Twelve years of 'Dhoni finishes off in style...'
MS Dhoni's iconic six sent the entire nation into a frenzy
On this day in 2011, history was made at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as India lifted the coveted World Cup trophy for the second time in their history. In a breathtaking final against Sri Lanka, the Indian team produced a performance that will be remembered for generations to come. And at the heart of it all was the captain, the phenomenal MS Dhoni.
As Ravi Shastri's voice echoed through the stadium, "Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the World Cup after 28 years!" - the entire country erupted in joy and euphoria. For a moment, time stood still as the fans and the players alike savoured the sweetness of victory.
But this victory was not just about the final moment. It was about the journey that led up to it. The Indian team had worked hard, played with passion, and fought with determination throughout the tournament. Every player had given their all to reach the summit of the cricketing world.
As the Indian team took to the field that day, they were carrying the hopes and dreams of a billion people on their shoulders. They knew that this was not just a game of cricket, but a battle for national pride. And they rose to the occasion.
How the match panned out?
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka started cautiously against the Indian bowlers. Zaheer Khan and co. bowled with discipline and control, not allowing the Sri Lankan batsmen to score freely. But then, Mahela Jayawardene played a masterful innings and helped the Lankans set a competitive target of 274 runs for India to chase.
It was a challenging target as such a big target was never chased in a World Cup final, but the Indian team was up for the task. However, their start was far from ideal as they lost both openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in quick succession. When Tendulkar got out, there was a palpable sense of anxiety in the stadium. But this was Dhoni's team, and they were not one to back down from a challenge.
Virat Kohli joined forces with Gautam Gambhir and started resurrecting the Indian innings. The duo stitched a 83-run partnership and steadied the ship for India before Kohli was dismissed for 35 off 49 balls, a knock which appears pretty significant in hindsight.
With India at 114/3, Dhoni promoted himself up the order, ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh, and joined Gambhir at the crease. The duo began to build a partnership that would take India closer to victory. Gambhir played a vital role in the innings, scoring 97 runs, but it was the Indian captain who took charge.
As the run chase entered its final stages, Dhoni played a captain's knock for the ages. He was calm, composed, and played each ball on its merit. He hit boundaries when needed and rotated the strike with ease. And then, in the 49th over, he unleashed a massive six that sailed into the stands, sealing the victory for India.
The stadium erupted, the Indian team went wild, and a nation celebrated. It was a moment of pure ecstasy, a moment that will be etched in the memory of every cricket fan in India forever.
But this victory was not just about the cricket. It was about what it meant to a nation. It was about the pride that comes with achieving something that was once thought impossible. It was about the joy that comes with watching your heroes succeed on the biggest stage of all.
As we celebrate the 12th anniversary of this historic victory, we remember the grit, determination, and spirit of the Indian team. We remember the fearless leadership of Dhoni, the masterful innings of Gambhir, and the contributions of every player who wore the blue jersey with pride.
 "Jatin")
