Pakistan needed 13 off the last over with 3 wickets remaining. MS Dhoni gave the ball to Joginder Sharma — a bowler with no T20 experience — who dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq attempting a scoop shot, giving India the inaugural T20 World Cup in the most dramatic possible finish.
The inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa 2007 was cricket's experiment with its shortest format at international level. India under Dhoni — a new captain for the tournament — had been brilliant, winning against Pakistan earlier in the group stage on a bowling-out tiebreaker.
Joginder bowled the first ball — a wide. Pakistan needed 12 off 6. Sreesanth dropped a catch off the next ball. Pakistan still needed 12 off 5. Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's most experienced batsman, hit a six. 6 off 4.
The match was perfectly balanced. Misbah attempted a ramp shot — the 'scoop' shot he had played successfully before. The ball went straight up. Sreesanth ran in from fine leg and held the catch. Pakistan 152. India had won by 5 runs.
Dhoni's gamble — Joginder Sharma when others would have given it to Harbhajan — became the single most discussed captaincy decision in Indian cricket history. It worked. India were T20 World Champions.
Dhoni's decision to give the last over to Joginder — the gamble
Misbah's scoop shot — the image of the final
Sreesanth's catch at fine leg — India win inaugural T20 World Cup
September 24, 2007
T20 World Cup Final, Wanderers, Johannesburg
Pakistan last over, 13 needed
Dhoni gives ball to Joginder Sharma
Ball 4 of last over
Misbah scoops to fine leg — Sreesanth holds it
Match result
India win by 5 runs — T20 World Champions
The 2007 T20 World Cup prompted the creation of the IPL in 2008 — the tournament that transformed cricket's commercial landscape. India's win gave the BCCI the confidence to invest in T20 cricket as a format, creating the world's most valuable cricket league.
The match that launched T20 cricket as a serious international format — and Dhoni's gamble on Joginder was the decision that defined his reputation as an instinctive, fearless captain. India vs Pakistan in a World Cup final, decided by a scoop shot, was the perfect advertisement for the format.
The 2007 T20 World Cup final is the match that made T20 cricket globally significant. The IPL's creation directly followed India's victory. Dhoni's Joginder gamble has been studied in sports psychology and management as an example of counter-intuitive decision-making under pressure.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
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Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
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