Mahendra Singh Dhoni
There could have been no better finish to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament but with a blasting sixer from one of the most successful captain of India! The Indian team has beaten all odds to get there and created nothing but history in Mumbai. Breaking all the records and standing up to a cricket frenzied nation’s expectations, they have literally bled blue to win ‘the cup that matters’.
The various top-of-table statistics of Sri Lankan players did not even matter a bit to the Indians. The daunting task of 275 initially looked intimidating and with the loss of two openers but the team rode to success with the help of Gambhir’s steady 97 and Dhoni’s unbeaten 91! The Indian players, most of whom were in tears as they rushed into the field as Dhoni finished the innings with a superb six.
The world cup title win, came back not only after 28 long years but 8 years after Sourav Ganguly’s boys tried to get the cup home. This win is more special for Sachin Tendulkar since this was the only tournament we had not nailed since a long time and it was this one prize which was missing from missing in his trophy collection. Nineteen years ago he played his first ever World Cup match against England and since then there has been no looking back. He has now played in six World Cups, and in a career which ranges more than 24 years he has become the man to score the maximum runs ever. It was also a good farewell to coach Gary Kirsten, for whom it was the last day as the Indian coach with BCCI.
After winning the toss, Jayawardene elected to bat as previously predicted and emphasized. Sadly but, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to a meager 31-1 by the disciplined bowlers at the end of mandatory power play. The second batting power play at 45th over proved to be very costly for the bowlers who gave 63 for just 30 balls. Thus Sri Lanka had its foot set and a wide grin with a noticeable target on board. Thus there was a brilliant 103 from Jayewardene’s in just 88 balls, Sangakkara with 48 and Tilakaratne Dilshan with 33. Perera also performed notably as he put up a score of 22 runs for just 10 balls.
The Indian innings began on a disastrous note as Virender Sehwag was dismissed in the second ball of the innings by Lasith Malinga. Sachin Tendulkar was next batsman to be dismissed at a meager 18 runs from 21 balls by Malinga. The Indians fans suffered a huge jolt and a hushed silence amongst the crowd as he walked back. Gautam Gambhir very carefully and patiently finished his 4000 ODI runs and Virat Kohli also played sensibly. This duo went on to put up a partnership of 83 runs before Dilshan struck with Kohli’s wicket. Captain Dhoni came ahead of Yuvraj and first Sangakkara missed a stumping chance and then Dilshan’s dropped a catch. After being given 2 chances, he maintained his composure and head and stayed till the end playing a captain’s innings indeed. Gambhir and Dhoni added 109 odd runs to the total in a very brisk pace. But Gambhir fell 3 runs short of his well deserved century when he was neatly bowled at the middle stump by Perera. As a dejected Gambhir walked back the pavilion, the crowds cheered wildly for the arrival of Yuvraj Singh. As the cheers and prayers kept increasing, the more efforts Dhoni and Yuvraj put into batting properly. Finally with 11 balls for remaining 4 runs, the captain finished it with awesome attitude by hitting a boisterous straight drive sixer! And then, History was created; India became the only team to win a World Cup in its home grounds and the third country to win a CWC final match by chasing. A moment to remember for an era! At the end it seemed nothing less than a well written script by Fate and Destiny and in the end Poetic Justice prevailed!
Tags: BCCI, Gary Kirsten, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, MS Dhoni, Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar, Sri Lanka, World Cup
