India vs Pakistan Throwback Video: When MS Dhoni's Team Defeated Shoaib Malik's Team in 2007 ICC T20 World Cup
India winning the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup was a moment of possibility and showed the power and optimism of youth.
Pakistani batsman Mishbah-ul-Haq is on strike and six runs needed off last four balls. Misbah had already made light work of the chase and brought Pakistan on the cusp of victory. What was at stake? The inaugural ICC 2007 T20 World Cup. Joginder Sharma takes his run-up, bowls the third bowl of the final over to Misbah-ul-Haq, who in a moment of fantasy or madness plays an awkward shot that lands into the hands of S Sreesanth. India is estatic and Pakistan is devastated. And the legend of Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born. The date was 24th September, 2007 and though it has been 11 years to the landmark event in Indian cricket history, few moments can equal the joy of that victory for Indian cricket fans and lovers.
Every cricket fan in India will remember that moment, forever. The fact that India won the inaugural T20 World Cup just six months after the devastating 2007 World Cup campaign in West Indies, where it lost to Bangladesh and was knocked out of the World Cup, soothed nerves and restored the fans faith in the team again. For those unaware, effigies were burnt of players with legendary status in India, and the senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly had "rested" themselves ahead of the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Watch the last over of the inaugural T20 World Cup and relive the moment:
India entered the tournament as minnows, to put it mildly. No one gave the Mahendra Singh Dhoni led side a chance but an all-round performance by India took everyone by sweet surprise. The 2007 inaugural World T20 World Cup gave some unforgettable moments to fans and cricket.
Gautam Gambhir rising to the occasion in the final, Yuvraj Singh's six sixes in an over of Stuart Broad. The thrilling tie between India and Pakistan in the group stage match of the World Cup, that was decided by bowl-out. Sreesanth breaking into his antique and wild celebrations after taking wickets and the final victory lap after winning the cup. The joy of the 2007 T20 World Cup victory ushered in a new era in Indian cricket and gave rise to the Indian Premier League (IPL). And the rest, as they say, is history.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2018 11:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).