Exactly 15 years ago, on 24 September 2007, the Indian cricket team created history under MS Dhoni’s captaincy as they became the first champion team in ICC World T20 history after winning the inaugural edition of ICC World T20 in South Africa. On this day, India beat Pakistan in the thrilling final of the tournament at Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg).
That year hadn’t started well for both the World T20 finalist India and Pakistan as they were surprisingly eliminated from the group stages (first round) in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in West Indies. So, the inaugural edition of ICC World T20 was very crucial for both teams.
India’s overall performances in the 2007 ICC World T20 (before the final)
In the 2007 ICC World T20, India was in the Group D along with Scotland and Pakistan. Their opening match of the tournament was against Scotland which was washed out in the rain while the Pakistan match ended in a tie that India won through the bowl out system (India 3 – Pakistan 0).
After finishing as a champion in Group D, India advanced for the Super 8 stage where they faced New Zealand, England and South Africa in Group E. India suffered a 10-run defeat against New Zealand but clinched two important victories against England (by 18 runs) and South Africa (by 37 runs) in two back-to-back days. During the England match, Indian left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over of English pacer Stuart Broad.
India advanced to the semi-final of the tournament after finishing as the Group E champion and faced Australia in the semi-final who advanced in the knockout round after finishing as the Group F runner-up. In that semi-final, India beat Australia by 15 runs and reached to the final.
Meanwhile, Pakistan was the other finalist in the tournament who hadn’t lost a game directly yet. However, India beat them in the group stages, but through the bowl-out method in that tied game.
The dream T20 final for Indian cricket history
🗓️ #OnThisDay in 2⃣0⃣0⃣7⃣
Led by @msdhoni, #TeamIndia created history as they clinched the ICC World T20 Trophy. 🏆 👏 pic.twitter.com/Iww2KUvrHa
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 24, 2022
This day, in 2⃣0⃣0⃣7⃣#TeamIndia were crowned World T20 Champions 😎🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/o7gUrTF8XN
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 24, 2019
In the final match at Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Indian captain MS Dhoni decided to bat first after winning the toss. While the most of Indian batsmen struggled against the Pakistan bowlers, opener Gautam Gambhir and the no.6 batsman Rohit Sharma helped the Indian cricket team to manage a fighting total on the board.
Gambhir scored 75 runs off 54 balls (8 fours and 2 sixes) while Rohit played an unbeaten 30-run knock off 16 balls (2 fours and only six) that helped India to manage 157/5 at the end of 20 overs.
Pakistan pacer Umar Gul bowled brilliantly in that innings as he had a bowling figure of 4-0-28-3. Also, Mohammad Asif (1/25) and Sohail Tanvir (1/29) got one wicket each.
In reply, Pakistan lost their wickets in regular intervals and had no solid partnership in that entire innings. Only Misbah-ul-Haq played well in that innings but hardly got any support from the other ends. At the late moment, his important 34-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Sohail Tanvir brought back them into the game.
WATCH – When Yuvraj Singh Smashed Stuart Broad For Six Sixes
In the final over, Dhoni surprised everyone by giving the ball to the medium-pacer Joginder Sharma while Pakistan still needed 13 runs off 6 balls with the only wicket in hand and the set batsman Misbah was still batting. The heartbeats of Indian cricket fans were running hugely when Misbah hit an important sixer on the second ball of that over.
Needed 6 runs off last 4 balls, Misbah played a scoop-shot on the third ball of that over that Indian cricketer S Sreesanth grabbed at the short fine-leg and sealed an unforgettable moment for Indian cricket team by winning the game by 5 runs. Misbah scored 43 runs off 38 balls (4 sixes) while the opener Imran Nazir (33 runs) was the only other batsman in that innings to reach the 30-run marks.
Indian left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan won the Player of the Match award after a brilliant bowling performance of 4-0-16-3. Another Indian left-arm pacer RP Singh (3/26) also bagged three wickets while Joginder Sharma (2/20) got two wickets and Sreesanth (1/44) picked up one wicket.
All the Indians were overjoyed with that victory as India won the 2007 ICC World T20 crown. That tournament massively changed Indian cricket as it led the team to successful riding in world cricket.
Brief look of India’s journey in 2007 ICC World T20
Group Stage: (Group D)
13 September – vs Scotland (at Kingsmead, Durban): Match abandoned (No Result)
14 September – vs Pakistan (at Kingsmead, Durban): Match tied (India beat Pakistan in bowl-out by 3-0)
Super 8s: (Group E)
16 September – vs New Zealand (at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg): India lost by 10 runs
19 September – England (at Kingsmead, Durban): India won by 18 runs
20 September – vs South Africa (at Kingsmead, Durban): India won by 37 runs
Semi-final:
22 September – vs Australia (at Kingsmead, Durban): India won by 15 runs
Final:
24 September – vs Pakistan (at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg): India won by 5 runs.
