India won the World Cup on this day in 2011; the wait for the next title goes on
It has been 13 years since MS Dhoni’s iconic six handed 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, April 2, 2011. The final between India and Sri Lanka saw heroic performances with both bat and ball, with the likes of Dhoni, GautamGambhir, 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 tie against England. Despite finishing level on points with South Africa, India claimed the runner-up position due to their superior net run rate.
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 arch-rival 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.
This memorable victory 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.