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India’s triumph over Pakistan in the final of the inaugural World Championship of Legends in England was nothing short of sensational. The decisive moment arrived when Irfan Pathan struck a boundary off the first ball of the last over, sealing victory and sparking jubilant scenes in the Indian camp at Edgbaston.
Celebrating alongside captain Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan savored the championship win, embraced by his elder brother Yusuf who rushed in with the Indian flag. This victory marked the culmination of a fiercely contested tournament that featured six top teams: India, Australia, Pakistan, England, South Africa, and West Indies.
In the initial phase, Australia led the standings with four wins out of five matches, followed closely by Pakistan. Despite a mixed performance in the first round, India secured their spot in the semi-finals with a resounding 86-run victory over Australia. This emphatic win paved their way to the title showdown, where they displayed nerves of steel to emerge as the champions of legends.
Robin Uthappa’s blazing 65 off 35 deliveries set the tone for India as they piled up a formidable 254/6 in their allotted 20 overs against Australia. He was ably supported by Yuvraj Singh (59 off 28), Yusuf Pathan (51 off 23), and Irfan Pathan (50 off 19), each unleashing spectacular half-centuries that propelled India to a commanding total.
In reply, Australia struggled against the bowling prowess of Pawan Negi (2/35) and Dhawal Kulkarni (2/43), managing only 168/7 by the end of their innings, thus setting up a title clash between India and Pakistan.
Opting to bat first in the final, Pakistan, led by Younis Khan, could only muster 156/6 in their 20 overs. Shoaib Malik top-scored with 41 off 36 balls, while Anureet Singh starred with the ball for India, claiming figures of 3/43.
India’s chase began strongly with Robin Uthappa’s explosive start, but despite losing him early, Ambati Rayudu accelerated with a brisk 50 off 30 deliveries, guiding India’s recovery after the early setbacks of Uthappa and Suresh Raina.
Yusuf Pathan’s quickfire 30 off 16 balls provided crucial momentum before Yuvraj Singh (15*) and Irfan Pathan (5*) calmly guided India across the finish line. Ambati Rayudu’s impactful innings earned him the player-of-the-match award, while Yusuf Pathan’s consistent performances throughout the tournament saw him named player-of-the-tournament.
