Video flashback : On this day India's 1st ever T20I World cup win vs Pak in 2007

  



24 September is a very special day in the history of Indian cricket.  16 years ago on this day in 2007, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's youth brigade won the inaugural T20 World Cup by defeating Pakistan by 5 runs.  No one expected that the Indian team would become the champion, but this young brigade created history by proving everyone wrong.  The victory of the T20 World Cup gave a new direction to the shortest format of cricket.  As a result, the Cricket Board of India (BCCI) also decided to start the IPL in 2008.


That T20 World cup was brilliant for India . They beat Pakistan in a thriller in game one . The low scoring match was tied and India won on a bowl out with all their bowlers hitting the stumps while many of the Pakistani bowlers missed . Though Indua lost to New Zealand, they beat hosts South Africa in a low scoring tricky match with Rohit Sharma scoring a superb unbeaten 50. Then India beat England in a high voltage fiesty clash courtesy Yuvraj Singh's legendary 6 sixes in a young Stuart Broad over . In the semis Yuvraj scored a breathtaking 70 off 30 balls as India beat favourites Australia in a gripping match to reach the final .



In this inaugural  T20 World Cup, both the teams were face to face for the second time, but a lot was at stake in view of the final match.  In the final match held at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first.  After which the India team made a challenging score of 157/5 in the stipulated 20 overs.  Opener Gautam Gambhir played a brilliant innings of 75 runs in 54 balls for India.  His innings included 8 fours and 2 sixes. He timed his shots well & played the spinners with great footwork on a sluggish pitch .  Apart from Gambhir, young batsman Rohit Sharma made an important contribution by scoring a breezy  30 not out in the last few overs .


In reply, the Pakistan lost two early wickets cheaply but Imran Nazir made an explosive 14 ball 33 and was looking ominous but his dismissal triggered a collapse as Pakistan team stumbled and lost six wickets for 77 runs against some high class seam bowling by leftarmers  RP Singh &  Irfan Pathan  but Misbah-ul-Haq (43) raised concern for the Indian team by staying at one end.  Misbah had useful partnerships with Yasir Arafat (15) and Sohail Tanveer (12), putting Pakistan in a match-winning position as he suddenly changed gears to smash Harbhajan & other bowlers 


Pakistan needed 13 runs to win in the last over and had one wicket left.  At this exciting turn, captain Dhoni gave the responsibility of bowling to fast bowler Joginder Sharma.  Joginder bowls the first ball wide.  In such a situation, now Pakistan needed 12 in six balls.  Misbah sent shivers amongst Indian fans  by hitting a six off the second ball.  Now Pakistan needed six runs in four balls.  On Joginder's next ball, Misbah played a scoop shot and at one point it appeared that the ball would cross the boundary.  But the ball floated in the air and Sreesanth, standing at fine leg, took that high pressure  catch and Indian fans were delirious !! 


Fast bowler Irfan Pathan, bowling brilliantly in the final match, took 3 wickets for 16 runs in 4 overs.  He was adjudged man of the match for this performance.  Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi was the man of the series.  Apart from taking 12 wickets in the tournament, Afridi also scored 91 runs.



Watch a small video footage of that special final 

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