On This Day in 2007: MS Dhoni wins first match as Captain as India beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished cricketers of all time. The 42-year-old, known for his explosive batting, wicket-keeping, and leadership abilities, made his international debut in India's ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2004. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter took over team India’s captaincy in 2007.

Dhoni is the first Captain to win all three major ICC trophies, as India won the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, respectively. The Ranci-born's renowned career as one of India's top captains began 14 years ago on this day (September 14), when he won his first-ever game as a Captain in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. After India's opening match against Scotland was called off, the team faced the arch-rivals, Pakistan, at the Kingsmead in Durban, on September 14, 2007.

The high-voltage game was drawn, and Dhoni orchestrated India's spectacular bowl-out win. For the uninitiated, before Super Overs, tied matches were decided by bowl-outs, in which five bowlers from each team had to strike the stumps with only the wicketkeeper standing behind.

Dhoni helps India outplay Pakistan

Speaking of the match, Pakistan won the toss and invited India to bat first. India scored 141/9 in 20 overs, with Rohin Uthappa scoring a crucial half-century. Mohammad Asif was the stand-out bowler for Pakistan, as he finished with an excellent figure on/ 4/18. 

During the chase, Misbah-ul-Haq scored a fifty as Pakistan too scored 141 runs in the allotted overs. For India, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, and RP Singh picked wickets. Notably, in contrast to Pakistan, who fielded a line-up that favoured pace, MS Dhoni chose spinners for the bowl-out. India got off to a good start in the bowl-out thanks to the part-time off-spinner, Virender Sehwag, who struck the stumps and allowed his team to gain a 1-0 lead.

Thereafter, Pakistan's medium pacer Yasir Arafat failed to hit the stumps by a significant margin. Harbhajan Singh then made it 2-0 for India after Umar Gul also missed the chance.

Dhoni surprisingly sent Robin Uthappa in for the third chance, and he capitalized on it by hitting the target with a little bit of medium pace. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi missed the target by bowling it much outside of the leg stump, costing Pakistan the bowl-out 3-0. Dhoni went on to lead team India to clinch the T20 World Cup, his first ICC title as captain.