virat kohli sachin tendulkar alzarri joseph rashid khan players and teams overcoming tragedy with victory

Players overcoming grief

Alzarri Joseph lost his mother in the middle of the Antigua Test. However, he played on and took four wickets in the match as West Indies secured a famous win against England and won a series against them after 10 years. Joseph's brave effort in the face of an immense tragedy not only won him plenty of plaudits but it was a testament to his mental strength. (Image credit: ICC Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

Rashid Khan finished with figures of two for 34 in his four overs, dismissing Jason Sangha and Daniel Sims, against Adelaide Strikers in the New Year's Eve clash. However, Rashid's celebrations were also subdued during the game. The Afghanistan leg-spinner's father passed away on Sunday (December 30) but despite the immense loss, he decided to stay on in Australia and play for the Strikers at the Adelaide Oval. Rashid got overwhelming support from the cricket fraternity after the news of the demise of his father. (Image credit: Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

On December 20, 2006, Virat Kohli, the current Indian cricket team skipper lost his father and he was faced with a choice. His Ranji team, Delhi were in a difficult situation against Karnataka. Many people felt he would not come out to bat. However, he did. His teammates, opposition and even the match officials were shocked to see Kohli arriving in the dressing room in full cricketing gear. He chose to go in and bat. He played for 281 minutes and faced 238 balls. When he was declared out after scoring a match-saving 90, just before lunch though the bat had brushed the pad as replays showed, his team was clearly out of trouble. His father was cremated later that evening. That moment made Kohli. It made him the legend he is. (Image credit: ICC Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

On the eve of the second game against Zimbabwe, Tendulkar got the news of his father Ramesh’s passing. While Tendulkar was home, India slumped to an embarrassing defeat against Zimbabwe. Two games, two losses! This meant that India had to win their last three games to have any chance of qualifying for the Super Sixes. With the team in need of their talisman, Tendulkar flew back to England to answer their calls and inject some life into the campaign. Tendulkar completed a fabulous century against Kenya and looked up to the heavens. The crowd and his teammates stood up to applaud the effort. Though Tendulkar was never exuberant in celebrations, this one was a lot more subdued even by his standards. (Image credit: Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

On March 1, 2009, the bus on which the Sri Lankan cricket team were travelling was targeted by terrorists in Lahore. Sven people were killed — including six policemen — and another 20 injured in the attack. The injured included seven members of the Sri Lanka team. Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene sustained injuries. The attack resulted in international teams not touring Pakistan but the members of the Sri Lankan team made a remarkable turnaround and put in some fabulous performances with the national team. (Image credit: Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

On December 26, 2004, a Tsunami struck India and Sri Lanka and the devastation was much worse in the Island nation. Dinesh Chandimal facesd the worst of the situation. Chandimal's house, his recently-packed kit bag and everything he and his family owned being washed away by the sea. It swallowed up everything, but it also left in its wake a swathe of dead bodies, people Chandimal knew. Chandimal could only watch on helpless from atop a hill. He found his bag more than two kilometers away, wet and useless. Despite the setback and suffering mental scars from the traumatic event, Chandimal went on to lead Sri Lanka. (Image credit: Twitter)

Players overcoming grief

Yuvraj Singh was India's ultimate match-winner and in the 2011 World Cup, his exploits led to India winning the tournament at home for the first time in 28 years. However, In 2011, Yuvraj was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his left lung and underwent chemotherapy treatment in Boston and Indianapolis. In March 2012, he was discharged from the hospital after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy and returned to India in April. Yuvraj's journey as a survivor is a true inspiration for everyone. (Image credit: Twitter)