Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has termed the 2011 World Cup win as the ‘best cricketing day of his life’ as his biggest dream came true on April 2, 2011, at his own home i.e. the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the tenth edition of the quadrennial event. Before this tournament, Tendulkar had witnessed the victory in the World Cup from very near, as India made it into the semi-finals of the 1996 World Cup and the closest when they were thrashed by Australia in the final of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
Tendulkar said that it was a complete unbelievable experience for him and said that it was the best cricketing day of his life. He also shared a special incident where Yusuf and Virat Kohli lifted him and he told them to ensure that he do not fall down.
“When I saw Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup in 1983, it was an unbelievable experience, I enjoyed it with my friends and I wanted to chase my dream. I decided what may come, I have to focus and chase my dream of lifting the World Cup. In Mumbai at Wankhede, it was just unbelievable, it was the best cricketing day of life. How many times you have the country celebrate, many few things are there which the entire country celebrates,” said Tendulkar during Unacademy’s session aiming at Lessons in Resilience, Passion, Preparation, Innovation and more.
“The victory lap had one incident when Virat and Yusuf Pathan lifted me, I told them to ensure that I do not fall down. It was not just the Indian team that won the World Cup, it was the entire nation, it is all of us who did it,” he added.
Sri Lanka who were playing in their second straight World Cup final had posted a stiff total of 274/6 in their 50 overs with Mahela Jayawardene making a brilliant unbeaten 103 and Sangakkara contributing 48. In reply, India lost Virender Sehwag for a duck and Tendulkar followed suit for 18, both falling to Lasith Malinga.
But then Gautam Gambhir (97), Virat Kohli (35), and captain MS Dhoni (91*) ensured that India didn’t fell behind the required run rate in a massive chase against Malinga, Muralitharan, and Suraj Randiv. Dhoni hit Nuwan Kulasekara for a six off the second ball of the 49th over to make India two-time World Champions. The Men In Blue also became the first nation to win the coveted trophy on home soil.
The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar went to play international cricket for two years more finishing his career in 2013 with 18426 runs in 463 ODIs and 15921 runs in 200 Tests with a total of 100 international tons.
