2007 World T20 Final vs Pakistan
No Indian fan can forget the day a young team, led by a first-time captain in MS Dhoni, conquered the world. In the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup, India faced arch-rivals Pakistan in a pulsating contest. Batting first, Gautam Gambhir anchored the innings
with a brilliant 75 from 54 balls, propelling India to a competitive total of 157. Pakistan's chase was a rollercoaster. They stumbled early but were brought back into the game by Misbah-ul-Haq, who took the match to the very last over. With Pakistan needing 13 runs, Dhoni made the nerveless call to give the ball to the inexperienced Joginder Sharma. After a wide and a six, Pakistan needed just six runs from four balls. Misbah went for a scoop shot over fine leg, only to find Sreesanth, who held on to the catch and a billion hopes. India won by five runs, sparking nationwide celebrations and heralding a new era for Indian cricket.
2007 World T20 Group Stage vs Pakistan
Even before the memorable final, India and Pakistan played out a thriller in the group stage of the same tournament. This match is iconic not for a last-ball six, but for a tie-breaking method that has since been retired: the bowl-out. After both teams finished their 20 overs with scores level at 141, the game went to a sudden-death shootout. Much like a penalty shootout in football, bowlers from each side had to hit the stumps. India’s selected bowlers—Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, and Robin Uthappa—were flawless, hitting the target on their first three attempts. Pakistan's bowlers, in contrast, missed all three of their chances, handing India a dramatic 3-0 win. It was a unique and nerve-wracking way to win a match, and it set the tone for the high-stakes drama that would define the rest of the tournament.
2016 World T20 vs Australia in Mohali
This match was a virtual quarter-final, a winner-takes-all clash to secure a spot in the semi-finals, and it produced one of Virat Kohli's greatest-ever T20 innings. Chasing a challenging target of 161, India's run chase stuttered. They were left needing a daunting 39 runs from the final three overs. With MS Dhoni at the other end, Kohli put on a masterclass in chasing under pressure. He ran hard between the wickets and then unleashed a stunning assault on the Australian bowlers. James Faulkner was hit for 14 runs and Nathan Coulter-Nile for 16 in consecutive overs as Kohli single-handedly turned the game on its head. He finished unbeaten on 82 from just 51 balls, an innings of incredible skill, fitness, and mental fortitude that powered India to victory with five balls to spare.
2018 Nidahas Trophy Final vs Bangladesh
This was a final that cemented Dinesh Karthik’s reputation as a finisher. Chasing 167 for victory, India looked down and out, needing an improbable 34 runs from the last two overs. When Karthik came to the crease, the game seemed lost. But he immediately launched a counter-attack, smashing Rubel Hossain for 22 runs in the 19th over with a sequence of two sixes and two fours. The equation came down to five runs needed off the final ball. Soumya Sarkar bowled a delivery outside off-stump, and Karthik calmly carved it over the cover boundary for a spectacular six. His stunning cameo of 29 not out from just eight balls snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and broke Bangladeshi hearts in one of the most dramatic finishes in T20 history.
2022 T20 World Cup vs Pakistan in Melbourne
In front of a roaring crowd of over 90,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India and Pakistan produced another classic for the ages. Chasing 160, India’s top order crumbled, leaving them reeling at 31 for four. From that hopeless position, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya began the painstaking work of a recovery. The duo put on a partnership of 113, but the required rate continued to climb. With 28 needed off eight balls, Kohli hit Haris Rauf for two consecutive sixes, including an unforgettable straight drive over the bowler's head that is now part of cricketing folklore. The drama continued until the very last ball, but Kohli’s unbeaten 82 off 53 balls had done enough to secure a miraculous four-wicket victory. It was an innings that many, including Kohli himself, rate as his finest in the format.
