Xtra Time Web Desk: It has been 13 years since Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s iconic six to hand Team India their second ODI World Cup title in 2011. India beat Sri Lanka in the final of the World Cup to lift the prestigious trophy in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday 2nd April 2011. The final between India and Sri Lanka saw heroic performances with both bat and ball, with the likes of Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan writing their names in Indian cricket folklore. From Gambhir’s gritty 97 in a mud-stained shirt to Dhoni’s cool finish, the final at the Wankhede fondly lives in the memory of millions of Indian cricketing fans.
In the lead-up to the final, both teams demonstrated impressive performances during the tournament. Sri Lanka secured a second-place finish in Group A, winning four out of six matches and suffering a single defeat against Pakistan. Meanwhile, India emerged second in Group B, following victories in four of their six encounters, losses against South Africa, and a thrilling tied match against England. Despite finishing level on points with South Africa, India claimed the runner-up position due to their superior net run rate.
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Following the group-stage, India prevailed in two high-pressure knockout matches. First, they restricted the defending champions, Australia, to 260 runs and successfully chased the target, ensuring a 29-run victory. Then they confronted archrivals Pakistan in the semi-finals, with both Prime Ministers present at the match. After posting a competitive total of 260 runs, India defended it successfully, emerging victorious by 29 runs.
The Mega Final…..
The 2011 final marked the first time ever that two Asian teams had faced each other in an ODI World Cup final. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 274 for 6 on the scoreboard on the back of a brilliant century from Mahela Jayawardene. He was ably backed up by the stylish Kumar Sangakkara, who hit 48 runs off 67 balls before Nuwan Kulusekara provided the Lankans with a final floruish, smahsing a 30-ball 32. Yuvraj and Zaheer claimed two wickets each with the left-arm pacer providing India with a dream start in the powerplay.
In the second innings, India were dealt an early blow with the dismissal of Virender Sehwag off the very second delivery. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar became the next to fall as India were left reeling at 31 for 2. Virat Kohli and Gambhir stitched a crucial 83-run stand to settle India’s innings before Dhoni joined Gambhir in the middle and the took India’s score past the 200-run mark. Their partnership saw both batters hitting fifties before Gambhir’s dismissal for 97.
Yuvraj Singh, who had been India’s top-performer throughout the tournament, saw off the chase with Dhoni hitting the winning six, while remaining unbeaten on 91.
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The wait is goes on….
It’s been 13 years since India’s glorious victory in Mumbai and the powerhouse of cricket has not been able to get their hands on another World Cup title since then. India has come close on several occasions, topping the group-table in all the ODI World Cups that have followed.
In 2015, India topped Group B only to be knocked out by eventual-champions Australia in the semi-finals. In 2019, India topped the league stage once again, before losing to New Zealand in the semi-final, which lasted for two days due to rain interruptions.
However, India’s biggest heartbreak came in 2023, when they won all their nine league stage matches and the semi-final in dominant performances all across the board, only to fall in the final hurdle, losing against Australia in Ahmedabad.
With the disappointment on the 2023 ODI World Cup behind them, the Indian team will be looking to clinch just their second T20 World Cup title when the tournament kicks-off in the West Indies and USA in June this year.
This memorable triumph brought the coveted trophy back to India, marking their second ODI World Cup title, with Dhoni receiving the Player of the Match award for his crucial contributions with the bat.