Joginder Sharma, the medium-pacer who helped India notch up a famous five-run win in the inaugural 2007 T20I World Cup final against Pakistan reminisced about what happened on that special night.
Saturday, 24th September, 2022 marked 15 years of India’s triumph over Pakistan in the 2007 inaugural World T20 final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. This was India’s first world title in 24 years and a moment etched in the minds of fans to date.
![Joginder Sharma revealed he was not under pressure. [Pic credits: Getty Images]](https://staticc.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/09/6a326-16640128488001-1920.jpg "Joginder Sharma Reminisced 2007 World Cup T20 Final 2")
Joginder Sharma Was Asked To Bowl The Final Over In 2007 T20I World Cup And He Dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq
Chasing a target of 158, Pakistan needed 13 off the last six balls. An in-form Misbah-ul-Haq was looking to take the match and title away from India. Under the circumstances, then skipper MS Dhoni took a gamble and turned to Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over who delivered the goods by getting Misbah-ul-Haq out.
Misbah-ul-Haq kept Pakistan in the hunt after they were reduced to 77/6 in 12 overs in pursuit of 153 runs. He took the game deep to bring the equation to 13 runs off the last over. He struck a massive six off Joginder Sharma before scooping one to S Sreesanth positioned at fine-leg to leave the game in the ground.
Six runs were required off the final four deliveries when Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq attempted to scoop the ball over the short fine leg off the bowling of Joginder Sharma. S Sreesanth completed the catch on the edge of the circle to clinch the inaugural T20 World Cup title for India.
Joginder Sharma Recalled MS Dhoni Asking Him Not To Take Any Pressure In The 2007 T20I World Cup Final’s Last Over
In a video posted by Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants participating in Legends League Cricket 2022 on social media on Saturday, Joginder Sharma took the fans on an emotional journey and revealed what was the conversation he had with captain MS Dhoni while bowling the last over on that night 15 years ago.
“The discussion before the final over wasn’t around what line and length I should be bowling or what should be my bowling strategy. Mahi told me not to take any kind of pressure. If we lose, it was on him.”
“Even when Misbah hit me for a six off the second ball, we weren’t tense. At no point, we discussed what we needed to do. Just before I delivered the third ball, I saw Misbah getting ready to play a scoop. So I altered the length and bowled a slower one. That’s why Misbah couldn’t hit it properly. Sreesanth pulled off the catch and the rest as they say is history,” Joginder Sharma, who is playing the Legends League currently, said.
Joginder Sharma said the memory is still fresh in his mind and will be forever treasured. One can hear more of it in the video that was posted on the team’s social media.
Contrary to the common belief, S Sreesanth and Joginder Sharma denied they were under any pressure during the last over of the 2007 T20 World Cup final. They were in Delhi to participate in the Legends League Cricket.