ICC T20 World Cup 2007: Inaugural T20 WC, India Beat Pakistan in Final at Johannesburg
The ICC World Twenty20 2007 was the inaugural T20 World Cup, held in South Africa in September 2007. India won the tournament, defeating Pakistan by 5 runs in the final at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on 24 September 2007. The final came down to the last ball: Pakistan needed 13 off the last over (bowled by Joginder Sharma) — Misbah-ul-Haq attempted a scoop that was caught by Sreesanth at short fine leg. MS Dhoni captained India. Yuvraj Singh scored the fastest T20I half-century (from 12 balls, hitting 6 sixes off Stuart Broad in an over) during the tournament. It was the first ICC tournament won by MS Dhoni as captain.
The ICC World Twenty20 2007 was the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, held across South Africa — at venues including the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Newlands in Cape Town, and SuperSport Park in Centurion — in September 2007. It was the first major international T20 tournament, played just three years after T20 cricket had been introduced internationally. India had been one of the least enthusiastic adopters of T20 cricket domestically, but MS Dhoni — then a new ODI captain — had moulded a young team around aggressive batting, including Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, and Robin Uthappa. Pakistan reached the final with strong performances from Shoaib Malik (captain) and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Yuvraj Singh's Six Sixes off Stuart Broad
The most memorable moment of the 2007 T20 World Cup — other than the final — was Yuvraj Singh hitting six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad in a single over in the group-stage match against England in Durban on 19 September 2007. Yuvraj reached his half-century off only 12 balls — the fastest T20I half-century at the time. The six sixes came after an on-field altercation with Andrew Flintoff that provoked Yuvraj. The performance made Yuvraj Singh one of the most feared T20 batters in the world and became one of the most replayed sequences in cricket broadcasting history.
The Final: Misbah-ul-Haq's Scoop and India's Victory
In the final at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, on 24 September 2007, India posted 157 for 5. Pakistan needed 13 off the last over — bowled by Joginder Sharma, an uncapped spinner who had not been expected to bowl the last over. Misbah-ul-Haq had reduced the requirement to 6 off the last ball when he attempted a ramp/scoop shot over short fine leg — and was caught by Sreesanth. India won by 5 runs. MS Dhoni had trusted the uncapped Joginder Sharma over proven bowlers — a gamble that succeeded. It was the first ICC title won by Dhoni as captain; he would go on to win two more (2011 CWC, 2013 CT) to become the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball events.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the first T20 World Cup in 2007?
India won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, defeating Pakistan by 5 runs in the final at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on 24 September 2007. India posted 157 for 5 and Pakistan were bowled out for 152 in the last over — Misbah-ul-Haq was caught by Sreesanth off Joginder Sharma attempting a scoop on the penultimate ball. MS Dhoni captained India. It was his first ICC title; he would go on to win the 2011 CWC and 2013 CT to become the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball events.
What did Yuvraj Singh do at the 2007 T20 World Cup?
Yuvraj Singh hit six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad in a single over during India's group-stage match against England in Durban on 19 September 2007, reaching his half-century in just 12 balls — the fastest T20I fifty at the time. The six sixes came after an on-field confrontation with Andrew Flintoff. Yuvraj was named Player of the Tournament for his performances throughout the competition.