April 2 is not just any other date in the calendar for Indian cricket fans. It can be deemed as the date that changed Indian cricket and brought immense happiness to players and fans all across the world.
13 years have passed by since Team India‘s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished things off in style with a six in front of a packed Wankhede crowd back in 2011. The iconic moment has been etched in every Indian’s mind and heart who saw their nation being crowned as the champions of the world in the 50-over format.
The Man and the dream moment! 🥹✨
Reliving the greatest piece of Indian Cricket history! ⏪🥳#AndhaNaalGnyabagam #WhistlePodu 🦁💛— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 2, 2024
The showdown between India and Sri Lanka witnessed remarkable performances with both bat and ball. The likes of Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, and Zaheer Khan entered into Indian cricket history books. From Gambhir’s resilient 97 runs scored in a mud-stained shirt to Dhoni’s composed finish, the unforgettable final at the Wankhede Stadium remains cherished in the hearts of millions of Indian cricket enthusiasts.
2011 WC Final
Interesting World Cup Fact
The 2011 final encounter marked the historic occasion of the first-ever ODI World Cup final featuring two Asian teams.
Batting first, Sri Lanka set a challenging target of 274 for 6, propelled by an outstanding century from Mahela Jayawardene. Supported by Kumar Sangakkara’s stylish innings of 48 runs off 67 balls. Nuwan Kulasekara’s late contribution of a brisk 32 runs off 30 balls also helped Sri Lanka finish strongly. India’s Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan both claimed two wickets each, with Zaheer striking early for India in the powerplay.
Yuvraj-Dhoni Took India To Victory
Yuvraj Singh, India’s standout performer throughout the tournament, guided the team to victory alongside Dhoni. The skipper sealed the chase with a winning six, remaining unbeaten on 91 runs.
This historic triumph secured India’s second ODI World Cup title, bringing the prestigious trophy back to the country. Dhoni was honored with the Player of the Match award for his pivotal batting contributions.
Since then India has only managed to get their hands on an ICC trophy once, back in 2013 when the Men in Blue lifted the Champions Trophy.
Also Read: IPL 2024: KKR vs RR, GT vs DC Dates Changed; Check Out New Schedule
