On This Day: India become inaugural T20 World Cup champions by beating Pakistan

sanjeev

khelja|24-09-2024

On this day in 2007, the Indian cricket team created history as they became the inaugural T20 World Cup Champions by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg.
While many considered them to be underdogs for the tournament, India, led by the calm and strategic MS Dhoni, embarked on a thrilling campaign, displaying their dominance in the shortest format with a mix of thrilling victories and nerve-wracking moments. India's triumph in the final, where they edged out rivals Pakistan by just 5 runs in a gripping contest, was the perfect conclusion to their stellar run in the tournament. The match, full of tension and drama, saw India hold their composure in the dying moments to secure a historic win.  
  How did the T20 World Cup 2007 final unfold? The 2007 T20 World Cup final between India and Pakistan was an unforgettable, nail-biting affair. India won the toss and opted to bat first, with standout performances from Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma helping the team post a total of 157/5. Gambhir led the charge with a brilliant 75 off 54 balls, hitting eight boundaries and two sixes in a high-pressure situation. Rohit contributed a crucial 30 off just 16 deliveries, which included two boundaries and a six. In response, Pakistan's chase was anchored by Misbah-ul-Haq, but early breakthroughs by RP Singh stalled their momentum. Pakistan found themselves in trouble at 77/6 by the 12th over, as India tightened their grip on the game. The final over was filled with drama as Pakistan needed 13 runs to win. Joginder Sharma was given the responsibility to bowl the decisive over, and at one point, Pakistan seemed poised to pull off a win, requiring just six runs off the last four balls. However, Misbah's attempt at a scoop shot led to his dismissal, sealing a thrilling five-run victory for India. RP Singh and Irfan Pathan were instrumental in India's success, each taking three wickets, while Joginder Sharma claimed two vital dismissals. Fast-forward to 2024, India clinched their second T20 World Cup title in Barbados. Led by Rohit Sharma, they defeated South Africa by seven runs in a closely contested final to bring home the trophy.
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