking up three vital wickets to peg Sri Lanka back to 4 for 141. At this point, the match was in the balance but captain cool Arjuna Ranatunga (46*) paired up with Hashan Tillekaratne (70*) and posted a match-winning partnership of 131*. India had gone into the match with a four-prong seam attack and this was their undoing. Another full-time spinner could well have choked the life out of the Sri Lankan reply. India's second loss in two matches increased their prospects of a quarterfinal against Pakistan.

In the last first round match against Zimbabwe, India played consistently and Sidhu (80) along with the star of the batting for India on the day Vinod Kambli (106) put on 142 for the fourth wicket. India was actually in a precarious 3 for 32 but it was this partnership that rescued them. Ajay Jadeja who had now slipped into the role of 'finisher', came in at the fall of the fourth wicket and scored a quickfire 44 off 27 balls pushing the score for India to 247. An opening partnership of 59 was the only real impetus Zimbabwe had as they chipped away at the target. But a lack of a big innings hurt them and they fell 40 runs short of the target, being bowled out for 207 in the last over. V Raju, who was certainly missed in the previous match against Sri Lanka, made up for it with a spell of 3/30.

India had won three of their matches in the group stage and was rewarded with a quarterfinal match against Pakistan. Luckily for India, the venue was at home; Bangalore. In a tense match, India won the toss and elected to bat first. Tendulkar contributed only 31 but it was an excellent 93 from N S Sidhu that put India on top. India's run-rate was not looking too good until Ajay Jadeja walked in to join the lower order and added 51 runs in the last 3 overs! 40 of these came from Waqar Younis' last two overs! India had moved from a mediocre 250-plus target to a very defendable 287 for 8.

But even this target didn't look safe when Pakistan scored 113 in the first 15 overs. Saeed Anwar (48 off 32b) and Aamir Sohail (55 off 46b) put Pakistan way ahead of India's asking rate. But Venkatesh Prasad picked up the wicket of Aamir Sohail (not before some drama, though) and sparked a collapse. Pakistan fell to 4 for 132 and although the old firm of Salim Malik and Javed Miandad tried to revive the cause with 38 runs each, it was too late. Anil Kumble stung the middle order and when Miandad was run out, Pakistan had given up.

Miandad announced his retirement right after while Wasim Akram had a tough time explaining that he was indeed injured and hence could not play against India in such an important match. The World Champions had been knocked out.

India made the semi-final and was to face Sri Lanka in Kolkata, one of India's best grounds. India won the toss and chose to field first, and the decision seemed perfect when both Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana were sent back by Javagal Srinath. Soon enough, Sri Lanka was 3 for 35 and 4 for 85 and the dream seemed to have been cut short. But Aravinda de Silva at the other end was putting things right. His 66 (47b) may not seem like much but with good support from Roshan Mahanama (58), Ranatunga (35), Tillekaratne (32) and finally, Vaas (23 off 16b) helped Sri Lanka reach a respectable 251. At 2 wickets for 1 in the first over, that had seemed improbable.

India's reply got off to an average start with Sidhu falling early but Tendulkar was playing well and seemed like he would set up India's win. Along with Sanjay Manjrekar, he put on 90 runs for the second wicket. But he was stumped off Jayasuriya and this triggered a collapse so grave, that India fell from 1 for 98 to 8 for 120. The Eden Gardens crowd could not bear to see this and vented their frustration with some ill-timed violence. Players had to go off and no amount of pacifying would do any good. Eventually, the match had to be awarded to Sri Lanka and they seemed destined to go all the way. The final images most people recall from that ill-fated match is of a teary-eyed Vinod Kambli walking off the ground.

One of the most shameful incidents on an Indian ground, it marked the exit for a team that could have done more in very sad manner.

PHOTOS © GETTY IMAGES