India won the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, defeating Pakistan by five runs in a thrilling final at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Led by MS Dhoni, India scored 157/5 in 20 overs before bowling Pakistan out for 152 in 19.3 overs. Irfan Pathan was named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
The victory on 24 September 2007 marked a historic moment in Indian cricket. It also helped establish the T20 World Cup as a major international tournament, producing memorable performances, fierce rivalries and dramatic finishes.
Who Won the First T20 World Cup?
India won the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 by defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final. MS Dhoni captained India, while Shoaib Malik led Pakistan. Irfan Pathan received the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets for 16 runs.
Originally known as the ICC World Twenty20, the tournament was the first global championship dedicated to men’s Twenty20 international cricket.
South Africa hosted the inaugural competition from 11 to 24 September 2007. Twelve teams participated, competing for the first T20 World Cup trophy.
India’s victory was particularly significant because several established Indian stars, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, did not participate. A relatively young squad rose to the occasion, with Dhoni’s leadership helping India overcome strong opposition and secure the inaugural title.
India vs Pakistan: First T20 World Cup Final Scorecard
The 2007 final brought India and Pakistan together in a closely contested match that remained uncertain until the final over. India won the toss and elected to bat first.
Here are the key details of the historic final.
| Match detail | Information |
| Tournament | ICC World Twenty20 2007 |
| Final date | 24 September 2007 |
| Venue | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Toss winner | India |
| Toss decision | Elected to bat |
| India score | 157/5 in 20 overs |
| Pakistan score | 152 all out in 19.3 overs |
| Target for Pakistan | 158 runs |
| Winning margin | 5 runs |
| Indian captain | MS Dhoni |
| Pakistan captain | Shoaib Malik |
| Player of the Match | Irfan Pathan |
| Player of the Tournament | Shahid Afridi |
How India Won the First T20 World Cup Final
India’s innings: Gautam Gambhir’s crucial 75 runs
India needed a competitive total to challenge Pakistan in the final. Gautam Gambhir delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 75 runs from 54 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.
Yusuf Pathan contributed 15 runs from eight balls, while Robin Uthappa scored eight. Yuvraj Singh added 14 before Umar Gul dismissed him. Gul also removed captain MS Dhoni for six runs, putting pressure on India’s middle order.
Rohit Sharma then provided an important late boost, remaining unbeaten on 30 from just 16 balls. Irfan Pathan added an unbeaten three runs as India finished on 157/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Gambhir’s innings anchored the batting effort, while Rohit’s aggressive finish helped India set Pakistan a target of 158 runs.
Pakistan’s chase: A dramatic final over
Pakistan began its chase aggressively, with Imran Nazir scoring 33 runs from just 14 balls. However, early wickets prevented Pakistan from building a stable batting partnership.
Younis Khan contributed 24 runs, while Misbah-ul-Haq became Pakistan’s leading hope in the closing stages. Misbah scored 43 from 38 balls, including four sixes, keeping his team within reach of the target.
Irfan Pathan led India’s bowling effort with three wickets for 16 runs in four overs. Rudra Pratap Singh, also known as RP Singh, claimed three wickets for 23 runs, while Joginder Sharma took two wickets for 20 runs.
Pakistan needed 13 runs from the final six balls when MS Dhoni handed the ball to Joginder Sharma. Dhoni’s decision to choose Joginder over Harbhajan Singh became one of the most discussed moments in Indian cricket.
RP Singh later explained that Misbah had hit Harbhajan for three sixes in the 17th over. With a right-handed batter on strike, India backed the seamer to deliver under pressure. Joginder had also bowled the final over of India’s semi-final against Australia, when Australia needed 22 runs, giving Dhoni another reason to trust him.
Joginder began the final over with a wide, followed by a dot ball. Misbah then struck a six over fine leg, dramatically changing the equation. Pakistan now needed six runs from four balls to win.
With the pressure mounting, Misbah attempted a scoop shot over fine leg. However, he failed to clear the field, and S. Sreesanth completed the decisive catch.
Misbah’s dismissal ended Pakistan’s innings at 152 in 19.3 overs. India secured a memorable five-run victory and became the first men’s T20 World Cup champion.
The final demonstrated the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. India held its nerve under pressure to claim the inaugural title, with Dhoni’s decision and Sreesanth’s catch becoming defining moments in the tournament’s history.
