Nine years have passed since India’s historic World Cup triumph on 2nd April 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium. India won the second 50-over World Cup after skipper MS Dhoni hit a huge six in the long over. Gautam Gambhir also scored 97 runs in the chase.
The captain scored 91* off 78 balls with eight fours, and two sixes led to India’s famous victory. However, it has now revealed that Sachin Tendulkar’s idea is to promote the Indian captain in the mega final. Although this can be a dangerous move as Dhoni is not in great form throughout the tournament.
Sachin remembered the moment when he sent a message by Virender Sehwag, and said “Gautam (Gambhir) was batting superbly, and a man like Dhoni could have kept rotating the strike. So I said to Viru, ‘tu overs ke beech mein sirf ye baat bahar jaake MS ko bol aur next over shuru hone se Pehle waapis aaja.
Dhoni, Sehwag, Tendulkar, and Kirsten discussed the final call
Virender Sehwag, who witnessed the entire final with Sachin Tendulkar sitting in the dressing room, revealed that MS Dhoni had come in randomly while talking to him. When Tendulkar asked him to consider his promotion in the batting order, the trio met with head coach Gary Kirsten and then made a final decision.
“I asked MS to look into this strategy. He then went to the (coach) Gary (Kirsten), who was sitting outside. Then Gary came in, and all four of us were talking about it. Gary also acknowledged that this was the right thing to do when given the attack at hand. MS also accepted and encouraged himself,” Tendulkar said. In the end, the move became historic for India as Dhoni played an innings of his life and won the game for India.
“Gautam Knock is ideal. It put Chase in perspective and set the stage. And the way MS Dhoni did was amazing, and this was an imperium knock. That six was the icing on the cake” concluded Master Blaster.
