2011 Cricket World Cup: India's Second World Cup Win at Home

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh (with one match in Pakistan), produced one of cricket's most emotionally resonant finals. India, led by MS Dhoni, defeated Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai by six wickets on 2 April 2011. Dhoni's match-winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara — struck with an authority that announced the game over from a positive starting position — remains one of cricket's most celebrated moments.

India as Hosts and Favourites

India entered the 2011 World Cup as co-hosts and, following their strong bilateral series results, as tournament favourites. The subcontinent pitches — particularly in Bangladesh and India — suited India's spin-and-batting combination, while their home conditions gave them crowd support that was effectively a twelfth player. The Indian team of 2011 was a blend of Sachin Tendulkar's veteran class, Dhoni's cool leadership, and younger players like Virat Kohli who were coming into their own.

Sachin's World Cup

For Sachin Tendulkar, the 2011 World Cup was his sixth and final World Cup campaign — an opportunity to win the only major title that had eluded him. India's entire country seemed to carry Tendulkar's desire on their shoulders. He scored 482 runs in the tournament, including 120 against Bangladesh and 111 against South Africa. His team-mates, particularly Dhoni, were vocal about wanting to win the cup for Sachin — a narrative that ran through the entire tournament.

The Semi-Final vs Pakistan at Mohali

India's semi-final against Pakistan at Mohali was the most watched cricket match in television history — an estimated 988 million viewers across the subcontinent. Both prime ministers attended. India scored 260/9, with Tendulkar top-scoring with 85. Pakistan, chasing through their most dangerous period, fell short for 231. India's bowling, led by Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, was disciplined and effective in conditions that aided swing.

The Final: India vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka scored 274/6 in the final — Mahela Jayawardene played a masterful 103* off 88 balls. India began their chase poorly: Virender Sehwag caught behind for 0, then Tendulkar caught behind for 18. At 31/2, India needed a rescue mission. Kohli (35) and Gambhir (97) began rebuilding. Then Dhoni, promoting himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh, walked in and batted with absolute authority. His 91* off 79 balls, finishing with the tournament-winning six, made the equation simple: India won with 10 balls to spare.

India needed 4 to win off 11 balls with 6 wickets in hand. Dhoni swung at Nuwan Kulasekara's full delivery and launched it over long-on for six. Final score: India 277/4 off 48.2 overs. Sri Lanka 274/6. India won by 6 wickets. Twenty-eight years after Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup in 1983, India were world champions again.

Yuvraj Singh — Player of the Tournament

Yuvraj Singh was named Player of the Tournament — a remarkable achievement given that he played the entire event while battling symptoms of lung cancer (undiagnosed at the time). Yuvraj scored 362 runs at 90.5 and took 15 wickets at 25.1 — an all-round performance of extraordinary quality. His energy and ferocity, despite the illness consuming him that he did not yet know about, made his 2011 campaign one of cricket's most remarkable individual stories.