INDIA WON WORLD CUP
India Won the World Cup 2011 – Full Story, Stats, Match-by-Match Journey & Player Highlights
🏆 Introduction – The Glory of 2011
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup stands as a golden chapter in Indian cricket history. On April 2, 2011, India lifted the World Cup after 28 years, under the cool and strategic leadership of MS Dhoni. For a nation where cricket is religion, this moment was more than a trophy—it was the fulfillment of a billion dreams, the crowning of Sachin Tendulkar’s career, and the emergence of new legends.
Hosted across India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, the 2011 edition saw high-octane matches, intense rivalries, and India’s rise from group stages to champions. Let’s relive every match, turning point, and iconic performance from India’s victorious campaign.
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🏆 Introduction – India’s 2011 World Cup Triumph
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was a historic event for Indian cricket. Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India ended a 28-year-long wait to bring the coveted trophy back home. With a perfect mix of experience and youth, India not only dominated the group stage but also overcame tough opponents like Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the knockout rounds. Each player had a unique and crucial role to play in this unforgettable journey.
1. MS Dhoni (Captain & Wicketkeeper-Batsman)
- Role: Captain, Wicketkeeper, Finisher
- Runs Scored: 241 in 9 matches
- Key Highlight: 91* in the Final against Sri Lanka
- Impact: Known for his calm demeanor and tactical brilliance, MS Dhoni’s decision to promote himself in the final turned out to be a masterstroke. His finishing six remains the most iconic moment in Indian cricket.
2. Sachin Tendulkar (Opening Batsman)
- Runs Scored: 482 runs in 9 matches
- Hundreds: 2 (vs England, vs South Africa)
- Key Highlight: Second-highest run-scorer in the tournament
- Impact: Carried the expectations of a billion people and fulfilled his lifelong dream. His teammates carried him on their shoulders after the final.
3. Virender Sehwag (Opening Batsman)
- Runs Scored: 380 runs
- Best Score: 175 vs Bangladesh in the opening match
- Impact: Gave India explosive starts. His aggressive batting put pressure on opponents right from the beginning.
4. Gautam Gambhir (Top-order Batsman)
- Runs Scored: 393
- Best Knock: 97 in the final
- Impact: Anchored the innings in the final, ensuring stability after early wickets. His gritty knock is often underrated.
5. Yuvraj Singh (All-Rounder)
- Runs: 362 | Wickets: 15
- Man of the Tournament
- Best Match: 5/31 and 50 vs Ireland
- Impact: Consistently delivered with both bat and ball. Revealed post-tournament he was battling cancer.
6. Virat Kohli (Middle-order Batsman)
- Runs: 282
- Century: 100* vs Bangladesh
- Impact: Youngest member of the squad, made a strong impression with maturity beyond his years.
7. Suresh Raina (Middle-order Batsman)
- Best Performances: Knockout matches
- Impact: Played key finishing roles in Quarterfinal (vs Australia) and Semifinal (vs Pakistan)
8. Zaheer Khan (Fast Bowler)
- Wickets: 21 (joint-highest in the tournament)
- Best Bowling: 3/20 vs England
- Impact: India’s strike bowler. Delivered consistent performances with the new ball and at the death.
9. Munaf Patel (Fast Bowler)
- Wickets: 11
- Impact: Complemented Zaheer well, kept things tight in middle overs.
10. Harbhajan Singh (Spinner)
- Wickets: 9
- Key Moment: Crucial wickets in semifinal vs Pakistan
- Impact: Senior spinner, provided breakthroughs at key times.
11. Ashish Nehra (Fast Bowler)
- Wickets: 8
- Impact: Played vital role in semifinal win. Injured for final.
- SEO Keywords: Ashish Nehra 2011 World Cup, Nehra vs Pakistan, Nehra injury 2011 final
Mentions
- Sreesanth: Played in the final in place of injured Nehra.
- Yusuf Pathan: Big-hitting option, played early matches.
- Piyush Chawla: Wrist spinner used in rotation.
