Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

On This Day (Sept 14): M.S. Dhoni's Captaincy Debut, India Wins Dramatic Bowl-Out Against Pakistan

In his very first outing as India's captain, Dhoni hinted at the brilliance to come

Seventeen years ago, on September 14, MS Dhoni's legendary journey as India's captain began. After a disappointing ODI World Cup earlier that year, Dhoni was handed the reins for the inaugural T20 World Cup.

A young Indian team led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni onto the pitch after veteran players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid stepped away. His first match as captain was against Pakistan in Durban after the opening match of the group stage against Ireland was rained out, paving the way for his historic career.

Dhoni's first match as a captain

In his very first outing as India's captain, Dhoni hinted at the brilliance to come. The match against Pakistan ended in a thrilling tie, with both teams scoring 141 in 20 overs. However, Dhoni wasn't done yet. Dhoni's strategic acumen shone through in a tense bowl-out in cricketing version of a penalty shootout before Super Overs.

India emerged victorious as their bowlers hit the stumps, securing a memorable win. It was a glimpse of Dhoni's calm under pressure and tactical genius, traits that would define his legendary career.

India's batting

After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bowl, and their bowlers quickly put India on the back foot. India stumbled early, losing four wickets for just 36 runs within 6.4 overs. Mohammed Asif was the wrecker-in-chief, making life difficult for the Indian batters.

Despite the setbacks, India managed to post a competitive total of 141/9, thanks mainly to Robin Uthappa's crucial half-century. Uthappa scored 50 off 39 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes. Captain Cool also chipped in with a steady 33 runs from 31 balls, helping India reach a defendable score.

Pakistan's chase

For Pakistan, Asif was the standout performer, taking four wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs. Shahid Afridi also chipped in with two wickets, while Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir each claimed one. Chasing 142, Pakistan stumbled early, losing Imran Nazir for seven in the second over.

However, Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal steadied the innings, adding 32 runs for the second wicket. But three quick wickets put Pakistan in trouble. Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings despite the setbacks, scoring a valiant 53 off 35 balls. His efforts kept Pakistan in the game until the final ball, but the match ended in a dramatic tie.

The tie-breaker

In the bowl-out, Dhoni's strategy was clear by trusting the spinners. While Pakistan relied on their pacers, Dhoni chose spinners, standing calmly behind the stumps. Virender Sehwag, a part-time off-spinner, started strong by hitting the stumps, giving India a 1-0 lead.

Arafat, Pakistan's medium pacer, missed by a wide margin. Harbhajan Singh then doubled India's lead, while Umar Gul also missed. In a surprising move, Dhoni sent Robin Uthappa, who delivered by hitting the target. Pakistan's hopes ended when Afridi bowled wide, sealing a 3-0 bowl-out victory for India.

Thala's legacy as a captain

Dhoni's leadership journey began with a bang as he guided India to T20 World Cup glory, marking his first ICC title as captain. India's path to victory was remarkable, defeating cricketing powerhouses like England, South Africa, and Australia.

In a thrilling final, India once again faced Pakistan and emerged victorious, securing the inaugural T20 World Cup. This triumph established Dhoni's reputation as a masterful leader and ignited a new era in Indian cricket with Dhoni at the helm.