Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took a subtle dig at the Pakistan cricket team while celebrating India’s iconic victory at the 2007 T20 World Cup. On Wednesday, September 24, Pathan marked the 18th anniversary of India’s famous triumph at the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s young and dynamic Indian squad overcame the odds and silenced their critics by clinching the trophy. Reflecting on that memorable day, Pathan tweeted, “What a day it was back in 2007. Where our World Cup dream was fulfilled. Beating Pakistan on a regular basis started there in T20 cricket.”
Pathan was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ for his brilliant bowling spell in the final against Pakistan—a moment he still cherishes. Over the years, due to political tensions between the two nations, India and Pakistan have met primarily in major tournaments only.
One notable recent encounter was in the Asia Cup 2022 Super Four stage, where Pakistan delivered a stunning performance to chase down a formidable Indian total. That match remains one of India’s rare defeats against Pakistan in T20 Internationals.
Despite that, India has largely dominated the T20I head-to-head record between the two sides, winning 10 out of the 14 encounters. Pakistan has secured three wins, and one match ended in a tie.
### India’s Performance During the 2007 T20 World Cup
India’s path to the final was marked by aggressive and attacking cricket. The Men in Blue defeated strong teams such as South Africa, England, and Australia in the semifinals to set up a highly anticipated rematch with their arch-rivals at the Wanderers Stadium.
The adrenaline-charged final put India’s resolve and temperament to the ultimate test. Batting first, India posted a respectable total of 157/5 in their 20 overs. Pakistan’s chase began nervously.
While wickets tumbled at one end, opener Imran Nazir’s aggressive 33 off just 14 balls injected some much-needed momentum. However, Younis Khan’s cautious 24 off 24 deliveries slowed the chase, and Pakistan soon found themselves struggling at 6 wickets down for 77 runs.
The match hinged on an inspiring effort from someone in the Pakistani batting line-up. Misbah-Ul-Haq entered and sparked hope by hitting three consecutive sixes off Harbhajan Singh in a pivotal 17th over. The equation tightened to 13 runs off 6 balls.
India captain Dhoni then entrusted Haryana seamer Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over. Under immense pressure, Sharma started with a wide ball, followed by a six from Misbah off a full toss. Expecting another boundary, Misbah attempted his signature lap shot with the fine leg fielder positioned inside the circle, reducing the target to 6 runs off 4 balls.
However, on the very next delivery, Sharma forced Misbah to mistime the shot, resulting in an easy catch for Sreesanth. That wicket sealed India’s thrilling victory, and the nation celebrated their maiden T20 World Cup win.
This historic win not only kick-started India’s successful journey in T20 cricket but also marked the beginning of their dominance over Pakistan in this format.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/beating-pakistan-on-regular-basis-started-irfan-pathan-takes-subtle-jibe-at-arch-rivals-while-remembering-2007-t20-world-cup-final-win
