India Vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2007 Final: How MS Dhoni's Team Made History On This Day

On This Day In 2007:

One of the defining dates in Indian cricket history, September 24 marks the 18th anniversary of India’s famous triumph at the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s young Indian brigade overcame heavy odds stacked against them and proved their doubters wrong with a spirited campaign that culminated in a thrilling win over Pakistan in Johannesburg on this day.

After legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly opted out of the tournament and the selectors rested spearhead Zaheer Khan due to workload concerns, hardly anyone gave Dhoni and his men a chance to go the distance in an unknown format.

The Indian team had played just one T20I before the competition amidst BCCI’s reluctance

to accept the non-traditional game. Nobody could’ve imagined what was to follow.

Dhoni’s astute leadership instilled calmness in an inexperienced dressing room and a general lack of expectations outside freed up the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh and S Sreesanth.

#OnThisDay India defeated Pakistan in a thrilling final to win the first edition of the #T20WorldCup 🏆

Some outstanding performances from @GautamGambhir and @captainmisbahpk saw the match decided by just five runs! pic.twitter.com/TAXx3skjrh

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 24, 2019

They played an attacking brand of cricket and defeated England, South Africa and the mighty Australians in the semifinal to secure a rematch against their arch-rivals at the Wanderers Stadium.

The high-octane final against Pakistan tested India’s resolve and temperament the hardest. Batting first, Dhoni’s team stuttered along after losing their key opener Sehwag to injury.

#OnThisDay (2007): India wins the inaugural World T20 by 5 runs over Pakistan in front of 32,217 fans in Johannesburg. pic.twitter.com/cCOS7RRlO8

— ICC (@ICC) September 24, 2017

India lost wickets at regular intervals, including sixer king Yuvraj Singh (14), who had been in tremendous form throughout the tournament. A defiant knock of 75 off 54 balls from Gambhir kept the Indians floating against a quality Pakistan attack before a fine cameo from Rohit (30*) pushed the Men in Blue to a competitive 157/5 in their 20 overs. Umar Gul was the star of the show for Pakistan, taking 3 for 28.

#ThisDay in 2007, #TeamIndia won the inaugural T20 World Cup beating Pakistan in the final in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/zCSBH8w1S5

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 24, 2018

Pakistan began their chase on a shaky note. Opener Imran Nazir’s aggressive 33 off just 14 deliveries provided some spark but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. A painstaking 24 off 24 by Younis Khan further pushed Pakistan behind the asking rate, as they soon found themselves reeling at 6 for 77.

With RP Singh (3/26) and Irfan (3/16) putting a stranglehold on the batting, Pakistan desperately needed an inspiring effort from someone. In came the courageous Misbah-Ul-Haq, who smashed Harbhajan for three sixes in a game-transforming 17th over.

In Pics: On This Day in 2007, MS Dhoni’s Masterstroke Won India Inaugural T20 World Cup

Misbah also found the most timely support from Yasir Arafat (15) and Sohail Tanvir (12), the latter of whom backed his partner’s trio of maximums versus the turbanator with a pair of sixes against Sreesanth in the 18th over. Sreesanth dismissed Tanvir, while RP Singh got Gul out in a tight 19th over.

With the equation down to 13 off 6 and only No.11 Mohammad Asif for company, Misbah had to take most of the strike and finish the job for his team. Dhoni had an over each left of Harbhajan and the inexperienced Joginder Sharma and decided to go with the Haryana seamer after his lead spinner had found it difficult to keep Misbah quiet earlier on.

Feeling the pressure, medium-pacer Joginder bowled a wide first ball and was soon dispatched for a maximum down the ground off a full-toss.

Bringing the equation down to 6 off 4 balls, Misbah then went for his infamous lap shot with the fine leg up inside the circle, assuming the pace off the bat would sail the ball for another boundary.

However, Joginder got the right-hander to miscue his stroke and hand an easy catch to Sreesanth in a historic moment and Indian victory that transformed the landscape of T20 cricket in India and across the globe.