India vs Sri Lanka 2011 World Cup Final Scorecard: Not Dhoni or Yuvraj, Current Namibia Coach Guided India to Victory

On Saturday, April 2, 2011, in an emotionally packed Wankhede Stadium, India lifted the World Cup after 28 long years, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets. The Men in Blue, led by one of the best captains in the world, M. S. Dhoni, created history as Sachin Tendulkar’s lifelong dream of winning the World Cup finally came true.

Chasing a tough target of 275, Gautam Gambhir played a crucial knock of 97, while Dhoni led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten 91 that started celebrations across the country. Dhoni’s six off Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on and Ravi Shastri's iconic “Dhoni finishes off in style, India lifts the World Cup after 28 years” remains one of the most iconic lines ever.

Mahela Jayawardene scored a beautiful century but finished on the losing side. Chasing in a final is never easy, and the pressure was clear. India had a shaky start. Lasith Malinga struck early, removing Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, leaving the stadium stunned, but what followed was a fairytale night built with sheer dedication.

India vs Sri Lanka 2011 World Cup Final Scorecard

The IND vs SL 2011 WC final had all the twists and turns, as during India's chase, the entire Wankhede Stadium fell silent when Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed. It was pin-drop silence as a 23-year-old Virat Kohli walked off to the ground. Batting with Gambhir, he stepped up when it mattered most. The left-right pair worked well, building an important partnership. However, Dilshan took a stunning return catch to end Kohli’s innings.

An in-form Yuvraj Singh was surprisingly held back as the captain walked in at No. 5. Despite struggling for runs before the final, he delivered under pressure. With his trademark calm style, Dhoni built a 109-run stand with Gambhir as Sri Lanka slowly saw the trophy slipping away. Gambhir was closing in on a well-deserved hundred, but a moment of lapse cost him his wicket as Perera bowled him for 97 off 122 balls.

Yuvraj Singh joined Dhoni, keeping things simple and bringing India closer. Dhoni eased the pressure with a six and a few boundaries. As the target came within reach, Dhoni attacked Malinga with back-to-back boundaries, setting up the finish. Then came the moment when Dhoni launched Kulasekara for a massive six into the crowd, swirling his bat around and marking the start of a new era in Indian cricket history.

Gary Kirsten's Role in India's World Cup Winning Campaign

Gary Kirsten played a key role behind the scenes in India’s 2011 World Cup win, helping build the mindset and strong dressing room culture. As team India head coach from 2008 to 2011, he worked on improving the players’ mental strength and fitness, while giving leaders like MS Dhoni the freedom to lead on the field.

Kirsten kept things simple and created a relaxed, pressure-free environment. This approach helped India perform at the right time and go all the way, ending their 28-year wait for the World Cup. It was a dream come true for billions of Indian fans. The drought had finally ended, and as Virat Kohli said, “Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years; it was time we carried him."