It’s the 2nd of April 2011 and a nation of over 1 billion people is getting set for what could become the greatest moment in sporting history for India. It’s the final of the 2011 ICC World Cup being hosted in India itself and the stage is set at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with spectators pouring in hours before the match can actually begin. This day, is not one that anyone will forget anytime soon…
Sri Lanka wins the toss and bats first and Zaheer Khan has the new ball for India. We are taken back to the 2003 ICC World Cup final against Australia where Zak bowled the first over too, but he was torn apart that day. He began with a no ball and went for 15 runs in the first over. But here, things look different. And Zak begins with 3 consecutive maidens!
Things look good for India all along but Sri Lanka has always given India a tough time in bilateral series as well as global tournaments. Here, they put up 274/6 in their 50 overs thanks mainly to an unbeaten century from the veteran Mahela Jayawardene. Such a score can be a pretty daunting one especially if there’s the added pressure of it being a World Cup final, but India is confident…
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However, that confidence is soon levelled with Lasith Malinga striking soon and striking twice, sending both Indian openers Sachin and Sehwag back to the hut within the first 7 overs itself. It’s now the rebuilding phase and while a young, chubby and clearly less fit Virat Kohli gets dismissed after scoring 35, it’s Gautam Gambhir who is anchoring the chase, playing one of the most important innings of his life so far.
Eventually, Gambhir leaves for 97 after being bowled by Thisara Perera but by then, he’s managed to get India within 60 runs of completing the chase. It’s then up to the Indian captain MS Dhoni and the eventual Player of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh to complete formalities, which they do. No one will forget the iconic six that MSD his followed by a roll of the bat handle, as the entire country erupts into joy and celebrations…
Some may say it was super unfortunate that that playing eleven that won India the 2011 World Cup never ever played another game together. However, they were all from different backgrounds, some retiring and some who didn’t get selected to play for India again. While Dhoni’s iconic six remains the best memory from that game, Gautam Gambhir went on record today to say that Dhoni wasn’t the only contributor (which we already knew)!
Whatever said and done, 10 years on, this is still our most favourite Indian cricketing memory, as the ‘Superman from India’ completed the victory, lifting a World Cup after 28 years. For more updates on Indian cricket, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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