The Story of the 2011 World Cup Final Match

The 2011 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka was a historic moment for cricket fans around the world. The match was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, on April 2, 2011. The final was the culmination of a month-long tournament that featured the best cricketing nations from around the world. The match was an intense battle between two great teams, but it was ultimately India who emerged victorious, winning their second World Cup after 28 years.

The match began with Sri Lanka winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Sri Lanka got off to a steady start, with their openers putting on a 63-run partnership before Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed by Zaheer Khan. Sri Lanka's batting then gained momentum, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring a brilliant century, becoming the first player to score a hundred in a World Cup final. Jayawardene's innings was a masterclass in shot-making, as he struck 13 boundaries and a six on his way to 103 off 88 balls. Sri Lanka finished with a formidable total of 274 for 6 in their 50 overs.

India's chase got off to a poor start, as they lost Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early. Tendulkar's dismissal for just 18 runs was a major setback for India, as he had been in incredible form throughout the tournament. However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli steadied the Indian innings, putting on a crucial partnership of 83 runs. Gambhir, in particular, played a brilliant innings, scoring 97 off 122 balls. Kohli was dismissed for 35, but Gambhir continued to fight, bringing India closer to the target.

The match turned in India's favor when captain MS Dhoni came to the crease. Dhoni had not been in the best of form in the tournament, but he had a reputation for being a big-game player. Dhoni began his innings cautiously, but he soon picked up the pace, hitting crucial boundaries to keep India in the hunt. Gambhir was dismissed in the 42nd over, but Dhoni continued to bat sensibly, putting on a partnership of 54 runs with Yuvraj Singh.

With just 4 runs needed off the last over, Dhoni was facing Sri Lanka's Nuwan Kulasekara. The first ball of the over was a dot ball, but on the second ball, Dhoni smashed a huge six over long-on, sealing the victory for India. The stadium erupted in celebrations as Dhoni and his teammates hugged each other, overcome with emotion.

Dhoni's innings was a masterclass in captaincy and temperament. He batted with a calmness and composure that belied the situation, and his decision to promote himself up the batting order proved to be a masterstroke. Dhoni finished unbeaten on 91 off 79 balls, with 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. He was named the Man of the Match for his incredible performance.

The 2011 World Cup Final was a fitting finale to a fantastic tournament. It was a match that will be remembered for years to come, not only for the result but also for the sheer drama and excitement it generated. For India, it was a moment of triumph, as they lifted the World Cup after a long wait of 28 years. For Sri Lanka, it was a heartbreak, as they had come so close to winning their second World Cup, but had fallen short in the endIndia had started their World Cup campaign in style, winning all their group games to qualify for the quarter-finals. They faced off against defending champions Australia in the quarter-finals and produced a clinical performance to knock out the Aussies. A brilliant century from Yuvraj Singh and a five-wicket haul from young pacer, Ashish Nehra, saw India cruise to a comfortable win.

In the semi-finals, India faced their arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-pressure encounter. The match was played at Mohali, and the atmosphere was electric. India batted first and posted a competitive total