2007 ICC World T20: MS Dhoni told me to bowl last over and we will get Misbah out: Joginder Sharma

It was on September 24, 2007 that India beat Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to script a famous win. As Team India completes 10 years of its World T20 triumph today, Taus Rizvi relives the moment with the final’s hero Joginder Sharma, who dismissed Misbah-ul-haq in the last over to gift the country an unforgettable trophy...

It’s been 10 years since India lifted the historic World T20 trophy. How do you look back at that moment?

Dus saal nikal gaye. Achcha time tha (It’s been 10 years. It was a good time.) It is still memorable in people’s mind. It was thanks to this match that I got a new identity and people still remember me. I feel proud for having won the game for my country and that our name has been etched in golden words. For any cricketer to be a part of World Cup winning team is a goal. Sachin paaji’s (Tendulkar) dream was the same, which was realised in 2011. I was lucky that I was part of the 2007 World T20 team. I feel proud to have won the hearts of the Indians.

Does it still feel like a dream to you?

No, not dream. We were professionals and played as professionals. Did our job very well and in the end, it was a nice feeling.

Did you expect MS Dhoni to give you the last over?

Dhoni said it was between me and Harbhajan. I was expecting that I would get the ball as in the semifinal against Australia, Dhoni asked me to bowl when Australia needed 22 in the last over. I got Michael Hussey out and conceded just 2 runs (it was 6). I have played with Maahi in the Ranji Trophy, we have also practiced together. He had faith in me. In 2004 India camp, Sachin had asked me to bowl at him so that he could practice backfoot drives. I bowled all the balls exactly at one spot. Having played street and tennis ball cricket of eight overs, six overs, 12 overs before, I knew how to bowl accurately. It wasn’t new to me.

But what did Dhoni tell you?

Just bowl this over and we will get him out. Dhoni asked me not to bowl according to the batsman playing his shots, but stick to my strength.

Did you read Misbah’s mind that he would be playing the scoop, which led to his wicket?

He had played the scoop before. The ball was swinging big. I have always been a swing bowler. I was confident that I would get him out. Even though I got hit for a six a ball before, I stuck to my plan of bowling on the off stump. He was ready for his stroke — scoop. I sensed it. I changed the length and the lowered the speed. He thought it would be a fast ball. Had it been quick it would have gone over Sreesanth. However, luckily it landed in Sreesanth’s hands.

In the same year, India had crashed out of the 50-overs World Cup early. Did you guys go in with any expectations?

Expectations...hmm. Some seniors (Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble) weren’t playing. Then there was the 50-overs World Cup shock as we could not qualify for the next stage. We had a young side. Nobody was expecting anything. We still had a good combination and would take one match at a time. It was MS Dhoni’s first tournament as captain. He might have proved himself now. We weren’t thinking about winning the World Cup nor did we think that we could not win. We were just enjoying playing. Bahut mazaa aa raha tha. Even the competition was good. We had never played T20 at international level. It was after the win that it became a craze. It was a birth of a new format followed by the success of Indian Premier League.

Was there any kind of pressure in the absence of so many seniors in a new format?

It wasn’t that there were no seniors. There was Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), Maahi (Dhoni), Viru (Virender Sehwag), Gauti (Gautam Gambhir), Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh). We had a very talented side who had done and performed well in major part of the tournament. Since the format was new and there were youngsters, no one knew how the other bowls or plays. It was one of the plus points that helped us win.

How do you look back at your career from then to now?

I am hurt that I could not play for India for a long time due to injuries and a road accident in 2011. I injured my shoulder and ankle in 2008. I was out for 17 months. I came back thinking that I would be selected. Then a road accident happened. I was out for 18-20 months. There was a head injury but still, I took a chance. I did well but I don’t know what happened. I am hurt. I would have played more.

You are a Deputy Superintendent of Police. How is this different from playing cricket?

Totally different hai yaar (my friend). I am enjoying it. I am able to help people. There are expectations from them and I try to live up to them. Troubled people come to me to solve their issues.

Do you tell your World T20 tales to your children?

Yes, I have told them what their father did while playing for India. I want them to play and learn. More than that, I want them to become a good human being. Right now they are known as Joginder Sharma’s kids, but I want to be known as Manan and Udayveer’s father.

How are you planning to celebrate this day?

I will talk to my fans on the social media. I would be celebrating the anniversary with my family today. Will watch the match (India-Australia ODI). I have got messages from Yusuf (Pathan), Irfan (Pathan), Bhajji. It feels good.