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#OnThisDay, Johannesburg, 2007:
This happened.⬇️😍
But you already knew that, didn't you?
So let's relive the journey in a thread. ❤️
This happened.⬇️😍
But you already knew that, didn't you?
So let's relive the journey in a thread. ❤️
First, the road to the finals.
The bowl out vs. Pak. Another league match was abandoned without a ball being played.
The bowl out vs. Pak. Another league match was abandoned without a ball being played.
Super8s begin. A loss to NZ.
Yuvi's six sixes and a win against Eng.
Rohit Sharma, welcome to int'l cricket.
The 2nd last hurdle. The mighty Aussies.
And so, the final at Jo'burg. India had come to love Kingsmead, Durban.
Also, there was the injury to Sehwag due to which Yusuf Pathan had to be drafted in as the opener.
Dhoni won the toss yet again and elected to bat first.
Also, there was the injury to Sehwag due to which Yusuf Pathan had to be drafted in as the opener.
Dhoni won the toss yet again and elected to bat first.
A run out scare on ball 1 itself for the new opening pair of Gambhir and Yusuf. Then Yusuf landed the first blow - out of nowhere, a six over long on's head off Asif!
Good signs for India. 😍
Good signs for India. 😍
A few more runs came along before steadily till Asif got Yusuf off a miscued pull. Uthappa came in at 1 down but went soon after.
Ind 25/1 in 2.4 and then 40/2 in 5.4.
Gambhir was going about it brilliantly.
Ind 25/1 in 2.4 and then 40/2 in 5.4.
Gambhir was going about it brilliantly.
Yuvraj came in at 2 down but didn't seem to be in the same amazing flow as in the rest of the tournament, esp. against spinners.
His wicket fell while attempting a pull. Dhoni couldn't do much either with the bat.
103/3 in 13.3 and 111/4 in 15.2.
Gambhir, meanwhile, was unfazed.
His wicket fell while attempting a pull. Dhoni couldn't do much either with the bat.
103/3 in 13.3 and 111/4 in 15.2.
Gambhir, meanwhile, was unfazed.
Rohit came in and the repair work began in earnest. Gambhir was in another universe, hit a massive six off Gul which collided into the scoreboard.
But his fantastic singlehanded effort came to an end soon.
75 off 54 with 2 x 6s, 8 x 4s
Ind 130/6 in 18
But his fantastic singlehanded effort came to an end soon.
75 off 54 with 2 x 6s, 8 x 4s
Ind 130/6 in 18
Relive @GautamGambhir's brilliant effort here.
Rohit provided the final flourish with 2 fours in the 19th and 1 six (should have been a catch but palmed off by the long on fielder over the ropes for six) in the 20th.
Ind 157/5 in 20. A bit underwhelming maybe?
Ind 157/5 in 20. A bit underwhelming maybe?
India began their bowling effort well too. RP got Hafeez caught in the slips in the 1st over itself. Meanwhile, Nazir looked like a man in a hurry, took lots of runs off Sreesanth in the 2nd over of the innings.
RP tilted the game in India's favour again - castling Kamran with a 🍑.
Younis came in, he and Nazir found the boundaries with worrying ease.
Younis came in, he and Nazir found the boundaries with worrying ease.
It needed something else to break the flow and @robbieuthappa did the magic. Absolutely fantastic run out from mid off to send away the danger man, Nazir.
Pak 53 in 5.4 but 3 wickets lost.
Pak 53 in 5.4 but 3 wickets lost.
Dhoni makes his first maverick move. With Pak's RR soaring, he brings on Joginder. His figures in the semis read 3-0-37-2.
Your inference? Costly wickets?
India needed cheap ones right now.
Your inference? Costly wickets?
India needed cheap ones right now.
And sure enough, Joginder produced the goods. Concedes a four in the 7th and then castles Younis who was looking in fine touch in the 9th. No boundaries in the 8th would have helped.
