India’s most memorable moments from the 2007 T20 WC

The entire nation was in shock when the Indian cricket team was ousted from the 50-over World Cup in 2007. It was tough to digest that India was knocked out of the tournament that early. Within six months time, the team had to fly to South Africa for the inaugural T20 WC. Understandably, they had a lot to play for.

MS Dhoni was entrusted with captaincy for the tournament. Many big names were missing from the squad and it was a relatively younger side. The young shoulders had a lot of responsibilities on them.

The MS Dhoni-led side was clinical throughout the tournament as they lifted the very first T20 World Cup.

There were some unforgettable moments throughout this road and this slide looks at some of them

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#5 India vs Pakistan bowl-out

India rejoice after winning the bowl-out

After their first match was abandoned against Scotland, India faced Pakistan in a high voltage contest. Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Mohammad Asif’s brilliant bowling display restricted India to 141 for 9.

Pakistan didn’t have it easy either, as they struggled to get the runs flowing. They needed 12 to win from the last over as they managed only 11. The game had to be decided by a bowl-out.

Sehwag, Harbhajan and Uthappa hit the stumps as the Pakistani bowlers missed all the three chances. The players and the crowd erupted in joy as we saw the end to an absolutely thrilling match.

#4 Yuvraj Singh’s 70(30) vs Aus

Yuvraj Singh during his innings of 70

India had done an exceptional job in reaching the semi-final and it was Australia who stood between them and the final. India were 2 down for 41 after eight overs when Yuvraj Singh came out to bat and what followed, was nothing short of magical.

A fearless Yuvraj started taking on the bowlers from the word go. He, along with Robin Uthappa added added 38 runs in the next three overs. The Punjab boy spared no bowler neither did he any part of the ground. Yuvraj Singh kept playing his shots and lost his wicket on 70.

India had added 114 runs off 57 balls while Yuvi was on the pitch. India, finally ended with 188 for five and eventually, won the match by 15 runs.

#3 Sreesanth vs Hayden

Sreesanth dismissed Hayden just at the right time

If it was Yuvraj who led with the bat, it was Sreesanth’s turn with the ball. After losing two wickets for 68, Australia seemed to have found the momentum. Hayden and Symonds were smacking the Indian bowlers all over the park.

After the fall of second wicket, the Kangaroos had added 66 runs in six overs and were threatening to take the game away from India. Just when the nerves of India were being checked, Sreesanth bowled out Hayden with a beautiful delivery. The pacer ended with figures of 4-1-12-3.

The celebration that followed was of enough testimony to gauge the importance of that wicket. After the wicket of Hayden, Australia could never gain momentum as India won by a margin of 15 runs.

#2 Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes vs England

Yuvraj Singh was in full flow against England

If there is one memory which refuses to fade away from the tournament, it is Yuvraj’s six sixes against Stuart Broad. After losing to New Zealand in their first Super-8 match, a win against England was a must.

There were just 20 balls left in the first innings when Yuvraj Singh came out to bat. Stuart Broad was given the duty to bowl the 19th over. One could sense something special when Yuvraj hit a six off the first ball.

It was when that he put the next three balls outside the ground that a long conversation between the captain and the bowler followed. None of it mattered to the southpaw, as he hit another two massive sixes into the stands.

The England side was shocked and the Indian dugout was on their feet. It was a scene that is still very fresh in the minds of cricket fans all over the globe.

Though England put in their best effort, they fell short by 18 runs chasing India’s 218.

#1 The final moment

This was one of the most crucial catches in Indian cricketing history

After all the hard work, India made it to the final of ICC T20 WC and as it turned out, they had Pakistan as their opponents.

After winning the toss, India elected to bat first in the big-ticket match. A fine innings of 75 by Gautam Gambhir propelled India to 157/5. India certainly would have wanted more on the board but it wasn’t a bad total.

The Indian bowlers did well as they reduced Pakistan to 104 for 7 after sixteen overs. India seemed to cruise home comfortably, when Misbah-ul-Haq decided to counter-attack. He played some great shots and reduced the equation to thirteen runs of the last over.

Surprisingly, MS Dhoni handed the ball to Joginder Sharma, who started off with a wide. Misbah hit Sharma for a huge six off the second ball and they needed just six off four deliveries.

It was then, that Misbah-ul-Haq decided to scoop the ball behind the wicket. The ball did not have enough pace in it to clear the boundary as it was caught by Sreesanth at fine leg.

It took some time for the eyes to believe the scenes at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The entire team was over each other and the crowd was mightily deafening.

India had scripted history and this triumph continues to be one of the biggest moments in Indian sport.