Fourteen years ago, India pulled off an incredible win on home turf, marking the journey to their second ODI World Cup title. That 2011 World Cup is still fresh in the memories of Indian cricket fans, and it’s hard to forget the spirit of that tournament. Led by MS Dhoni, the team took on some tough competition and finally broke a 28-year dry spell for the biggest prize in limited-overs cricket.
Performance in the group stage.
Let’s throw it back to key moments: Virat Kohli’s first-ever World Cup century happened in the opening match against Bangladesh, where he helped India set up an impressive score of 370 runs. On the other side, Munaf Patel was a game-changer, taking four wickets and leading India to a convincing win by 87 runs.
The group stages saw India continue to shine, registering an 80-run victory against the West Indies in Chennai. Yuvraj Singh was the star that day, with a brilliant century that was crucial for India. He not only scored 113 runs but also took two wickets, helping to restrict the West Indies to 188 runs.
Mighty Australians thumped in quarter finals
Then came the quarter-final, where India faced Australia. This was no easy task, but India held strong, limiting Australia to 260 runs with excellent bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, and Yuvraj Singh, who all combined for six wickets. In the chase, Yuvraj stepped up again, scoring a crucial fifty and helping India finish the match with some time to spare.
Read Also:- Longest Six in Cricket History
Beating arch rivals Pakistan in Semi Finals
The semi-final against Pakistan was one of the most anticipated matches, and India delivered a thrilling performance, winning by 29 runs in Mohali. Sachin Tendulkar took on the spotlight with an impressive 85 runs. The bowling team also came together, with each player grabbing two wickets to stop Pakistan at 231 runs.
Read Also:- Champions Trophy Winners List all time 1998–2025
Final knockout punch with Dhoni’s iconic six.
Then came the grand finale at Wankhede Stadium on April 2, where India faced a strong Sri Lanka team. The match was tense, especially as Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka dazzled with his century, propelling them to 274 runs. As India began to chase, nerves were high, but Gautam Gambhir steadied the ship with a solid 97 runs. Then, MS Dhoni entered and fired up the crowd with a fantastic 85 runs, sealing the victory in dramatic fashion by launching a huge six. That moment is forever etched in the history of Indian cricket and left fans celebrating long into the night.
Let’s take a moment to cherish this anniversary and remember all the excitement and emotions that came with the journey of that World Cup. It wasn’t just a win; it was a unifying moment for the entire nation.
