Best last-over finishes India have been part of in T20Is

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Bumrah was the star performer with the ball for India as they edged out England in a close contest

T20 cricket is ruling the roost all over the world, with several leagues ranging from the Caribbean Premier League to the Big Bash wooing audiences into flocking the stadiums frequently.

The IPL has certainly changed the viewpoints of the fans, with franchises building up strong fan bases all across the world. While the debate that T20 cricket is endangering the existence of Tests is still raging on, every bilateral tour still has a T20I series included in it.

The Indian team have played 88 T20Is overall, winning 52 matches, amounting to a win percentage of 61.04%. While T20 cricket has not always been India's cup of tea - they have won just a solitary World Cup in six outings - there have been some jaw-dropping matches that the Men in Blue have been a part of.

Let us take a look at some of the best nail-biting finishes India have been part of till date:


#1 India vs England, 2nd T20I, Nagpur (2017)

India had lost the first of the match of the series against England during the 2016/17 tour, and were staring down the barrel until Jasprit Bumrah produced a magical spell at the death. India mustered 144 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant 71 from opener KL Rahul. After Ashish Nehra had provided three crucial breakthroughs, it was up to Bumrah to save India the blushes.

With only seven runs to defend off the final over, he conceded just two, helping India level the series 1-1. What proved even more remarkable was the fact that Bumrah conceded just five runs off his last two overs. That victory sparked a remarkable turnaround for the hosts, as they comfortably won the 3rd match of the series.

That was probably the start of Bumrah's epic purple patch in T20Is, which has stretched till now!

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#2 India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lauderhill (2016)

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KL Rahul smashed a sublime century

India took part in a T20I series against the Windies in the USA, after comfortably winning the Test series 2-0. West Indies scored a mammoth 245-6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a 49-ball century from Evin Lewis.

India came out all guns blazing, with KL Rahul registering his maiden T20I century, off 46 balls. India needed eight off the final over, bowled by Dwayne Bravo. MS Dhoni had to score two runs off the final ball, but was dismissed caught at short third-man, sparking wild celebrations among the West Indian players.

India lost the match by one run, and eventually the series, as the second game was abandoned due to incessant rain. It was a case of so near yet so far for the Indians.

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#3 India vs Pakistan, World T20 league stage, Durban (2007)

India and Pakistan had to be separated via a bowl-out
India and Pakistan had to be separated via a bowl-out

India and Pakistan clashed in the group stages of the inaugural World T20 in South Africa, on the back of devastating group stage exits from the 2007 World Cup. India posted 141/9 from their 20 overs, thanks to a fighting half-century from Robin Uthappa.

Pakistan looked set to overhaul the target, until they panicked in the final stages, as Misbah-Ul-Haq failed to score one run off the last ball. The match ended in a tie, and the winner had to be decided via a bowl out.

India hit their targets through Virender Sehwag, Uthappa and Harbhajan Singh, while the Pakistan bowlers could not manage to hit the stumps even on a single occasion. India won in dramatic circumstances, and it proved to be the perfect advertisement for T20 cricket.

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#4 India vs Bangladesh, World T20 Super 10 stage, Bengaluru (2016)

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India pulled off a miraculous victory

India hosted the ICC World T20 for the first time in 2016, and went into the tournament as firm favourites. However, they were in for a rude shock, as they were comprehensively beaten by New Zealand in the first Super 10 game, on a minefield at Nagpur.

They were up against Bangladesh next, and their performance with the bat in the first innings wasn't very inspiring. They managed a below par 146/7 from their 20 overs and Bangladesh looked to be cruising towards the target.

With 11 needed off the final over, Mushfiqur Rahim managed to score nine runs off the first three deliveries, as Bangladesh stood on the cusp of a great upset. However, India pulled off a miraculous victory by one run, as the last three balls fetched three wickets. MS Dhoni running out Mustafizur Rahman off the last ball has to be one of the best moments in Indian cricket for a long time.

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#5 India vs Pakistan, World T20 Final, Johannesburg (2007)

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Dhoni celebrates India's stunning victory

Probably one of the best matches played by India in the past decade or so, the 2007 T20 World Cup triumph marked the beginning of an uprising in Indian cricket. It formed the foundation for the Indian Premier League, which has become the No. 1 global cricketing league, to be structured on.

Coming to the game in question, India were restricted to a par score of 157, a score they reached courtesy a brilliant 75 from Gautam Gambhir. Fortunes fluctuated alarmingly, as both sides wrested the initiatives time and again from each other.

When MS Dhoni handed the ball to Joginder Sharma for the final over, not many people were convinced. However, with six to get from four balls, Misbah-ul-Haq went for an ill-advised scoop over fine leg which settled in the hands of Sreesanth, as India laid their hands on the World T20 trophy, marking a spirited renaissance in the history of Indian cricket.

The image of a forlorn Misbah kneeling down on the pitch still hurts Pakistan fans.

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