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When Captain MS Dhoni Finished In Style To End India's 28-Year Wait For A World Cup

Soumyajit Dutta

India lifts the World Cup [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]India lifts the World Cup [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

April 2, 2011, A date etched in the hearts of a billion Indians. On this day, under the floodlights of Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, MS Dhoni’s iconic six off Nuwan Kulasekara sealed India’s historic World Cup triumph, ending a 28-year drought and fulfilling Sachin Tendulkar’s lifelong dream. 

Chasing 275 in the final against Sri Lanka, the host nation scripted a fairytale finish, uniting a cricket-crazed country in euphoria.

The Pressure, Hopes And Nation's Dream Of Lifting The World Cup

India entered the final carrying the weight of expectations. Sachin Tendulkar, playing his sixth and final World Cup, had never won the trophy. Sri Lanka, led by Kumar Sangakkara, posed a formidable challenge, having posted 274/6 thanks to Mahela Jayawardene’s masterful 103* (88). 

The Indian bowlers, spearheaded by Zaheer Khan (2/60) and Yuvraj Singh (2/49), fought back after a shaky start, but Jayawardene’s elegant knock, studded with 13 boundaries, set a daunting target.

The Chase: From Early Jitters to Dhoni’s Masterclass

India’s innings began disastrously. Lasith Malinga trapped Virender Sehwag lbw on the second ball for a duck, and Sachin (18 off 14) fell shortly after, edging Malinga to Sangakkara. At 31/2, the stadium fell silent—until Gautam Gambhir (97 off 122) and Virat Kohli (35 off 49) steadied the ship with an 83-run partnership. 

But the turning point came when Dhoni, defying convention, promoted himself above Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni joined Gambhir at 114/3, and the pair carved a match-defining 109-run stand. Gambhir’s gritty 97, laced with 9 fours, anchored the innings, while Dhoni’s calculated aggression kept the scoreboard ticking. 

Just 11 shy of a century, Gambhir fell to Thisara Perera, but Dhoni, now partnered with Yuvraj (21*), ensured there was no collapse.

The Final Over When The Nation Held Its Breath

With 15 needed off 17 balls, Dhoni launched Kulasekara into the stands over long-on, triggering bedlam. His unbeaten 91* (79 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) wasn’t just a captain’s knock, it was a statement. 

As the ball sailed into the night sky, Dhoni’s ice-cool demeanour melted into a rare smile, and Tendulkar, tears in his eyes, was hoisted onto his teammates’ shoulders for a victory lap.

Fireworks lit up Mumbai’s skyline as fans spilt onto streets nationwide, waving flags and chanting “Indiaaa, Indiaaa”! For MS Dhoni, it cemented his legacy as a captain who thrived in crises; for India, it was the culmination of a golden generation’s promise.

Notably, the 2011 World Cup wasn’t just a victory, it was an emotion. It marked the rise of a new India, fearless and unyielding, led by a captain who dared to dream. On this day, 14 years back, cricket wasn’t just a game; it was religion, and Wankhede its temple.