On September 24, 2007, Dhoni and Co. faced nerve-wracking moments at Johannesburg. Facing Pakistan, in what became one of the most historic matches, Team India emerged glorious in the ICC World T20 final in front of a screeching capacity crowd at The Wanderers. The 2007 World T20 final was a testament to the fact that Team India eclipsed the impossible against all odds.
After opting to bat, India lost its first two wickets with just 40 runs on the board. India opener Gautam Gambhir played a match-winning 75 off 54-ball knock, He managed to neutralize Pakistan’s potent left-arm pacers Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul.
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Yuvraj Singh, couldn’t find the sweet spot of the bat and was dismissed for just 14 runs. Skipper MS Dhoni soon followed into the hut back scoring just 6 runs. Rohit Sharma’s cameo of 30 runs helped India put up to 157/5 on the board in the first innings.
Indian bowlers clicked together as a unite scalping wickets at important intervals of the match. Pakistan’s innings failed miserably as no batsman could gather momentum. The boys in green were reduced to 77/6 till the 12th over. Misbah-ul-Haq then decided to take matters in his own hands and started dispatching Indian bowlers all around the park.
Pakistan were clear favorites to win with just 13 runs needed in the last six balls. However, Dhoni stunned the cricketing world and asked Joginder Sharma to bowl the all-important final over. Misbah smashed the second ball for a six making the Indian team sweat during the tense run chase. Misbah’s six meant Pakistan were just 6 runs away from winning the inaugural edition of the ICC T-20 World Cup.
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Misbah moved across the pitch and played a horrendous shot on the third delivery of the over. As he went for a scoop over short fine-leg, Sreesanth completed a simple catch to give India a victory by five runs. The moment of the Indian dugout running towards the middle of the pitch is etched in Indian cricket history forever!