Key Players Behind India’s 2007 T20 World Cup Victory
India’s historic title resulted from important contributions with both bat and ball. The following players played significant roles in the final.
| Player | Performance in the final | Contribution |
| Gautam Gambhir | 75 runs off 54 balls | Anchored India’s innings |
| Rohit Sharma | 30 not out off 16 balls | Accelerated the scoring at the end |
| Irfan Pathan | 3 wickets for 16 runs | Player of the Match |
| Rudra Pratap Singh | 3 wickets for 23 runs | Helped restrict Pakistan’s chase |
| Joginder Sharma | 2 wickets for 20 runs | Took two wickets, including Misbah-ul-Haq |
| MS Dhoni | Captain | Led India to the inaugural title |
| S. Sreesanth | Caught Misbah-ul-Haq | Completed the decisive final catch |
Irfan Pathan’s match-winning performance
Irfan Pathan was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for just 16 runs in four overs. His disciplined bowling put Pakistan under pressure and helped India control the chase.
His contribution was especially important in a final where Pakistan remained in contention until the closing overs.
MS Dhoni’s captaincy
MS Dhoni’s leadership became one of the defining features of India’s campaign. He backed younger players, managed pressure and made bold decisions during crucial moments.
His decision to give Joginder Sharma the final over became one of the most memorable tactical choices in the history of the T20 World Cup. With Pakistan needing 13 runs from six balls, Dhoni trusted Joginder to defend the target rather than turn to Harbhajan Singh.
The decision paid off when Joginder’s over ended with Misbah-ul-Haq’s dismissal and India’s historic victory. Joginder’s experience of bowling the final over against Australia in the semi-final, when 22 runs were required, was another reason Dhoni trusted him in the final.
Shahid Afridi’s tournament award
Although Pakistan lost the final, Shahid Afridi received the Player of the Tournament award. His all-round performances throughout the competition established him as one of the standout players of the inaugural edition.
Why Was the First T20 World Cup in 2007 Important?
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The inaugural T20 World Cup helped establish international T20 cricket as a major global competition. Its shorter format offered an alternative to Test cricket and One Day Internationals, attracting audiences with aggressive batting, fast scoring and dramatic finishes.
India’s victory generated considerable excitement among Indian cricket fans and helped strengthen interest in the shortest international format.
The tournament also produced several unforgettable moments beyond the final.
- Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes: On 19 September 2007, during the Super Eight stage, Yuvraj hit six consecutive sixes in an over bowled by England’s Stuart Broad. His explosive batting became one of the defining moments of the tournament.
- Chris Gayle’s historic century: Gayle scored 117 against South Africa, recording the first century in men’s T20 international cricket.
- India vs Pakistan rivalry: The two teams first met in the group stage, where their match ended in a tie. India won the subsequent bowl-out before defeating Pakistan again in the final.
These moments helped define the early identity of T20 cricket, showcasing explosive batting, innovative shots and matches that could change within a few deliveries.
The tournament’s success also laid an important foundation for the growing popularity of T20 cricket worldwide.
First T20 World Cup Winners List (2007–2026)
India became the first men’s T20 World Cup champion in 2007. Since then, several countries have won the tournament, highlighting the growing competitiveness of international T20 cricket.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Host country or countries | Final venue |
| 2007 | India | Pakistan | South Africa | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2009 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | England | Lord’s, London |
| 2010 | England | Australia | West Indies | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 2012 | West Indies | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | India | Bangladesh | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur |
| 2016 | West Indies | England | India | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2021 | Australia | New Zealand | Oman and the UAE | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
| 2022 | England | Pakistan | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| 2024 | India | South Africa | USA and the West Indies | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 2026 | India | New Zealand | India and Sri Lanka | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
India won the inaugural tournament in 2007 and added further titles in 2024 and 2026. In 2026, India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team to win three men’s T20 World Cup titles and the first to defend the trophy successfully.
West Indies and England have each won the men’s competition twice, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia have each won it once.
Conclusion
India won the first T20 World Cup in 2007 by defeating Pakistan by five runs in a memorable final at Johannesburg. Gautam Gambhir’s 75 runs, Irfan Pathan’s three wickets and MS Dhoni’s captaincy played important roles in the historic victory.
The final’s dramatic last over remains one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket. With Pakistan needing 13 runs from six balls, Dhoni trusted Joginder Sharma, and Misbah-ul-Haq’s dismissal by a catch from S. Sreesanth sealed India’s triumph.
The inaugural tournament helped establish T20 cricket as an exciting international format. India’s subsequent triumphs in 2024 and 2026 further strengthened its place in the competition’s history, but the 2007 victory remains a defining moment in Indian cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
India won the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final at Johannesburg, South Africa.
MS Dhoni captained India during the 2007 tournament. His leadership helped a relatively young Indian team win the inaugural men’s T20 World Cup.
Irfan Pathan received the Player of the Match award after taking three wickets for 16 runs in four overs against Pakistan.
India scored 157/5 in 20 overs. Gautam Gambhir top-scored with 75 runs from 54 balls, while Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 30 from 16 balls.
The final took place at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 24 September 2007.
