“Was Extremely Tired After Delivering My Four Overs” – Irfan Pathan On His Sensational Spell In T20 World Cup 2007 Final vs Pakistan

Updated - 24 Sep 2022, 06:22 PM

Irfan Pathan (Image Credit: Twitter)

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On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 triumph of the India National Cricket Team, former India National Cricket Team all-rounder Irfan Pathan revealed that he was “extremely tired” after delivering his four overs in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007 against Pakistan National Cricket Team on September 24, 2007.

India National Cricket Team won the inaugural edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under the leadership of legendary skipper MS Dhoni. In the final, the Men In Blue defeated Pakistan National Cricket Team by 5 runs to win the title at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

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Irfan Pathan was adjusted Player of the Match in the final of the marquee tournament for his outstanding 3/16 spell. He dismissed Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Yasir Arafat.

Speaking on Star Sports’ programme ‘Class of 2007: The Reunion of ’07 Champions’ Team India members shared their thoughts and emotions about the final. While talking about the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007 final, former all-rounder Irfan said that there was massive pressure on the players. He elaborated:

“There was no social media back then. But everyone was talking about how big this final against Pakistan was going to be. We were clashing in such a big final for the first time.

“The pressure was really massive. I was extremely tired after delivering my four overs in the final. I was never this tired throughout my whole career. It left me with no energy.”

Former pace bowler RP Singh, who picked up the wickets of Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul in the final of the T20 World Cup 2007, agreed with Irfan Pathan and added that the team followed whatever they had been following throughout the multi-nation tournament.

I was really happy when Yusuf Pathan hit that six – Irfan Pathan

Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Irfan’s brother Yusuf Pathan made his debut in the high-profile India vs Pakistan World Cup final. Yusuf, who was experiencing some issues with his leg, smashed 15 runs off 8 balls, including a six and a four, while opening the innings with Gautam Gambhir in the summit clash.

Recalling Yusuf’s six in India vs Pakistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007 final, Irfan said:

“I was really happy when he hit that six. I felt as if I hit it.

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, who smashed 75 runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007 final, said that batting with Yusuf increased his responsibility. He added that he was forced to play the role of an anchor in the final because Team India was losing wickets at regular intervals.

“Batting with Yusuf increased my responsibility. It was a different combination. I was opening with Virender Sehwag previously. I had the responsibility as an anchor. I could not play fast as we were losing wickets,” said Gambhir.

Current India National Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma had smashed 16-ball 30 in the high-voltage game against Pakistan. While talking about his knock, veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik said:

“Rohit’s knock was important. We were at 130 in 18 overs, which is not really good. But those 27 runs he got us in the final two overs gave us 157 runs on the board. This knock was critical and made a difference during a chase of 158 runs back then.”

Former India National Cricket Team off-spinner Harbhajan Singh further said that he thought that the momentum had shifted to Pakistan after he conceded three sixes in the 17th over in the final.

“I thought that momentum had shifted to Pakistan then. Then, Sreesanth was also hit for two sixes by Sohail Tanvir. We felt the pressure and thought that the game was out of our hands. It was not really in our hands, to begin with since we had not put up much runs on the board,” he said.

Former Indian pacer S Sreesanth grabbed the catch of the Pakistan batter Misbah-ul-Haq in the final off Joginder Sharma’s delivery to bundle out Pakistan for 152. While talking about that catch, Irfan said: