The year 2007 marked a watershed moment in Indian cricket history with their thrilling title triumph in the inaugural T20 World Cup. Led by the newly appointed captain MS Dhoni, the Men in Blue defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in a nail-biting final. This triumph not only announced Dhoni's arrival as a shrewd captain, but also sparked a revolution in Indian cricket, forever altering the nation's approach to the shortest format. India's journey to the title was remarkable. Despite a single loss to New Zealand in the group stage, they displayed exceptional form, winning four consecutive matches in the knockout stages. The tournament was packed with unforgettable moments for Indian fans: Yuvraj Singh's iconic six sixes in an over against England's Stuart Broad, and the nerve-wracking bowl-out victory over Pakistan in the group stage. After conquering Australia in the semi-finals, India capped off their dream run by defeating Pakistan again in the final, this time by a narrow margin of five runs.
Looking Beyond the Trophy
This victory transcended the mere act of winning a trophy. It ignited a passion for T20 cricket in India, fostering a generation of young players inspired by the aggressive batting and fearless approach showcased by the 2007 champions. The impact of this historic win continues to resonate today, shaping Indian cricket's identity in the T20 arena.
Let's take a closer look at all 15 members of India's 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team:
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh's six sixes in an over against England's Stuart Broad became a defining moment in the T20 World Cup and a highlight of his explosive batting style. He finished the tournament as the player with the most sixes (12) and the highest strike rate (194.73).
Yuvraj's dominance continued into the 2011 World Cup, where he was instrumental in India's victory, shining with both bat and ball (362 runs and 15 wickets). However, his career took a challenging turn just months later with a cancer diagnosis. Though he made three determined comebacks to the national team, they were short-lived. Yuvraj retired from all forms of cricket in 2019 but continues his association with the sport. He participated in the One World One Family Cup earlier this year and currently serves as an ICC ambassador for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir
The hero of the 2007 T20 World Cup final with a knock of 75 runs, Gautam Gambhir continued his winning ways. He played another crucial role in India's 2011 World Cup victory, scoring a magnificent 97 in the successful chase against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir's career blossomed after 2007. He amassed over 10,000 international runs across formats and established himself as a successful captain. Leading the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles, Gambhir's leadership qualities were undeniable. A masterstroke was his decision to bring Sunil Narine into the team, a move that significantly impacted KKR's performance. Gambhir's playing career ended in 2016, with his last professional match in 2018. He briefly ventured into politics but recently returned to cricket, reuniting with KKR as their mentor for IPL 2024. Following his successful stint with the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and 2023, this return proved fruitful as KKR clinched their third IPL title.
MS Dhoni
The captain who led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Dhoni cemented his legacy as one of the greatest captains in cricket history. He added the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy to India's trophy cabinet under his leadership.
Dhoni's influence extended to the IPL where his captaincy reign with the Chennai Super Kings was unparalleled. He led them to four IPL titles and ensured their qualification for the top four in an impressive 11 out of 13 seasons.
Dhoni bid farewell to international cricket in 2020 and relinquished the CSK captaincy this year, nearing the age of 43. However, his dedication to the sport continues as he remains a vital part of the Chennai Super Kings as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
Joginder Sharma
Joginder Sharma's cricketing career may be brief, but his impact on Indian cricket history is undeniable. In the 2007 T20 World Cup final, he delivered the iconic ball that dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq, securing India's victory. Remarkably, this was Joginder's last international appearance. He played a handful of games for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL before pursuing a career in the Haryana Police, where he currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar's contribution to the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup campaign was limited. He managed just one wicket in two innings and did not feature in any subsequent T20 Internationals for India. In fact, this was his last match for the national team in any format.
Agarkar continued his playing career in the IPL and for Mumbai for a few more years before retiring in 2013. After hanging up his boots, he transitioned into coaching, serving as the assistant coach for the Delhi Capitals. He also lent his voice to cricket commentary for a while. Currently, Agarkar holds a significant position as the chairman of the BCCI's men's selection committee.
Piyush Chawla
Although his last appearance for India was in 2012 at the age of 23, Piyush Chawla carved out a successful niche in the Indian Premier League, where he claimed 157 wickets with a strike rate of 21, demonstrating consistent accuracy and potency throughout his overs. Chawla continues his cricketing career in domestic circuits, having moved from Uttar Pradesh to Gujarat, although he did not participate in the 2021/22 Ranji Trophy season. In addition to his role as a cricket analyst on television, Chawla joined the Mumbai Indians for their 2024 IPL campaign.
Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh, always passionate on the field, took seven wickets in the 2007 T20 World Cup. However, his career with India saw sporadic appearances thereafter; he played just one T20I in 2008 and another 18 between 2009 and 2016. His performance declined in other formats as well, with an average over 40 in his last 23 Tests and slightly over 35 in ODIs from 2010. A member of the victorious 2011 World Cup squad, Harbhajan recently criticized MS Dhoni for the latter's handling of him and other senior players. He retired from all forms of cricket last December and has since entered politics, also taking up commentary roles. He is currently serving as an elected Member of Parliament.
ALSO READ: FIH Pro League: India run out steam after shocking Germany, go down to Great Britain 1-3
Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan made his T20I debut in the climactic final against Pakistan, though his subsequent career didn't quite soar. He participated in 22 more T20I matches, averaging just over 18 with a top score of 37 not out. However, he found greater success in ODIs, playing 57 matches, including six during the 2011 World Cup. Supported strongly by Shane Warne, Yusuf played for Rajasthan Royals and later for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL before retiring last year. Recently, Yusuf ventured into politics, contesting the 2024 General Elections from the Baharampur constituency in West Bengal.
Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan was named the Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup final, finishing the tournament with 10 wickets. Despite a promising start, his career didn't fully materialize as anticipated; his last match for India was in 2012 when he was just 27. After retiring internationally, Irfan has pursued a career in commentary and also participated in the Lanka Premier League a few years back.
RP Singh
RP Singh emerged as India's top wicket-taker in the 2007 T20 World Cup, claiming 12 wickets. His career highlights include a five-wicket haul at Lord's and a significant role in the renowned Perth Test in 2007/08. Despite his promising start, Singh's international career ended before he turned 26. He enjoyed some impressive seasons in the IPL but eventually lost consistency. He has since transitioned to a career as a cricket commentator.
Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa became a key player for Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played from 2014 to 2019, forming an effective opening partnership with Gautam Gambhir. The Kerala batter then moved to Rajasthan Royals in 2020 before being traded to Chennai Super Kings. Uthappa retired from all formats of the game this year and joined the commentary team during IPL 2024.
Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik is one of the few remaining members of the 2007 World Cup squad still actively involved in cricket, albeit in a different role. His career has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by periods of inclusion and exclusion from the national team across formats. He earned a Test call-up in 2018 after an eight-year gap, and his performance in ODIs has been inconsistent. A heroic performance in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, where he smashed an unbeaten 29 runs off just eight balls, secured him a spot in the 2019 World Cup squad. However, a disappointing showing led to him being dropped again. Following this dip, Karthik transitioned into commentary for Sky Sports. In June 2022, after a stellar IPL season, he received a surprise call-up back to the national team. After a successful stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2024 IPL playoffs, Karthik recently announced his retirement. Now, he adds his voice to the star-studded commentary panel for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
S Sreesanth
In his heyday, S Sreesanth was a formidable force on the cricket field. However, his career took a dramatic turn in 2013 when he was embroiled in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, leading to his arrest and a life ban by the BCCI. This ban was later reduced to seven years by the Supreme Court, allowing Sreesanth to return to professional cricket in 2021. He also explored acting during his hiatus from cricket and announced his retirement in 2022. He currently works as a commentator.
Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag's aggressive batting style lit up the 2007 T20 World Cup with a score of 133 runs. However, his opportunities in the format dwindled afterwards. He played only 12 more T20 Internationals for India, with his last appearance in 2012. Despite this, Sehwag remained a mainstay in Test cricket, known for his explosive opening partnerships. He played his final Test match in 2013 and announced his retirement a few years later. Sehwag transitioned into a different role in cricket, serving as a mentor for the Punjab Kings for three seasons. Currently, he lends his voice to the commentary box.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma's journey in international cricket began during the 2007 T20 World Cup. After a few initial hiccups, he emerged as one of the greatest batsmen in modern cricket history. Fifteen years later, in 2022, he captained India in the T20 World Cup held in Australia. While India didn't clinch the title, Rohit's leadership qualities were evident. Now, in 2024, he is once again at the helm, determined to end India's wait for a major ICC trophy.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Big blow to Bangladesh, pacer gets six stitches on bowling hand after warm-up game against India
