Didn’t sleep for three days straight after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup: Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa, the veteran Indian cricketer, turned back the clock to the time when India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. The final against Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg turned out to be a humdinger as the Men in Blue won by five runs. With Pakistan needing six runs, Misbah-ul-Haq holed out to Sreesanth at short fine-leg, giving India the victory.

Going down the memory lane, Uthappa said that ecstasy had got to him, so much so that he couldn’t sleep for three nights in a row. The now 34-year-old was amazed by the reception Team India got after the players returned home.

That day the entire Bombay came to a standstill, says Robin Uthappa

“After winning the World Cup, I did not sleep for three days straight. It didn’t really hit us initially; we were just ecstatic that we beat Pakistan in the finals,”  Uthappa was quoted as saying on Rajasthan Royals’ podcast by Ish Sodhi.

“The enormity of it hit us when we landed in India. The reception we received was massive, I mean Bombay doesn’t stop for anyone, that day the entire city came to a standstill and moved only in the direction our bus was moving. Bizarrely we went through all of the Indian weather in that one day,” the Karnataka-born stated.

“Simply because it makes you feel proud that you made a difference and added value to your team at that point in time to win a world championship. You have played your part and everybody has to play their part to win a World Cup,” Uthappa added.

Uthappa was a youngster back then and was aiming to cement his spot in the national team. In the mega event, he had a bit of a struggle as he managed only 113 runs at an average of 18.83. He started with a fifty against Pakistan at the Kingsmead in Durban during the Group stage.

In that very game, he also hit the stumps in a bowl-out, which India won 3-0. However, from there, he had his travails. Even in the final, he got only eight runs before falling prey to fast bowler Sohail Tanvir.