"I don't know how MS Dhoni does that" - Robin Uthappa recalls incident from 2007 T20 World Cup match
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Robin Uthappa has heaped praise on the intuition and instinct displayed by MS Dhoni during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Uthappa was part of the Indian playing XI in the tournament, which India won by defeating Pakistan in the finals at Johannesburg.
Team India found themselves in a must-win situation going into the game against South Africa. It was the last group match, and India had to win to advance to the semifinals. The hosts were set a target of 154. During the chase, then India and current CSK skipper MS Dhoni's instinctive masterstroke of moving Dinesh Karthik adjacent to the slips during the second over by RP Singh worked wonders.
South Africa skipper Graeme Smith edged a wide ball and Karthik threw himself full length to his left and caught it with both hands. On the 22 Yarns with Gaurav Kapoor podcast recently, Robin Uthappa recalled the incident:
"Just the ball before (Graeme Smith's dismissal)... , MS Dhoni moved Karthik from third slip to a fielding position between fourth slip and gully. The very next ball the DK took that catch. It's nuts. I don't know how he(MS Dhoni) does that. I think he is one guy who is truest to his instincts."
Smith's wicket disrupted the Proteas' innings and India managed to win comfortably in the end.
Joginder Sharma put his hand up to bowl the last over of the 2007 T20 World Cup final: Robin Uthappa
Uthappa also revealed details surrounding the climax of the final against Pakistan, when Joginder Sharma volunteered to bowl the final over. Narrating the incident, Robin Uthappa said:
"The choice was between Joginder Sharma and Harbhajan Singh for the last over. At the time, Joginder put his hand up, and MS also backed his instinct and gave the ball to the one who wanted to bowl. That's what Mahi did the whole tournament, he just backed his instincts. Joginder was obviously nervous."
Uthappa also detailed the final action of the match when Misbah-ul-Haq's mistimed scoop shot was gathered by S Sreesanth at short fine leg.
"Sreesanth had astigmatism and the lens we got in 2007 wasn't of great quality at that time. We were just hoping that Sreesanth wore his lens as he used to drop catches when not wearing. But it was all destiny, the way he took that catch."
The 2007 title remains India’s only one in the T20 World Cup. They will look to end the trophy drought by winning the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman.