It’s been nine years since MS Dhoni hit that gigantic six into the crowd against Sri Lanka in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to win India the coveted trophy once again.
The entire nation was out on the streets celebrating the victory that made Dhoni a cult hero in the modern-day cricket as India lifted the ODI World Cup after a long gap of 28 years.
“Dhoniiiiii…finishes off in style…a magnificent strike into the crowd…India lift the World Cup once again after 28 years…the parties start in the dressing room…and it's an Indian Captain who has been absolutely magnificent in the night of the final." #9YearsOf2011WC 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/K6wCDZBHpQ
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 1, 2020
At Wankhede, the classy Mahela Jayawardene (103 not out, 88 balls, 13 fours) scored one of the greatest hundreds seen in a World Cup title clash to help Sri Lanka post a challenging total of 274/6.
In reply, India lost the talismanic Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag early, but Gautam Gambhir (97) and Virat Kohli (35) steadied the ship.
Then skipper Dhoni walked in ahead of Yuvraj Singh with India still needing 160 runs to win. Dhoni, who had a quiet World Cup till then, battled like a man possessed as he masterly handled Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s greatest bowling weapons, to guide India to their first World Cup win since 1983.
The emotions ran high after Dhoni hit that magical six as the whole team was in tears and some of the players even carried Tendulkar for a victory lap.
#OnThisDay in 2011
Dhoni finishes off in style.
Where were you at this moment?pic.twitter.com/jhatUHqSEb
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) April 1, 2020
