In 2007, MS Dhoni guided a young team to win the World T20 title. By the time of the india vs sri lanka 2011 world cup Final, he had built a nearly world-class squad.
Virat Kohli, then a young player, joined experienced cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina, who had moved past their initial struggles and were ready to shine on the big stage. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Zaheer Khan provided the stability needed for the new players to express themselves.
With Dhoni leading the Chennai Super Kings to two finals in the IPL’s first three seasons, winning one, his reputation as a great captain grew among players and fans. India entered the 2011 ODI World Cup as a strong and focused team, showing dominance with convincing wins against Australia and New Zealand before the tournament.
India vs Sri Lanka 2011 World Cup Final
Sri Lanka, India’s toughest competitor in the subcontinent, was led by Kumar Sangakkara. They had recently defeated India in a triangular series on their home turf and boasted a well-balanced team that could challenge anyone in familiar conditions.
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India’s Journey to the Final
INDIA’S ROAD TO THE FINAL – 2011 WORLD CUP
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | RESULT | MARGIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19 | Mirpur | Bangladesh | Won | By 87 runs |
| Feb 27 | Bengaluru | England | Draw | Match tied |
| Mar 6 | Bengaluru | Ireland | Won | By 5 wickets |
| Mar 9 | Delhi | Netherlands | Won | By 5 wickets |
| Mar 12 | Nagpur | South Africa | Won | By 3 wickets |
| Mar 20 | Chennai | West Indies | Won | By 80 runs |
| Mar 24 | Ahmedabad | Australia | Won | By 5 wickets |
| Mar 30 | Mohali | Pakistan | Won | By 29 runs |
| Apr 2 | Mumbai | Sri Lanka | Won | By 6 wickets |
India and Sri Lanka were closely matched throughout the World Cup. Before the final, both teams lost just one match, with India narrowly defeating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Sri Lanka’s only loss came against Pakistan in the group stage, while India was surprisingly beaten by South Africa. However, both teams quickly bounced back; India won against Pakistan and Australia to reach the final, while Sri Lanka overcame England and New Zealand.
Final Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka
2011 WORLD CUP FINAL MATCH SUMMARY
| TEAM | INNINGS | RUNS | WICKETS | OVERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 274 | 6 | 50 | |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 103 (88) | Yuvraj Singh 2-49 | ||
| Kumar Sangakkara (C) | 48 (67) | Zaheer Khan 2-60 | ||
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 33 (49) | Harbhajan Singh 1-50 | ||
| India | 277 | 4 | 50 | |
| Gautam Gambhir | 97 (122) | Lasith Malinga 2-42 | ||
| MS Dhoni (C) | 91 (79) | Tillakaratne Dilshan 1-27 | ||
| Virat Kohli | 35 (49) | Thisara Perera 1-55 | ||
| Result: | India won by 6 wickets (with 10 balls remaining) |
The Indian team included five players who had participated in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, aiming to complete their journey since that day in Johannesburg. Zaheer Khan was instrumental at the start of the final, taking a wicket and allowing only three maiden overs, putting Sri Lanka at 17/1.
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Strategies and Key Moments
Dhoni strategically used four spinners – Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and even Virat Kohli – to manage the game, claiming three wickets and keeping Sri Lanka’s scoring under control despite strong performances from Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Sri Lanka’s slower run rate was a concern, with Jayawardene being the only player among the top order to score at a strike rate above 100.
With a target of 275 runs set by Sri Lanka, India faced challenges from the start. Virender Sehwag, who often scored quickly, was out on the second ball, and soon after, Sachin Tendulkar followed, leaving India at 31/2. Memories of past losses haunted fans, some of whom even began to leave the stadium.
However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli formed a crucial partnership, scoring 83 runs together. Once Kohli was out, Gambhir and Dhoni put together another solid 109-run partnership, putting India in a strong position. Dhoni, who had not performed well earlier in the tournament, moved himself up to bat at number 5, a decision that proved successful.
Climactic Finish
Despite the oppressive Mumbai heat, where both batsmen needed treatment, Gambhir eventually fell after 187 minutes of play, leaving India at 223/4. With 54 runs needed off 52 balls and six wickets remaining, Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh took charge.
In a memorable finish, Dhoni hit Lasith Malinga for two boundaries and then sent Kulasekara’s delivery over the boundary for the famous six that sealed India’s victory. India became World Champions after 23 years, and Dhoni celebrated his second ICC trophy as captain.
Many viewed India’s victory as destined. In previous finals, the last five century-makers had lifted the trophy, and Sri Lanka had batted first that day. The highlight of the match was Sachin Tendulkar joyfully holding the cup. He had made his ODI World Cup debut in 1992 and had experienced several near-misses before finally achieving his dream. It was a fitting ending to his long journey in cricket.
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