Pak 65/4 in 8.3
Pak 65/4 in 8.3
Shoaib Malik, the Pak captain, couldn't get a move on. Irfan took him out.
Afridi came in and the Pathan from Gujarat played on the 19 year old's ego. A short one first up which was declared a wide. Just 1 run conceded but mental games played.
Afridi came in and the Pathan from Gujarat played on the 19 year old's ego. A short one first up which was declared a wide. Just 1 run conceded but mental games played.
Slow, full ball wide outside off next up. Afridi wanted to send it to Durban. Only went till mid off where Sreesanth pouched it gleefully. Two in the over for Ind.
Pak 77/6 in 11.4. Advantage, India.
Pak 77/6 in 11.4. Advantage, India.
Yasir came in and picked up a couple of boundaries but Irfan was making it his day with the ball.
Arafat was bowled, Irfan picked up his third. His figures in the final read 4-0-16-3. 💕
Pak 104/7 in 16. More advantage, India.
Arafat was bowled, Irfan picked up his third. His figures in the final read 4-0-16-3. 💕
Pak 104/7 in 16. More advantage, India.
Misbah, meanwhile, wasn't throwing in the towel. Instead, he was throwing the kitchen sink at Harbhajan. Three massive sixes in the 17th to turn the tide.
Sohail Tanvir went crazy at the other end, two sixes off Sreesanth before conceding his wicket to him. But the damage was done.
Pak turning it around with 138/8 in 18. Misbah at the wheel!
Pak turning it around with 138/8 in 18. Misbah at the wheel!
20 from 2 overs then. RP bowled this crucial one and picked up Asif while conceding just 7.
Pak 145/9 in 19 needing 13 more with Misbah on strike. India needed just one wicket.
Advantage, Pak or India?
Pak 145/9 in 19 needing 13 more with Misbah on strike. India needed just one wicket.
Advantage, Pak or India?
Lots of theories about how the decision was taken next. Bhajji had one over left but his figures read 3-0-36-0.
Here's the one we believe in. Makes for a great story. 💖
Here's the one we believe in. Makes for a great story. 💖
So here we go then. 13 off 6. Joginder to bowl the last over to Misbah.
19.1 is a big wide. Nerves for Joginder? Must have really felt the pressure.
19.1 repeat - dot ball outside off
12 off 5 needed.
19.1 is a big wide. Nerves for Joginder? Must have really felt the pressure.
19.1 repeat - dot ball outside off
12 off 5 needed.
19.2 - Misbah, cool as cucumber, hits it for six over the bowler.
6 off 4 now. Should have been easy. He was hitting them so so well. Had bided his team with ones and twos earlier. 43* off 37 with this being his fourth six.
On the other hand, what was Jogi Ji thinking?
6 off 4 now. Should have been easy. He was hitting them so so well. Had bided his team with ones and twos earlier. 43* off 37 with this being his fourth six.
On the other hand, what was Jogi Ji thinking?
And Dhoni? We never knew what he thought, did we?
Anyway, 19.3 coming up.
Fullish, on the stumps. But look at this! Instead of using his strengths, Misbah goes for a cute scoop over fine leg. No pace on the ball. It goes only as far as Sreesanth who pouches it and it's done!
Anyway, 19.3 coming up.
Fullish, on the stumps. But look at this! Instead of using his strengths, Misbah goes for a cute scoop over fine leg. No pace on the ball. It goes only as far as Sreesanth who pouches it and it's done!
Pak 152/10 off 19.3. India win their second World Cup after 1983. Dhoni's maverick move worked! Jogi Ji Ki Jai Ho!
No one gave India a chance in 1983. No one gave them a chance in this new format in 2007. It was a young unheralded team, played fearless cricket without worrying about expectations. Dhoni led them with a mind of his own. What a win! What an occasion! 💗
ICYMI the highlights of the final in this cool video. Even this gives us goosebumps!