📊 Final Words
Each player in India’s 2011 World Cup squad contributed to this historic triumph. With legends like Sachin, rising stars like Kohli, and warriors like Yuvraj, the team displayed unity, determination, and brilliance. Their performance remains an inspiration to future generations of cricketers and fans alike.
- Host Nations: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
- Start Date: February 19, 2011
- Final Date: April 2, 2011
- Champions: India
- Final Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Man of the Tournament: Yuvraj Singh
🇮🇳 India’s Squad – The Winning XI
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| MS Dhoni (Captain) | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Opening Batsman |
| Virender Sehwag | Opening Batsman |
| Gautam Gambhir | Top-order Batsman |
| Yuvraj Singh | Middle-order All-rounder |
| Virat Kohli | Middle-order Batsman |
| Suresh Raina | Middle-order Batsman |
| Harbhajan Singh | Spinner |
| Zaheer Khan | Fast Bowler |
| Munaf Patel | Fast Bowler |
| Ashish Nehra | Fast Bowler |
Coach: Gary Kirsten
🏏 Group Stage Matches – A Solid Start
Match 1: 🇮🇳 India vs Bangladesh – Feb 19, 2011
- Venue: Mirpur
- Result: India won by 87 runs
- Scorecard:
- India: 370/4 (Sehwag 175, Kohli 100*)
- Bangladesh: 283/9
Highlight: Sehwag’s brutal 175 set the tone. Kohli’s century in his World Cup debut was promising.
Match 2: 🇮🇳 India vs England – Feb 27, 2011
- Venue: Bengaluru
- Result: Match tied
- Scorecard:
- India: 338 (Tendulkar 120)
- England: 338 (Strauss 158)
Highlight: High-scoring thriller. Zaheer Khan’s reverse swing in death overs salvaged a tie.
Match 3: 🇮🇳 India vs Ireland – Mar 6, 2011
- Venue: Bengaluru
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Scorecard:
- Ireland: 207
- India: 210/5 (Yuvraj 50* & 5/31)
Highlight: Yuvraj Singh became the first player to take 5 wickets and score a 50 in a World Cup match.
Match 4: 🇮🇳 India vs Netherlands – Mar 9, 2011
- Venue: Delhi
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Scorecard:
- Netherlands: 189
- India: 191/5 (Yuvraj 51 & 2 wickets)
Highlight: Another solid all-round show from Yuvraj Singh.
Match 5: 🇮🇳 India vs South Africa – Mar 12, 2011
- Venue: Nagpur
- Result: South Africa won by 3 wickets
- Scorecard:
- India: 296 (Tendulkar 111)
- South Africa: 300/7
Highlight: India collapsed from 267/1 to 296 all out. Despite Sachin’s 100, Steyn’s 5-for was decisive.
Match 6: 🇮🇳 India vs West Indies – Mar 20, 2011
- Venue: Chennai
- Result: India won by 80 runs
- Scorecard:
- India: 268 (Yuvraj 113)
- West Indies: 188
Highlight: Yuvraj’s century and 2 wickets under extreme dehydration.
🔥 Quarterfinal: India vs Australia – Mar 24, 2011
- Venue: Ahmedabad
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Scorecard:
- Australia: 260/6 (Ponting 104)
- India: 261/5 (Yuvraj 57*, Tendulkar 53)
Turning Point: Yuvraj and Raina’s unbeaten 74-run partnership ensured India dethroned the reigning champions.
⚔️ Semifinal: India vs Pakistan – Mar 30, 2011
- Venue: Mohali
- Result: India won by 29 runs
- Scorecard:
- India: 260/9 (Tendulkar 85)
- Pakistan: 231 all out (Munaf & Ashish Nehra – 2 wickets each)
Highlight: High-pressure Indo-Pak clash. Tendulkar survived 4 dropped catches and led the scoring. India kept nerves and entered the final.
