India’s iconic World Cup win in 2011
The World Cup returned to the subcontinent after 15 years. India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh were the joint hosts for the tournament. After a disastrous 2007 edition, the organisers were forced to tweak the format. It was reduced to a 14-team affair from the 16-teams in 2007. Teams were divided into group of 2. Top four teams from each group played the quarterfinals. It was formulated in this manner to ensure all the major teams qualify for the quarters. The quarters lineup was on expected lines. Let us look at details on India’s iconic World Cup win in 2011.
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A predictable narrative with few twists:
England was the most entertaining team in the league stage. They got the better of South Africa whose only loss in the group stage came against England. But the English side lost out to Bangladesh and Ireland. Kevin O’Brien smashed the then fastest World Cup hundred (100) to steer Ireland to a famous win. But both Ireland and Bangladesh couldn’t move past the group stage.
The group standings:
Pakistan topped Group A with 5 wins from 6 games. Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand were tied on wins (4 each) but Lanka had a superior NRR and finished second. Australia lost just one game to New Zealand’s two and hence finished third with the Kiwis completing the top four.
It was South Africa who finished first in Group B with 5 wins. India finished second with 4 wins and 1 tie while England came third with 3 wins and 1 tie. West Indies rounded off Group B with 3 wins. They outplayed Bangladesh in the last league game to pip them on NRR.
The knockouts phase:
Apart from one game, the knockouts saw the top seeds prevail over the others. New Zealand got the better of South Africa as the Proteas succumbed once again in a knockout match. India overcame Australia with a terrific all-round effort to set up a semifinal clash with arch-rivals, Pakistan.
Sri Lanka became the third Asian team to move into the semis and they played New Zealand. It was an all Asian final as India played Sri Lanka at the Wankhede. The Indian team emerged victorious and took home the World Cup for the second time after 28 long years.
India’s journey in the World Cup:
India was overwhelming favourites for the 2011 World Cup. No team ever had won a home World Cup until 2011. The pressure of expectation showed on India as they had to contend a tricky phase in the league stage. India tied with England and lost to South Africa setting jitters among a billion fans. They started getting their act together from their final league match that was played against the West Indies. India had to defeat all the former champions in their final four games to win the trophy and they did just!
Who was the game-changer for India?
Yuvraj Singh was the biggest game changer of the 2011 World Cup. The left-hander always brought his A-game in ICC World Cups and this one was no different. In 2000, it was Yuvraj Singh who won the Player of the Series award in India’s U-19 World Cup winning campaign. It was Yuvraj again in 2007 with his 6-sixes and 30-ball 70 histrionics that helped India win the inaugural T20 World Cup. He etched his legacy forever with career-defining performances throughout the course of the 2011 World Cup.
3 fifties, 1 century, and 1 five-wicket haul in the league stage:
He did not get to bat in India’s first game against Bangladesh. It was Yuvraj Singh show from the second game onward. He scored a 50-ball 58 against England before putting in a classic performance against Ireland. Yuvraj picked up 5-31 in his 10 overs before belting another unbeaten fifty.
He picked up a successive POTM in the next game against Netherlands picking up a couple of wickets and hitting a half-century. The South Africa was an aberration wherein he couldn’t post a big score. Yuvraj sealed India’s spot in the quarters with a brilliant 100 in testing conditions against the West Indies.
The knock that arguably set up the World Cup win:
India’s biggest challenge in the World Cup was meant to come against Australia. They played the defending champions in the quarters at Ahmedabad. Yuvraj bowled a disciplined spell picking 2-44 in 10 overs but it was with the bat that this game will forever be remembered for. He hit an unbeaten 57 to rescue India from a difficult position to an epic win. The side duly went on to win the semis and the finals later.
India’s greatest match-winner in ODIs:
Yuvraj finished the World Cup with 362 runs (eight highest) and 15 wickets (fifth highest) in the World Cup. He was announced the Player of the Tournament even before the finals. Such was Yuvraj’s impact on the World Cup. The fact that he played the entire World Cup in pain and the imminent battle with cancer makes his performance monumental!
