The 2007 T20 World Cup undoubtedly set up the best platform for the T20 Extravaganza to begin. The tournament was the best platform for the format to bloom in the best possible way. The tournament saw a young Indian team run through several amazing teams. The Australians, the Englishmen, the Kiwis, and the mighty Pakistanis, Indians ran through all of these teams to secure the trophy. The love for cricket had been restored after a disastrous performance in the 2007 ODI World Cup. Here’s a look at the best moments from the World Cup that sent the hearts of the Indians throbbing!
India VS Pakistan 2007 World Cup First Innings: –
This was the first game of India’s campaign after their game against Scotland got washed out due to rains. Mohammad Asif was spitting fire with the ball. He sent back the Indian openers very quickly. One can never forget that splendid catch of his to dismiss Gautam Gambhir. India’s batting was further carried on by Robin Uthappa. Uthappa scored a splendid fifty to take the Indian score to 141/9. Mohammad Asif was the pick of the bowlers getting 4-19.
India VS Pakistan 2007 World Cup Second Innings: –
Pakistan’s batting too didn’t pan out very well. RP Singh and Irfan Pathan slow choked the Pakistani line-up. Agarkar provided the first breakthrough and Pakistani batsmen collapsed. Akmal, Younis Khan, Nazir, and Shoaib Malik were dismissed cheaply. Misbah handled the green’s innings. He took the game down to the wire. And when 1 run was required of 2 balls Misbah was crushed by the pressure. He misjudged one ball and was run out on the other.
India VS Pakistan Bowl Out 2007: –
This was the first time that the World was going to witness a bowl out. And it was the greatest stage of them all, India VS Pakistan in a World Cup. India sent their part-time bowlers, Sehwag, Harbhajan, Uthappa for the first 3 hits. India had a strategy while Pakistan seemed clueless. Pakistan blindly went ahead with its frontline seamers. Pakistani seamers missed the stumps big-time. They couldn’t hit it once! Afridi, Gul, and Arafat all three missed.
On the other hand, Indians struck the stumps all three times. Sehwag initially went hit the stump in the first go! Then it was time for Harbhajan. And the Smashing Sardar didn’t miss as well. And the least expected of all, Robin Uthappa was up next. He hit the stump too! One can never forget his “Gentleman” celebration by showing his cap to all 4 directions to the crowd. India had won the first-ever bowl out in the history of the sport.
The bottom line of this story is the fact that Pakistan didn’t expect such a situation to arise. They were without a plan! Whereas the Indian management including Lalchand Rajput and Venkatesh Prasad had planned for these situations. The Indians had practiced for the bowl out. The Indians were ready.