🎇 The Grand Finale – India vs Sri Lanka – April 2, 2011
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Result: India won by 6 wickets
- Scorecard:
- Sri Lanka: 274/6 (Jayawardene 103*)
- India: 277/4 in 48.2 overs
- Top Performers: Gambhir 97, Dhoni 91*
🧠 Strategic Moves in the Final
- Toss Drama: Confusion led to a re-toss, Sri Lanka batted first.
- Sreesanth in XI: Replacing injured Ashish Nehra.
- Dhoni Promoted: Took #5 spot ahead of in-form Yuvraj to counter Murali’s off-spin.
🔥 Key Moments
- Jayawardene’s Century: Classy 103 anchored Sri Lanka’s innings.
- Zaheer’s Opening Spell: 3 maidens in a row.
- Gambhir’s Grit: Held the chase together with a solid 97.
- Dhoni’s Masterclass: Calm under pressure, finished the match with the famous six.
📊 Final Words
Each player in India’s 2011 World Cup squad contributed to this historic triumph. With legends like Sachin, rising stars like Kohli, and warriors like Yuvraj, the team displayed unity, determination, and brilliance. Their performance remains an inspiration to future generations of cricketers and fans alike.
- Runs: 241
- Best Knock: 91* in final
- Captaincy: Unflappable, tactically brilliant
- Legacy: Cemented status as one of cricket’s greatest leaders
Yuvraj Singh – Player of the Tournament
- Runs: 362
- Wickets: 15
- Man of the Match: 4 times
- Impact: Clutched every knockout game; later revealed he played through cancer
Sachin Tendulkar – The Dream Fulfilled
- Runs: 482 (2nd highest in tournament)
- 100s: 2
- Legacy: Lifted by teammates post-final in a lap of honor. “He’s carried the burden for 21 years. It’s time we carried him,” said Kohli.
Zaheer Khan – The Silent Destroyer
- Wickets: 21 (Joint-highest)
- Economy: 4.83
- Best Figures: 3/20 vs England
- Role: Opened and closed bowling with consistency and reverse swing
Gautam Gambhir – The Final’s Anchor
- Runs in Final: 97 (match-winning)
- Total Runs in WC: 393
- Impact: Played the most underappreciated yet critical knock of the tournament
Virender Sehwag
- Total Runs: 380
- Best Knock: 175 vs Bangladesh
- Role: Gave India flying starts
Virat Kohli – The New Star
- Runs: 282
- World Cup Debut: Scored a century in his first game
- Impact: Gave tribute to Sachin, cemented place in the team
📷 Iconic Moments
- 🇮🇳 Dhoni’s Winning Six – the roar, the pose, the legacy
- 🏏 Gambhir’s steely innings – holding India together
- 🥲 Sachin carried by teammates – a nation’s dream fulfilled
- 💪 Yuvraj’s emotion – the warrior within
- 🧤 Dhoni’s cool dismissal of Afridi – a captain always in control
📈 Legacy of the 2011 World Cup
- Tendulkar’s Perfect Send-off: 6 World Cups. One final crown.
- MS Dhoni’s Ascension: Cemented as one of India’s greatest leaders.
- Boost to Indian Cricket: Inspired new generations—Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah
- IPL’s Rise: India’s cricketing economy exploded post-2011
- Emotional National Moment: Streets flooded, tears shed, legends born
📊 India’s World Cup 2011 Stats Summary
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 9 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Tied | 1 |
| Most Runs | Sachin Tendulkar (482) |
| Most Wickets | Zaheer Khan (21) |
| Man of the Tournament | Yuvraj Singh |
| Final Score | 277/4 vs SL |
📝 Conclusion – The Night India Cried Tears of Joy
April 2, 2011, will remain etched in Indian hearts forever. It was a night of dreams fulfilled, of redemption, and of heroes rising. Led by MS Dhoni, with contributions from Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Gambhir, and others, India reclaimed the throne of world cricket.
It was not just about the win, but about what it meant: to a nation, to its fans, and to its greatest player—Sachin Tendulkar.
India’s 2011 World Cup victory is more than history. It is an emotion.
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