YUVRAJ SINGH'S SIX SIXES GAVE A DECISIVE DIRECTION TO OUR CAMPAIGN

I was tasked with being part of the bowl-out group against Pakistan, a nerve-wracking moment for any player.

Being part of a remarkable triumph was a true honour. Despite the heartbreaking early exit from the 2007 ICC ODI World Cup, we refused to let it break our spirit. We played the Natwest Series in England, and though we lost 3-4, it was a testament to our resilience. My personal comeback at The Oval, where MS (Dhoni) and I added 60 runs for the sixth wicket, was a moment of redemption. During this high-scoring match, I secured the winning run with just two balls remaining, hitting a four off Stuart Broad.

The confidence I gained from the win at The Oval was crucial in helping me stay mentally strong. Just five days after we played the final ODI in England at Lord's, we were lining up against Scotland at Durban.

Unfortunately, the game was washed out due to rain. Despite the novelty of the T20 format, our team was committed to adapting and excelling. We meticulously practised the bowl-out. This preparation, which turned out to be a stroke of genius, clearly demonstrated our dedication and hard work.

The tied match against Pakistan was a turning point for us. Pakistan seemed to have the upper hand, but then Misbah-ul-haq's run-out kept us in the game. I was proud of my half-century, but more than my batting, I was thrilled to have contributed with fielding and some bowling. It was a victory that we truly earned.

I was tasked with being part of the bowl-out group, a nerve-wracking moment for any player. I was third to hit the stumps after Viru (Sehwag) and Bhajju (Harbhajan). Pakistan missed all their three attempts (Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, and Shahid Afridi). The loss against New Zealand in Johannesburg was a setback, but it didn't deter us. When we returned to Durban, we hit back through Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) against England.

Yuvi's dazzling knock was a game-changer. Sitting in the dugout, I could hear the spat between Yuvi and Andrew Flintoff. Poor Stuart Broad suffered Yuvi's wrath. His six sixes in an over gave a decisive direction to our campaign. There was no stopping as we tamed South Africa and

Australia for another clash with Pakistan in the final. We knew the challenge — defending 157 against a good batting lineup — would require us to be at our best. RP Singh gave us a splendid start with two wickets, and then Joginder Sharma joined the act. It was a tense match, with both teams giving their all. It worked well for us when Irfan (Pathan) dented Pakistan's hopes. But we had to reckon with Misbah.

They needed 13 runs from Joginder's last over. The first ball went over my head at long-on for a six. I was praying. The next ball, I saw the ball go up to Sreesanth. When he took the catch, I had reached mid-on. That gave me a chance to grab a stump as a souvenir.

Not many gave us a chance. It was the first edition of the game-changing T20 World Cup, and the Indian team was perhaps the least talked about, at least initially. The seniors, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly, had withdrawn. Under the captaincy of a young Mahendra Singh Dhoni, we entered the unfamiliar terrain of white-ball cricket in the far-off land of South Africa.

By then, many of us — including Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir — had played quite a bit of international cricket, and in no way were we inexperienced. However, even then, not many imagined that we would be able to master a format that was quick, tricky, and exciting.

However, as the tournament progressed, we not only proved people wrong but also ended up creating history by beating Pakistan to clinch the first-ever title. I will forever remember those moments in the final.

At the Wanderers that afternoon, Gautam played one of the finest innings to guide us to a competitive total and left it to us — the bowlers — to defend it. It was challenging for sure, but every player was motivated to prove themselves, and that attitude brought the best out of us. While RP (Singh) provided those early breakthroughs, Pakistan still had partnerships by Younis Khan and Imran Nazir to rebuild, and there was a time when it looked as if we were slowly losing the grip.

As the crowd chanted our names and waved the tricolour, we bounced back. I am happy and proud to have played a hand in that historic victory. While Robbie (Uthappa) got Nazir run out, I swung into action with the three important wickets of Younis, Shoaib Malik, and Shahid Afridi. And with Afridi gone, we knew it was our match to lose. But Misbah-ul-haq and Sohail Tanvir took charge and ensured a thriller.

To be honest, at one point, we believed that Misbah would lead the team to victory. However, we did not lose hope. Joginder, arguably, bowled the best spell of his career, and that one misjudgment by

Misbah proved to be costly — it shattered Pakistan's chances and brought joy to millions of Indian supporters.

It was my first season after a long injury layoff, and the tournament turned out to be nothing short of a fairy tale. It instilled confidence in the young Indian cricket team and paved the way for a smooth transition in white-ball cricket.

The final was one of the biggest moments of our lives. However, our confidence received a boost after we defeated Pakistan in our second game via a bowl-out. It was also a special game for me because I bowled a maiden over and claimed a couple of wickets.

For the team, it gave us the belief that we could overcome any challenge. Our emphatic wins against England, South Africa, and Australia further bolstered our confidence and ensured we were on the right path. The rest, as they say, is history!