2011 Cricket World Cup Final Explained: Dhoni's Six and India's 28-Year Wait
The 2011 ODI World Cup Final (April 2, Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium) — Sri Lanka's 274/6, India's chase, Tendulkar's crowd carry, Gambhir's 97, Dhoni's six off Nuwan Kulasekara to win, and why the match was the most-watched cricket event in history (estimated 67 million Indian TV viewers for the final over).
The 2011 ODI World Cup Final (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, April 2, 2011): India vs Sri Lanka is the most emotionally significant cricket match in Indian cricket history — not because India had not won a World Cup before (they won 1983 under Kapil Dev) but because the 28-year gap had built extraordinary expectation, and because the match was played in India, before an Indian home crowd, with Sachin Tendulkar (then 37, in his 6th and final World Cup campaign) on the field. India chased 275 with 10 wickets in hand to win by 6 wickets — the match is remembered for Dhoni's match-winning six, Gambhir's 97 (the innings that built the chase), and the crowd scenes at Wankhede that were broadcast globally.
Sri Lanka's 274/6: Dilshan, Jayawardene, and Sangakkara
Sri Lanka's innings: Mahela Jayawardene batted through Sri Lanka's innings to score 103* — a masterclass in pacing an ODI innings against a bowling attack that was not containing them well. Sri Lanka scored at a controlled rate — 274/6 from 50 overs (on a good Wankhede pitch, competitive but not dominant). Zaheer Khan (2/60) and Harbhajan Singh were India's best bowlers; Nehra, Pathan, and Yuvraj Singh were more expensive. The 274 target felt manageable — slightly above average on the Wankhede surface — but chasing in a World Cup Final against a Sri Lanka team with Lasith Malinga (who had already taken 18 wickets in the tournament) and Muttiah Muralitharan (his final tournament) was still high pressure. Sri Lanka's two highest batsmen — Jayawardene and Sangakkara — had combined for over 1,000 runs in the tournament.
India's Chase: Gambhir's 97 and Dhoni's Promotion
India's chase started poorly: Malinga dismissed Sehwag (0) in the 1st over and Tendulkar (18) in the 3rd over. India were 31/2 in 5 overs — Tendulkar was out, the crowd stunned. Critical decision: MS Dhoni promoted himself to bat at number 3 (ahead of in-form batsmen Yuvraj Singh) — a decision that surprised everyone at the time. Dhoni's reasoning (explained post-match): Malinga's left-arm swing was dangerous for left-handers (Yuvraj is left-handed); Dhoni — right-handed — would be better placed against Malinga at that stage. The decision proved correct: Gambhir (97 from 122 balls) and Dhoni (91* from 79 balls) added 109 for the 3rd wicket, steadying the innings before accelerating through the death overs. Dhoni's six: in the 49th over, with India needing 4 from 7 balls, Dhoni hit Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on for six — India won with 10 balls to spare. Dhoni finished 91* from 79 balls; Gambhir was dismissed for 97 (heartbreakingly 3 short of a World Cup Final century). India won by 6 wickets.
The Teams That Did Not Win: Yuvraj Singh's Tournament
Yuvraj Singh's 2011 World Cup performance: Yuvraj won Player of the Tournament — his was one of the most remarkable tournament performances in World Cup history. He scored 362 runs at an average of 90.5 AND took 15 wickets at 25.13 with his left-arm spin. The combination (top 5 runs AND top 5 wickets in a World Cup) had not been achieved since Imran Khan in 1992. Unknown at the time: Yuvraj was playing the tournament while suffering from a cancerous tumour (diagnosed in November 2011, 7 months after the World Cup). He was experiencing breathing difficulties and was not at full physical capacity during the tournament. After the World Cup, he underwent chemotherapy in the USA (Boston) and returned to cricket in 2012 — one of sport's most documented illness-and-return stories. He announced retirement from all cricket in 2019.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2011 Cricket World Cup?
India won the 2011 ODI Cricket World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on April 2, 2011. India chased Sri Lanka's 274/6 with 10 balls to spare — Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni (91*, the match winner with a six off Kulasekara) guided the chase. It was India's second World Cup title (after 1983 under Kapil Dev) — ending a 28-year wait. The match was played in front of an estimated 33,000 at Wankhede and watched by approximately 67 million Indian TV viewers in the final over.
Why did MS Dhoni promote himself in the 2011 World Cup Final?
MS Dhoni promoted himself to bat at number 3 (ahead of Yuvraj Singh) in the 2011 World Cup Final after India lost Tendulkar and Sehwag cheaply. Dhoni's reasoning: Lasith Malinga's left-arm swing was particularly dangerous for left-handed batsmen (Yuvraj Singh is left-handed) at that stage of the innings. Dhoni, as a right-hander, had better angles against Malinga's swing. The decision proved correct — Dhoni scored 91* from 79 balls and won the match with a six. Many cricket analysts cite this as the greatest captain's intuitive tactical decision in World Cup history.
What illness did Yuvraj Singh have during the 2011 World Cup?
Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour (seminoma — a form of cancer affecting the left lung) in November 2011, approximately 7 months after the 2011 World Cup. During the World Cup (where he won Player of the Tournament with 362 runs and 15 wickets), he was experiencing breathing difficulties and physical discomfort that was not yet diagnosed. He underwent chemotherapy in the USA (Indianapolis, Boston) in late 2011-early 2012 and returned to international cricket in 2012. He announced retirement from all cricket in 2019.