'Options were Harbhajan or Joginder...' - Ex-India pacer reveals story behind MS Dhoni's famous decision from 20-20 World Cup 2007

The 20-20 World Cup 2007 was the turning point in cricket history in India after the 1983 60-over World Cup win. On February 3, Friday, Joginder Sharma, the pacer who bowled the last over in the summit clash against Pakistan in 2007, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Recalling the decision to go with Joginder, the pacer who was part of the squad revealed that it was a ‘miscalculation’. 

Rudra Pratap Singh, the former Indian pacer, recalled MS Dhoni’s decision to go with the right-armer and added that there was a choice between Harbhajan Singh and Joginder. The team India left-arm pacer claimed that it was a miscalculation as the off-spinner went for too many runs on the day and the former Indian captain had to go for the medium pacer. 

To add more, Harbhajan went for 36 runs in his spell of 3 overs, while the likes of Irfan Pathan and Singh picked up three-fors to their name. It was the mistimed scoop from Pakistani veteran Misbah-ul-Haq that cost them the match, with S Sreesanth taking the historic catch at the short-fine leg, which led to the start of a new era. 

Harbhajan couldn't complete his overs: Rudra Pratap Singh

Singh claimed that Dhoni went for Joginder as the off-spinner looked clueless on the day and Misbah playing the knock of his life. Notably, the Men in Green were just a hit away from the win and it was until the Pakistani veteran came up with an unwanted shot preventing them from tasting what could have been a mind-blowing win. 

“Dhoni used to believe that 20th over isn't as important as the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Misbah was playing really good that time. Harbhajan usually used to bowl the 17th over and more often than not, get us a breakthrough there. But Misbah was in some different touch that day. So there, it was a miscalculation,” Singh was quoted as saying while commentating for an SA20 game. 

“Harbhajan couldn't complete his overs. I had to bowl the 19th over, Sreesanth had to bowl before me. We had two options, either go with Harbhajan or Joginder. Misbah was batting good and if it was a left-handed batter, then Harbhajan would've bowled the final over. Since it was a right-handed batter, Joginder was given the ball,” he added.