INDIA’S 2007 CRICKETING TRIUMPH ENDED IN STYLE AND INSPIRED A GENERATION

DILAN PATEL (FOUNDER & CHIEF EDITOR @ DIL)

AN UNDERSIZED JERSEY

Rain almost ruined my eagerly awaited Sunday. Yesterday, India faced Pakistan, as part of the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup. I wrote this editorial throughout. My eyes were shifting from screen to screen at supersonic speed. It’s an unmatched rivalry; the Superclásico of bat and ball. Despite this, many Indian and Pakistani cricket fans appreciate each other's achievements and illustrious hall-of-fames.

Indian myself, I believe 'OP' (overpowered) is the correct description for Pakistan's wicket-taking legends. Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis. Mohammad Amir. Shoaib Akhtar. Blimey.

In my closet lives an undersized jersey, reflecting its status as a sentimental souvenir. Whenever cricket returns, I give it a gaze and picture the T20 final of 2007. During those days, I opted for Capri Sun over Corona, and regularly got smacked for consecutive 4s during garden cricket sessions with cousins.

For test enthusiasts, twenty-over cricket may be a watered down version of a complex sport, overly commercialised and lacking in substance. However, the T20 final of 2007 is undeniably iconic. It carried political weight, and featured some of the best athletes to ever grace the sport.

A BLESSING FROM BHAGWAN, WAHEGURU, AND ALLAH

This clash is never just about the game. It represents years of rivalry, grassroots tension, and shared history. Matches between these two nations are often proxies for larger and unresolved issues. Viewership? Very high. It's one of the world’s most viewed sporting fixtures, alongside the Superbowl and the football World Cup final. So, an India versus Pakistan final in 2007, to end the first-ever T20 World Cup, was a poetic blessing, that did not disappoint one bit.

THREE MATCH-DEFINING MOMENTS

Gautam’s Heroics
Gautam Gambhir anchored India's innings, with typical patience, and 75 from 54 balls, setting a solid foundation to defend. His highlight was a strike off Umar Gul, which thudded against the scoreboard, as if the ball itself was p***ed off at... something.

Afridi’s Dismissal
Shahid Afridi could engineer victories, single-handedly. No. Not with one hand. I mean he was Pakistan's captain and game-changer, feared by opponents. Entering proceedings, Afridi faced Irfan Pathan. On ball one, Afridi’s misjudgement sent the bails flying. A jaw-dropping duck paused Pakistani fireworks.

Misba’s Final Scoop
Misbah-ul-Haq scanned the field. In a moment of high urgency and drama, he opted for the audacious, deciding to scoop Joginder Sharma's ball over short fine leg. "IN THE AIIIR.... SHREESANTH.... TAKES IT!" As India celebrated, the umpire consoled Misbah.

50/50 PREDICTIONS AND A MARGIN OF 5 RUNS

This final led to many a nail bitten, showcasing the unpredictability of T20 cricket, and winning over fanbases, initially sceptical about a new format. The game swung back and forth, keeping viewers hooked until the very end, where India triumphed by a mere 5 runs. Legends such as Yuvraj Singh and Shoaib Malik shone. Unsung heroes like Joginder Sharma made the difference. Plus, it’s impossible to forget MS Dhoni’s hair drifting in the Johannesburg breeze, and a young Rohit Sharma flexing his talent.

A CUCKOO BILLION IN BLUE

Yesterday, India versus Pakistan was, once again, close. Jasprit Bumrah compensated for India's disappointing batting performance, with an economy of 3.50, and 3 crucial wickets. Despite these scenes, the game was nothing compared to the T20 final of 2007. A teenage Virat Kohli would agree.

Cricket fans, in both countries, remember where they were when Misbah played that fateful scoop shot. For Indians, it’s a moment of joy. For Pakistanis, it’s a moment of heartbreak. For everyone, it’s a reminder of the rollercoasters and spectacles that cricket always seems to conjure up.

Hopefully, there’ll be more in store this summer.

A T20 CLASSIC: MISBAH’S SCOOP TURNING LIGHT BLUE CUCKOO