The ICC commenced a tournament for the shortest version of the game in 2007. The first ever T20 World Cup, was held in South Africa and India lifted the trophy.

The ICC World Twenty20 is supposed to be the most thrilling tournament as the fate of the game is decided in just 20 overs played by each team. A total of 12 teams participate in the tournament on a Round robin and Knockout basis.

The Indian squad was led by MS Dhoni and participated in the ICC World Twenty20, 2007-08 that was hosted by South Africa. Below,we will highlight the performance of the Blue Shirts in the tournament:

1-    Vs. Scotland was abandoned due to weather on September 13, 2007, at Kingsmead, Durban, and both teams shared one point each.

 

2-    Vs. Pakistan played on September 14, 2007, at Kingsmead, Durban.

Scores

India – 9-141, Robin Uthappa 50 (39 balls 2×6 4×4), MS Dhoni 33 (31 balls, 1×6 3×4), Irfan Pathan 20 (15 balls 2×6), Mohammad Asif 4-18 and Shahid Afridi 2-37.

Pakistan – 7-141, Misbah-Ul-Haq 53 (35 b 1×6 7×4) Salman Butt 17 (25b 2×4), Irfan Pathan 2-20, RP Singh 1-23.

Player of the match – Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)

Result – Match tied (India won the bowl out)

 

3-   Vs. New Zealand, played at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on September 16, 2007.

Scores

New Zealand – 190 (Brendon McCullum 45 (31b 9×4), Craig McMillan 44 (23b 4×6 1×4), Jacob Oram 35 (15b 3×6 2×4), Harbhajan Singh 2-24, RP Singh 2-29)

India – 9-180 (Gautam Gambhir 51 (33b 2×6 5×4), Virender Sehwag 40 (17b 2×6 6×4), MS Dhoni 24 (20b 2×4), Daniel Vettori 4-20, Jacob Oram 1-14)

Player of the match – Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Result – New Zealand won by 10 runs.

 

4-   Vs. England on September 19, 2007, at Kingsmead, Durban.

Scores

India – 4-218, Sehwag 68 (52b 3×6 4×4), Yuvraj Singh 58 (16b 7×6 3×4), Gambhir 58 (41b 1×6 7×4), Chris Tremlett 2-45, Darren Maddy 1-20.

England – 6-200, Vikram Solanki 43 (31b 1×6 5×4), Kevin Pietersen 39 (23b 1×6 3×4), Maddy 29 (20b 1×6 3×4), Irfan Pathan 3-37, RP Singh 2-28.

Player of the match – Yuvraj Singh (India)

Result – India won by 18 runs.

 

5-   Vs. South Africa, on September 20, 2007, at Kingsmead, Durban.

Scores

India – 5-153, Rohit Sharma 50* (40b 2×6 7×4), Dhoni 45 (33b 1×6 4×4), Gambhir 19 (19b 3×4), Shaun Pollock 2-17, Makhaya Ntini 1-30.

South Africa – 9-116, Albie Morkel 36 (37b 1×6 2×4), Mark Boucher 36 (41b 4×4), RP Singh 4-13, Sreesanth 2-23.

Player of the match – Rohit Sharma (India)

Result – India won by 37 runs.

 

Semi final vs. Australia, at Kingsmead, Durban, on September 22, 2007.

Scores

India – 5-188, Yuvraj Singh 70 (30b 5×6 5×4), Dhoni 36 (18b 1×6 4×4), Uthappa 34 (28b 3×6 1×4), Mitchell Johnson 2-31, Michael Clarke 1-13.

Australia – 7-173, Matthew Hayden 62 (47b 4×6 4×4), Andrew Symonds 43 (26b 2×6 3×4), Adam Gilchrist 22 (13b 2×6 2×4), Sreesanth 2-12, Joginder Sharma 2-37.

Player of the match – Yuvraj Singh (India)

Result – India won by 15 runs.

 

Final vs. Pakistan, played on September 24, 2007, at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

Scores

India – 5-157, Gautam Gambhir 75 (54b 2×6 8×4), Rohit Sharma 30* (16b 1×6 2×4), Yusuf Pathan 15 (8b 1×6 1×4), Umar Gul 3-28, Mohammad Asif 1-25.

Pakistan – 152, Misbah-Ul-Haq 43 (38b 4×4), Imran Nazir 33 (14b 2×6 4×4), Younis Khan 24 (24b 4×4), Irfan Pathan 3-16, RP Singh 3-26.

Player of the match – Irfan Pathan (India)

Player of the series – Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Result – India won by five runs and grabbed the first ever ICC World Twenty20, 2007-08.