OTD 2007: India win inaugural edition of T20 World Cup in stunning fashion (Photo Source: Twitter)
It’s been 17 long years since India and Pakistan contended in the final of the 2007 edition of the T20 World Cup (then called the World Twenty20). However, the fond memories from that game continue to remain fixated with cricket fans all around the globe.
Much like India had done all throughout their campaign on winning the toss, they opted to bat first and put early pressure on Pakistan, at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It was Gautam Gambhir’s day to shine as he carried the entire team on his back as none of Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni clicked on the crucial day.
The gritty southpaw accounted for nearly half of the team’s runs off the bat, amassing 75 off 54. A young Rohit Sharma came out as a surprise package as his quickfire 30 at the end seemed enough for India to defend the total they had put on the board. As for Pakistan, Umar Gul starred with the ball with three wickets for just 28 in his quota.
Coming to the chase, it was one of the most contrasting first-half of the powerplay in the entire tournament. A couple of wickets for RP Singh in a fiery spell were sandwiched by Imran Nazir obliterating Sreesanth for a couple of fours and as many maximums.
A horror opening over for Sreesanth was followed up with a maiden, setting up a perfect atmosphere for a game which at that moment seemed destined to go down to the wire. Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik would not have expected himself to walk out inside the powerplay, but he had to nonetheless thanks to a pinpoint throw by Uthappa to get rid of the dangerous Nazir, who looked in a ferocious counter-attacking mood.
A double-wicket 12th over from Irfan Pathan during Pakistan’s run-chase completely changed the complexion of the game as it was all down to Misbah-ul-Haq, the last recognized batter for Pakistan. Misbah was struggling to get going but Harbhajan Singh’s third was the perfect catalyst for him to enhance his scoring rate, as he launched three hits over the rope to revive energy back into the hushed Pakistani supporters at the ground.
Two wickets fell from that point to the commencement of the final over. The stage was set for Misbah and Joginder Sharma to be the heroes for their respective sides. 13 needed from 6. With an ice-cool Misbah slapping a full-toss wide outside off-stump to bring the equation to six needed off four, it seemed all but over for India.
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With no wickets in the tank, it remained to be seen the approach Misbah would fall back on. The young Dhoni, for whom the 20-over assignment was his biggest as captain up until then, was down with Joginder to calm him down. The Pakistani camp was bubbling in anticipation of the jubilance to follow.
However, what followed was that India etched their name on the title. Misbah, against everyone’s expectations, went for the cheeky ramp over short fine-leg. Unfortunately for his team, the top edge could carry only as far as Sreesanth, who immediately rocketed the ball in the air after grabbing it. Ecstacy followed as the Indian camp was down at the center of the pitch in no time, boisterously celebrating with the tricolor on their back.
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Irfan was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match for his 3/16 while the Player of the Series award was granted to Shahid Afridi. During the post-match ceremony, Dhoni had started off with the following sentence: “It’s one of the things I will treasure for the rest of my life”!
Indeed, even after 17 years from the iconic moment where a young Indian team defied all odds by going all the way, it is still one of the things which all Indian supporters treasure in their lives.