India's 2007 T20 World Cup Win: MS Dhoni's First Title and T20's Defining Moment
How India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa — the final over against Pakistan, Joginder Sharma's over, Sreesanth's catch, and why the tournament transformed cricket forever.
The inaugural ICC World Twenty20, played in South Africa in September 2007, is one of the most consequential events in cricket history. India's victory in a tournament the BCCI initially had little enthusiasm for launched the T20 franchise era that would transform the global game. It introduced MS Dhoni to the world as a captain, produced cricket's most dramatic final, and directly led to the creation of the Indian Premier League four months later.
The Final Against Pakistan
The final at Wanderers, Johannesburg on September 24, 2007 produced perhaps the most tense last over in T20 history. Pakistan needed 13 runs from the final over to win. Dhoni chose Joginder Sharma — a relatively inexperienced medium-pacer — to bowl it, passing over Harbhajan Singh who had already taken wickets. Sharma bowled Misbah-ul-Haq with a delivery Misbah attempted to scoop — a shot that seemed audacious but almost worked. Misbah's wicket gave India victory by 5 runs. Sreesanth's catch of Misbah (short fine leg) has been replayed millions of times.
Dhoni's Captain Selection
The tournament gave Dhoni his first major leadership role at international level. At 26, he was appointed captain for a tournament the BCCI saw as a secondary event — several senior players including Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar were rested or chose not to participate. Dhoni led a young squad, made unconventional decisions (Joginder Sharma's final over, Yuvraj Singh batting at No. 4 then 3), and projected a calm under pressure that became his defining captaincy trait.
The IPL Consequence
Within months of India's victory, the BCCI announced the Indian Premier League — a franchise T20 competition with massive investment and international player auctions. The 2007 T20 World Cup win had demonstrated that Indian audiences would watch T20 cricket on prime-time television in vast numbers. The IPL's first season in 2008 attracted global investment, TV rights bids of over US$1 billion, and an entirely new commercial model for cricket that within a decade had made T20 franchise cricket the dominant force in the global game.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2007 T20 World Cup?
India won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in September 2007 in South Africa, defeating Pakistan by 5 runs in the final at Wanderers, Johannesburg. The tournament was captained by MS Dhoni, who was making his first major captaincy appearance at international level. India beat England, South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan on their way to the title.
Why did Dhoni choose Joginder Sharma for the final over?
MS Dhoni's decision to give Joginder Sharma the final over remains one of cricket's most discussed captaincy calls. Dhoni later explained he chose Sharma because he trusted his ability to bowl yorkers under pressure, and because Pakistan had scouted Harbhajan Singh (the more experienced option) extensively. The decision was widely criticised when Sharma's first few deliveries went for runs, but vindicated when Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed attempting a scoop with Pakistan needing 6 from 3 balls.