2007 T20 World Cup Win: How Team India's Glory at Wanderers 17 Years Ago, Revolutionised Cricket

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What began as an experiment in 2007 is now remembered as a very important date in the history of T20 cricket. Way back, on September 24, 17 years ago, India defeated Pakistan in the ICC 2007 T20 World Cup final.

It led to a riot of celebrations almost at par with what happened on June 25, 1983 at The Lords when Kapil Dev grabbed the Prudential Cup, defeating the West Indies. As cricket fans remember the first T20 finale, where India won against all odds despite a full team not travelling to South Africa, the Wanderers final is being replayed in the minds by many.

Not many took T20 cricket seriously at that time, in 2007. MS Dhoni was the skipper, Gautam Gambhir was the opener who top-scored with 75 in the final, Rohit Sharma played at No.6 and scored 30 runs in quick fashion. In bowling, the hero is remembered as Joginder Sharma.

Look at the present, Rohit Sharma is the Test captain who is well settled, Gambhir is the new Team India coach and years after his retirement from internaitonal cricket, MS Dhoni is still being talked of as a 'retention player' by Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 IPL.

The remaining players are either into coaching, commentary or playing the Legends League, if you look at the 2007 scorecard. Some became famous and some infamous, like S.Sreesanth. But there is no denying, the T20 win at that time, which was not even called a World Cup at that time by the ICC is now the most popular format.

T20 is a rage or a craze, whichever be the apt phrase. For purists who wept when the first IPL auction was held in February 2008 in New Delhi and cricket writers like Late Peter Roebuck called it a 'cattle sale,' auctions are now a big thing. It is not just in the IPL but a plethora of T20 leagues which have mushroomed the world over, auctions raise more than eyebrows.

Indeed, at a time when the Caribbean Premier League is also on, each league has its own brand value and viewership. If the people who watched the 2007 final are asked today, there is an overdose of instant cricket. Nobody minds it, now it is cricket plus commerce and it is providing employment and generating revenue.

India, indeed, is the home to more T20 leagues, with state leagues, some for men and some for women grabbing eyeballs. Even the Delhi Premier League which concluded in August was beamed on TV and people watched.

At the same time, there have been more busy leagues like the TNPL, where someone like Chennai Test hero R.Ashwin honed his skills further. One thing is sure, no format of cricket is killing the either.

Last year, in Octobeer/November, when India hosted the ICC World Cup (ODI format), it had its own viewership, be it inside the stadia or TV. Each format has its own brand value and own appeal, which is why even for the India vs Bangladesh Test which ended on Sunday at the Chepauk, fans lined up.

Back to T20, it has seen youth getting hooked and the way it has caught on is amazing. Faster cricket, matches ending in less than six hours total and the ability to watch even two matches a day, this is what T20 has done to the cricket junkies. There is just no end.

If there was a starting point, it was September 24, 2007, when India defeated Pakistan in the final. Looking ahead, this format will roar and there is a fear some players will prefer only this and not red ball cricket.

At least in India, the BCCI has made it clear, players cannot ignore red ball cricket, which means the Ranji Trophy season will see full action, Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane included.

Back to the stalwarts from the 2007 World Cup, to see Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni still being spoken of passionately does transport fans back to the magical evening at the Wanderers, 17 years ago. It was, in many ways, the birth of the T20 baby!