April 2, 2011, will forever be etched in golden letters in Indian cricket. On this day 14 years ago, India won the ODI World Cup after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. MS Dhoni became only the second Indian captain, after Kapil Dev, to lift the coveted trophy. Another man who played a vital role in India lifting the trophy was former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. As the nation celebrates this iconic success, Yuvraj took to his social media account and posted a message.
He wrote,” April 2, 2011 the night we did it for a billion people… and for one man who carried Indian cricket on his shoulders for over two decades. That World Cup wasn’t just a win. It was a thank you to a legend. We grew up watching @sachin_rt. That night, we played to give him the moment he deserved. 14 years later, the memory of India’s win still gives me goosebumps. A night we’ll never forget.
Yuvraj Singh’s performance during 2011 World Cup
Yuvraj was the ‘Player of the Tournament,’ delivering an unmatched level of all-round performance. In nine matches, he scored 362 runs in eight innings at an average of 90.5 and a strike rate of over 86. He scored a century and four fifties, with the best score of 113. He was the eighth-highest run-getter in the tournament.
The all-rounder also ended as the fourth-highest wicket-taker, taking 15 scalps at an average of 25.13, with best figures of 5/31. Yuvraj Singh retired from international cricket in 2019 but has since played in foreign T20 leagues like GT20 Canada. He also mentors young cricketers, including Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
2011 World Cup final highlights
Coming to the final, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and reached 274/6, thanks to an unbeaten century by Mahela Jayawardene (113). Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (48), Tillakaratne Dilshan (48) and Thisara Perera (22*) also made vital contributions. Zaheer Khan (2/60) and Yuvraj Singh (2/49) were the pick of the bowlers for India.
In the run chase, India struggled initially after the dismissal of openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early. Then knocks from Gautam Gambhir (97), Virat Kohli (35), MS Dhoni (91*) and Yuvraj Singh (21*) helped India secure a six-wicket win.
