On this day in 2007 India won their first ever T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan by 5 runs in final. Ever since this win the rise of India in world cricket began. This win came after the humiliating exit from group-stage of ICC World Cup 2007. This tournament changed the future of Indian cricket.

Senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid pulled out themselves from team selection, as no one wanted to be the scapegoat in case of India ended-up losing the tournament. Later, BCCI appointed young M.S. Dhoni as captain and selected a team of youngster and some new faces including Joginder Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Sreesanth, etc. No one imagined that this team of youngster would go on to create history and bring the joy to Indian fans who were still suffering from that humiliating exit from ICC World Cup 2007. From 6 sixes of Yuvi versus England to Gautam Gambhir’s match winning of 75 runs in final. Everything was historical for team India.

After winning the toss India opted to bat first and with the help of Gambhir’s 75 runs in 54 balls and 30 runs in 16 balls of young Rohit Sharma, India posted 157 runs for 5 wickets. Chasing the target of 158 Pakistan lost their first wicket in 1^st over of the game by Respondent Singh. But it didn’t stop Pakistan from scoring the run, at end of 6^th over Pak were at 53-3. When Pak were at 65-4 in 8.3 overs, it seemed India would win easily. But the arrival of Misbah-ul-Haq started causing problems for Indian bowlers. Pak kept losing wickets after wickets from another end, but it didn’t affect Misbah to get close to the target.

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In final over of the game Pak needed 13 runs in 6 balls with only 1 wicket in hand. Dhoni gave the ball to Joginder Sharma to bowl that crucial over and he bowled the first ball wide. On third ball of the last over Misbah smoked a six over long on and Pakistani fans were at their feet. Pak were needed only 6 runs in next three balls with Misbah on strike. Both teams were tensed at that moment, no one knew what was gonna happen. Before bowling the 4^th ball Dhoni asked Sreesanth to come a bit forward in gully and Misbah hit the ball exactly to Sreesanth, who made no mistake to grab that catch. India started dancing around Johannesburg after that win. It change the momentum of Indian cricket with few superstars emerging in the tournament.

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