I can’t believe that it has been 15 years since we won the T20 World Cup, for me, it feels as if it was just a few years ago: Robin Uthappa

15 YEARS SINCE TEAM INDIA’S HEROICS AT THE WORLD CUP

Robin Uthappa. 

Khel Today Bureau 

New Delhi: A new chapter in Indian cricket history was written when a young and relatively inexperienced Team India led by MS Dhoni won the hearts of a billion fans as they defeated Pakistan in the finals of the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 15 years to this day.

The Men in Blue escaped the jaws of defeat in the final over of the match and won versus their arch-rivals by a margin of just five runs. The 2007 World Cup victory was India’s first ever major limited overs trophy since the heroics of the 1983 ICC Men’s World Cup. The match, which was played in front of a raucous crowd at Wanderers, in Johannesburg, South Africa was one of the best matches ever witnessed in a major ICC tournament final. 15 years on, the sweet memories of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are still fresh in the minds of not only the fans but of the players as well.

With some hard fought victories against some of the best teams in world cricket at the time was no mean feat, as recalled by Star Sports panellist – Robin Uthappa who played a major role in India winning the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He said, “I can’t believe that it has been 15 years since we won the T20 World Cup. For me, it feels as if it was just a few years ago. The fond memories from our first ever T20 world cup win are still fresh in my memory. I can still remember bowling in the bowl-out and tipping my hat in celebration as we won! I would like to wish the Men in Blue all the very best as they go Down Under to try and repeat history and get us back the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with ‘Mission Melbourne’. It’s a special experience to win the World Cup and I wish Rohit and the boys play their hearts out to repeat the feat we achieved 15 years ago!”            

Irfan Pathan.

The young and inexperienced Indian side who went on to win the trophy  had a lively pace attack which was spearheaded by Star Sports panellist – Irfan Pathan who reminisced the moments before they triumphed over Pakistan in the finals of the World Cup. He said “I still get goose bumps when I think about the finals and how we won it in the last over. We played our very best in that World Cup and to be rewarded in the end with the trophy was just one of the most special feelings in my life. I can still picture the team and the crowd celebrating for India as Sreesanth caught Misbah in that final over. I hope that the Indian team is fully prepared for ‘Mission Melbourne’ and aiming to bring the trophy once again to India. I wish them all the very best!”