2007 World T20: Joginder Sharma Opens Up on the Final Over, Reveals MS Dhoni’s Role

Sep 24, 2017 at 6:55 PM

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2007 World T20: Joginder Sharma Opens Up on the Final Over, Reveals MS Dhoni’s Role

On December 23, 2004, two players made their One-Day International debut for India. While one scored unbeaten five and took one for 28, the other was run-out for a duck.

However, their career panned out in contrasting fashions. While MS Dhoni, who scored a duck on his debut, will probably be mentioned on the first page of the Indian cricket’s history, his debut partner Joginder Sharma will probably find a mention only when the page of 2007 World T20 comes up.

Joginder had not done anything worth mentioning throughout the tournament but got the huge responsibility of delivering the last over to the dangerous Misbah-ul-Haq in the final of the World T20. The right-arm medium pacer had gone on to dismiss Misbah to fire India to a historic win, but he perhaps did not get the credit he deserves.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 24: MS Dhoni of India celebrates his team’s victory with Misbah-ul-Haq of Pakistan looking on during the Twenty20 Championship Final match between Pakistan and India at The Wanderers Stadium on September 24, 2007, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

Many feel that Dhoni handed him the ball because he did not have any option, but very few remember that Joginder had conceded only 13 runs in the three overs he had bowled before bowling the last. Speaking on the tenth anniversary of that famous win, Joginder has revealed Dhoni might have given him the ball, as he had seen him bowling the last overs in the past.

“Many might not know but I have played against Mahi [Dhoni] in a few first-class games, and he had seen me bowl a few last overs in the past as well, successfully. That could have lent to his confidence, and I used to be good in the target bowling drills in the nets too,” he told Cricbuzz.

“When I started off with a wide, I am sure everyone watching that game were very tensed but trust me, I was happy because that ball swung big and I was confident that given a chance, it would take me one or two deliveries to get rid of the left-hander [Mohammad Asif] who was at the opposite end,” he added.

Joginder went on to say that how Dhoni helped him to relax before bowling the decisive over.

“The best thing about Mahi during that over was he told me that if we lose, he would take the responsibility. He asked me to be relaxed and give it my best, even if it was by a margin by one run, we would win, he kept saying,” said Joginder who is currently the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Haryana.

“If you have noticed, I have a slight pause in my action, and when Misbah was making his shuffle to play the scoop shot, I was just about to take my leap ahead of the delivery stride. I thought I had enough time to slow my delivery down and follow him. I am glad, in fact, the entire nation is glad, that it came off well,” he added.

The former India cricketer further dismissed suggestions he was lucky to take India home against Pakistan. Revealing the tragic incidents of the latter part of his career, Joginder said:

“It’s good if I proved lucky for my nation, but people shouldn’t forget that I have put in a lot of hard work along with it. I have been on the other side of luck too; I never got to play for India again. I picked up an injury in 2008, following which I underwent a surgery. I worked hard for the next two years, during which we won the Deodhar Trophy too, and I picked up six wickets in the final against West Zone in 2011. I was just harbouring hopes of a comeback, and that’s when I met with a ravaging road accident in 2011, where I suffered a serious head injury among other injuries. I am glad I came out alive and got back to the cricket field after a year or so.”

The all-rounder represented India in four ODIs and as many T20Is, scoring 35 runs in addition to picking up five wickets.

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