IPL 2024 factoids: When was the first time M.S. Dhoni led India in T20 cricket?

M.S. Dhoni, then a long-haired hard-hitting youngster from Ranchi, led India for the first time in the World T20 (precursor to the ICC T20 World Cup) in 2007. (File image)

In 2003, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced a new format of cricket. It was still limited-overs cricket, but the duration of the innings was reduced from 50 overs a side to 20. The evening matches ensured packed houses and increased television audiences.

By 2006, Pakistan, Australia, and the West Indies had T20 tournaments, but it was not a serious format – though international matches were being played. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the first ever global contest in the format, in South Africa in 2007.

No one knew what to expect of the format, not even the ICC. They did not even call it a World Cup. The tournament was called the World T20. While the Full Members qualified automatically, the others had to qualify – and the Qualifiers were played in ODI format.

However, there was one problem. India was not interested. At an ICC board meeting, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honorary secretary Niranjan Shah famously asked “T20? Why not ten-ten or five-five or one-one? India will never play T20.”

The ICC knew that the tournament would fail without Indian participation. ICC president Ehsan Mani told the Asian bloc – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh – that their proposal for the 2011 ODI World Cup was non-compliant. They would be given another chance, but only if they participated in the World T20.

India was still not too keen. They did not have a domestic T20 tournament. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid all opted out of the competition. M.S. Dhoni, a long-haired hard-hitting youngster from Ranchi, led India for the first time.

India won the inaugural edition, but long before that, before even the group stages had got over, the BCCI made an announcement. The country that had shown such disinterest in T20 cricket a year ago was going to launch a league of unthinkable cash in the same format.

Read more: IPL 2024 factoids: Lalit Modi & the beginnings of the Indian Premier League