September 24: The day MSD's India won inaugural T20 WC

SEPTEMBER 24 remains one of the golden dates of Indian cricket as it was on this day that the country had won its only world title in the T2o format, in South Africa in 2007.

Fourteen years ago, a bunch of young cricketers led by former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan by just five runs in Johannesburg to win the inaugural edition of the tournament. Irfan Pathan was adjudged the man of the match for taking three wickets for 16 runs while Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi was the man of the tournament.

Held months after a disappointing 50-over World Cup in which India failed to cross the group hurdle, a number of senior players refused to play in the T20 World Cup which brought the opportunity for captaincy to Dhoni who was 26 then.

ALSO READ: India squad for T20 World Cup 2021 picked: Ashwin back, Dhoni picked as mentor

India started off well in the tournament by beating Pakistan in a bowl-out format after the game ended in a tie. They lost to New Zealand narrowly in the next phase but beat England and South Africa convincingly to make the semi-finals. Dhoni’s side then overcame a spirited Australia in the semi-finals before beating the arch-rivals again to win the trophy.

Former India captain MS Dhoni and his teammates celebrate their Victory during the final match of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

India came close to winning the T20 World Cup again in 2014 when the tournament was played in Bangladesh but they lost to Sri Lanka in the title clash.

The 2007 World Cup will remain an evergreen memory in the minds of millions of Indian supporters because of the ballistic innings that former India batsman Yuvraj Singh had played against England in the groups stage. In the must-win game, Singh slammed six sixes in one over against pacer Stuart Broad, turning the game into India’s favour.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir’s 75 and the catch of Misbah-ul-Haq by Sreesanth off the bowling of a lesser-known Joginder Sharma remain two other high points of that edition.

India won two other major ICC trophies under Dhoni – the 50-over World Cup at home in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in England in 2013.

The Men in Blue will be playing in yet another T20 World Cup starting next month in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Dhoni, who has retired now, will be the team's mentor at the event while it will be the final time that Virat Kohli will captain the side in the shortest format.