'Tu idhar udhar aggresion dikhata hai na, abhi Australia ke khilaf dikha' - MS Dhoni to Sreesanth ahead of T20 WC 2007 semi-final

Going into the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, not many had given India a chance to win the tournament. But as soon as Yuvraj Singh smacked six sixes against England and then knocked out South Africa with a spirited performance, they were strong contenders out of nowhere. However, a young Indian side had to face ferocious and extremely strong Australia in the semi-final.

There was a lot of hype ahead of the game and even the Men in Blue were upbeat about the game. Again, many thought that team India has already performed above expectations and there is nothing to worry even if they lose the match. But under MS Dhoni, the side believed and the team needed a similar sort of aggression with which Australia used to play then.

India had Sreesanth in the squad who was coming off a brilliant game against South Africa. His figures of 2/23 were one of the best in the game and his aggressive nature was known to everyone. This is when the skipper Dhoni wittily asked him to show his aggression when it was required for the team. And Sreesanth, recalling the moment stated that he got fired up at the right time and it worked wonders for India.

“Dhoni bhai ne bhi chadhaya tha uss match se pehle. Wo bole ki yaar tu idhar udhar aggression dikhata hai ab Australia ke khilaf dikha aggression. I think it was more of a chaavi wala thing and I got fired at the right time,” the pacer said while speaking to Cow Corner Chronicles.

(The aforementioned quote roughly translates to – “Dhoni bhai had also geed me up before the match saying that you show your aggression everywhere. Now show it against Australia. And I got fired up at the right time.”)

Sreesanth returned with figures of 2/12 with a maiden in the match

Sreesanth probably played the best game of his career in the semi-final and returned with sensational figures of 2/12 in his four overs with a maiden. He castled Matthew Hayden when the game was going away from India and celebrated it ferociously. The moment eventually proved to be the turning point of the game as the Men in Blue successfully defended 188 winning the game by 15 runs.