Eleven years ago on this day, Gautam Gambhir and captain MS Dhoni steered India to World Cup win in 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Eleven years ago, on this day, a nation of over a billion people rejoiced and danced to glory after India, led by captain MS Dhoni, won the coveted World Cup 2011 in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. This win marked the Indian cricket team's first World Cup title after 1983.
The 2011 World Cup final was between India and Sri Lanka, where both teams faced each other for the first time at this stage of the showpiece event. India won by six wickets and became the third team to have won the World Cup more than once.
Etched in our memories FOREVER! ☺️ ☺️
🗓️ in 2011, won the ODI World Cup for the second time. 🏆 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HcsrWzJGJ1
"Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd! India lift the World Cup after 28 years! The party starts in the dressing room," these words will forever remain etched in the memory of every Indian cricket fan as Ravi Shastri, who was part of the '83 WC squad, poetically described the winning moment.
"Dhoni finishes it off in style - a magnificent strike into the crowd! India lift the World Cup after 28 years, the party starts in the dressing room"
Lines no Indian fan can forget 🙌 in 2011 👉 https://t.co/T5S0VybogIpic.twitter.com/8EcC4904aj
Batting first, Mahela Jayawardene turned out to be the star performer for the Sri Lankans, scoring 103 in 88 balls to help the team post a competitive 274 for six and hand India the highest total to chase in a World Cup final.
Chasing 275 for the win, India lost the wickets of openers Sachin Tendulkar (18 off 14) and Virender Sehwag (0 off 2) early on. However, a young Virat Kohli walked in to steady the Indian innings and scored a gritty 35 in the final. Left-handed batter Gautam Gambhir brought the momentum back while playing a crucial knock of 97 runs.
Promoting himself at No. 5, captain MS Dhoni came into the final on the back of poor form and saw India start off poorly in their chase. The wicketkeeper-batter played a sensational inning to score 91 from 79 balls. Dhoni emerged as the Man of the Match and ended the World Cup with a six.
Memories of this game continue to bring a smile to the faces of the players who were part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad, legends of the sport, cricket pundits and fans. Here's a look at what some of them had to say on the 11th anniversary of this iconic moment:
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙! 🏆 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/ug8oCK8bvn
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 - a day when billions jumped in joy! The day when India 🇮🇳 lifted the 🏆 A night that I have lived over and over again! pic.twitter.com/Q1toL4J3sF
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)It wasn’t just a world cup victory, it was the dream of a billion Indians being fulfilled ❤️ Proud to be a part of this team that wanted to win the cup for the country & for 🏆 Nothing can match the pride of wearing the tricolour & bringing glory to the nation 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/bsrKIWdKnM
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12)What a day,winning the World Cup with the God of cricket and with the legends of Indian cricket history (such a great family and dear ones was priceless)can’t forget a single moment .. pic.twitter.com/nWjXK6QLcH
— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36)It's been 11 years, but we all still remember these moments like it were yesterday, don't we? 🥺💙, the Class of 2011 did a 1983 as lifted the World Cup after 28 years 🇮🇳🏆 pic.twitter.com/bf5cM8k623
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals)1⃣1⃣ years of 2011!, the beat Sri Lanka to win the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup after 28 years! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fW6Ad5P5W9
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)April 2nd 2011, that World Cup winning six from Dhoni is etched in every Indian cricket fan’s memory. On its 11th year anniversary, watch Virat, Siraj and other members of the RCB camp tell us what the day meant to them, on presents Bold Diaries. pic.twitter.com/PURyObVwon
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets)2️⃣/4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣
A night that saw the Titans of India win the world 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Gtv2bEfjAM
Ninaithale Inikkum! The moments freezed in the 📸 & 💛 forever! 🥳 🦁 pic.twitter.com/s3TKHangGG
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)Andha Satham💥! 11 years since ‘11! - "The 𝐌agnificient 𝐒trike into the crowd!" 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/Zpzm5qN27c
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)Hum toh Marine Drive pe the! 🕺💙
Paltan, where were you when 🇮🇳 lifted the World Cup? 🤩 MI TV pic.twitter.com/CDy0lOfE3r
2nd April 2011, a day that no Indian will ever forget… & the Boys In Blue lifted the WORLD CUP! A decade later too the memories afresh in our minds! pic.twitter.com/I84pHleqqP
— 🦏 Payal M/પાયલ મેહતા/ पायल मेहता/ পাযেল মেহতা (@payalmehta100)Man for the finals - Gautam Gambhir!!!!!
75(54) in the 2007 T20 World Cup Final and 97(122) in the 2011 ODI World Cup Final - champion player showed his gritty, tough and fighting attitude in both the matches. pic.twitter.com/XPy2vq2vlM
Biggest heroes of India's 2011 World Cup
Yuvraj: 362 runs & 15 wkts , 77 runs in Knockouts & 6 wkts
Sachin : 482 runs , 156 runs in Knockouts
Gambhir : 393 runs , 174 runs in Knockouts
Zaheer : 21 wkts , 6 wkts in KOs
Sehwag,Dhoni,Bhajji ,Raina,Kohli,Munaf,also chipped in pic.twitter.com/ijVSuRFeVp
Virat Kohli said, "35 in the 2011 World Cup final was the most valuable 35 I've scored in my cricketing career. I was happy to bring the team back on track and contribute in whatever way I could. Crowd atmosphere was surreal, it's very fresh in our memories".
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)2011 World cup. No hatred,no jealousy,only love among the fans for the team and management. Golden days of Indian Cricket. Period.🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/w244K5rCQF
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10)I was 12 years and saw each and every games of World Cup 2011.
Will always remain special for me. 🥳
P.S: Ignore my handwriting but pic.twitter.com/PcnkvovGZI
in 2011 dream of 120 crores Indian fulfilled after 28 years.
Mumbai became the centre of attraction. Everyone wanted to win it for SachinTendulkar.
I was dancing , running and crying with my family and friends.
Thanks | | pic.twitter.com/0kztlBLvto
Everytime when I watch the Visuals of 2011 World Cup Final i get Goosebumps! A moment that is forever etched in our memories for a Lifetime
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath)