The 2011 Cricket World Cup: India's Emotional Home Victory Under MS Dhoni
India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup on home soil at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with MS Dhoni's match-winning six in the final against Sri Lanka ending a 28-year wait for the title.
India's victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 2 April 2011 is one of cricket's most celebrated moments. It ended India's 28-year wait to win the tournament again — since Kapil Dev's team shocked the cricketing world in 1983 — and was achieved on home soil, before a capacity crowd in cricket's most commercially important market. MS Dhoni, who had controversially promoted himself above in-form Yuvraj Singh to number five, hit the winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara to end the match, giving India a six-wicket victory with 10 balls remaining. The moment became one of sport's most iconic images.
The Final
Sri Lanka batted first and scored 274/6, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring a magnificent 103* and Kumar Sangakkara adding 48. India's chase started disastrously — they lost Sachin Tendulkar (18), Virender Sehwag (0) and Virat Kohli (35) with 114 on the board. MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir (97) rebuilt with a 109-run fourth-wicket partnership, and when Gambhir fell, Dhoni (91* from 79 balls) and Yuvraj Singh (21*) finished the match. Dhoni's six off Kulasekara went high over long-on and was the decisive blow. The image of Sachin Tendulkar being carried on his teammates' shoulders around the ground became one of cricket's defining photographs.
Sachin Tendulkar's Final World Cup
The 2011 World Cup was Sachin Tendulkar's sixth and final World Cup — he had never won the tournament in previous attempts spanning from 1992 to 2007. He scored 482 runs at an average of 53.55 in the tournament and finished as its leading run-scorer. The win allowed Tendulkar to achieve the one major team honour that had eluded him in a career of extraordinary individual achievements. He retired from ODI cricket in 2012 and from Test cricket in 2013, having finally won the World Cup in his homeland.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2011 Cricket World Cup?
India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. MS Dhoni scored 91* and hit the winning six. It was India's second World Cup title, 28 years after 1983.
What was MS Dhoni's contribution in the 2011 World Cup final?
MS Dhoni scored 91* from 79 balls in the 2011 final, coming in to bat at number five after India lost early wickets. He added 109 with Gautam Gambhir and finished the match with a six over long-on off Nuwan Kulasekara.
Where was the 2011 World Cup held?
The 2011 Cricket World Cup was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The final was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Matches were also played in Pakistan (which withdrew from co-hosting due to security concerns and handed its matches to the other three hosts).