2011 Cricket World Cup Final
With India under pressure after early wickets, MS Dhoni came in ahead of Yuvraj Singh to counter Sri Lanka's spin threat. His 109-run stand with Gautam Gambhir shifted the chase from recovery mode to title-control mode.
Match Snapshot
India vs Sri Lanka - Final, played at Wankhede Stadium on 2 April 2011.
Sri Lanka 274/6 (50 overs), India 277/4 (48.2 overs). India won by 6 wickets.
Key Moments of the Match
- Mahela Jayawardene made an unbeaten 103 and helped Sri Lanka score 91 runs in the last 10 overs.
- Lasith Malinga removed Sehwag and Tendulkar early to put India at 31/2.
- Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli stabilised the chase before a 109-run stand between Gambhir and Dhoni took control away from Sri Lanka.
Quick Facts
Why 1992 Cricket World Cup Final Is Historic
India ke 28 saal baad World Cup title ka end point tha
MS Dhoni ko all-time big-match captaincy icons mein mazboot jagah mili
Match Overview
Match Overview
- Sri Lanka were steady rather than explosive for most of the innings before Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten century lifted them to 274/6.
- India's chase began badly when Lasith Malinga removed Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, leaving the hosts under immediate pressure.
- Gautam Gambhir rebuilt the innings first with Virat Kohli and then with MS Dhoni, taking the game away from Sri Lanka through control rather than panic.
- Dhoni promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh and answered Muttiah Muralitharan's threat by attacking spin with clean footwork and calm finishing.
- India completed the chase at 48.2 overs when Dhoni hit Nuwan Kulasekara for the famous title-winning six over long-on.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka
Batting Card
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upul Tharanga | c Sehwag b Zaheer Khan | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | b Harbhajan Singh | 33 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 67.34 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | c Dhoni b Yuvraj Singh | 48 | 67 | 5 | 0 | 71.64 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | not out | 103 | 88 | 13 | 0 | 117.04 |
| Thilan Samaraweera | lbw b Yuvraj Singh | 21 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 61.76 |
| Chamara Kapugedera | c Raina b Zaheer Khan | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | run out (Dhoni) | 32 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 106.66 |
| Thisara Perera | not out | 22 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 244.44 |
Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | 10 | 3 | 60 | 2 | 6.00 |
| S Sreesanth | 8 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Munaf Patel | 9 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 4.55 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 10 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 10 | 0 | 49 | 2 | 4.90 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Virat Kohli | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
India
Batting Card
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | lbw b Malinga | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | c Sangakkara b Malinga | 18 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 128.57 |
| Gautam Gambhir | b Thisara Perera | 97 | 122 | 9 | 0 | 79.50 |
| Virat Kohli | c and b Dilshan | 35 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 71.42 |
| MS Dhoni | not out | 91 | 79 | 8 | 2 | 115.18 |
| Yuvraj Singh | not out | 21 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 87.50 |
Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | 9 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 4.66 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | 8.2 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 7.68 |
| Thisara Perera | 9 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 6.11 |
| Suraj Randiv | 9 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 4.77 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 5 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 5.40 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 8 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4.87 |
Turning Point: Dhoni promotes himself and takes control
With India under pressure after early wickets, MS Dhoni came in ahead of Yuvraj Singh to counter Sri Lanka's spin threat. His 109-run stand with Gautam Gambhir shifted the chase from recovery mode to title-control mode.
- India were 31/2 after Malinga dismissed Sehwag and Tendulkar.
- Dhoni's right-hander match-up reduced the impact of Muralitharan and Suraj Randiv in the middle overs.
- Once the Dhoni-Gambhir stand settled, Sri Lanka stopped creating wicket pressure and the chase became India's to lose.
Top Performances
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| India | MS Dhoni | 91* off 79 balls and the title-winning finish |
| India | Gautam Gambhir | 97 off 122 in the chase-defining rebuild |
| India | Virat Kohli | 35 in the stabilising third-wicket stand |
| Sri Lanka | Mahela Jayawardene | 103* off 88 balls in a flawless final hundred |
| Sri Lanka | Lasith Malinga | 2/42 and the early wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar |
Road to Final
India reached the final after beating Pakistan in the Mohali semi-final, a match that carried massive pressure and confirmed the home side's title path.
See India vs Pakistan 2011 semi-finalSri Lanka booked the final by defeating New Zealand in Colombo, where their batting depth and bowling control looked final-ready.
See World Cup tournament historyMatch Timeline
- Sri Lanka reached 60/1 after 17 overs but saved their best acceleration for the end through Jayawardene and late hitting support.
- Jayawardene's unbeaten century pushed Sri Lanka from a manageable platform to 274/6, a total that looked above par under final pressure.
- India slipped to 31/2 when Malinga removed both openers, then Kohli and Gambhir settled the chase.
- The Gambhir-Dhoni stand broke Sri Lanka's control, and Dhoni finished the chase with the six at 48.2 overs.
Impact
- India ke 28 saal baad World Cup title ka end point tha
- MS Dhoni ko all-time big-match captaincy icons mein mazboot jagah mili
- Yeh final South Asian cricket memory ka evergreen page hai
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FAQs
Quick answers to common questions about this match.
Who won the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final?
India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final by 6 wickets against Sri Lanka after chasing 275 at Wankhede Stadium.
What was the score in the 2011 World Cup Final?
Sri Lanka made 274/6 in 50 overs, and India replied with 277/4 in 48.2 overs.
Who was player of the match in the 2011 World Cup Final?
MS Dhoni was Player of the Match for his unbeaten 91 off 79 balls and the winning finish.
Who top-scored in the 2011 World Cup Final?
For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 103 not out. For India, Gautam Gambhir made 97 and MS Dhoni finished on 91 not out.
Why is the 2011 World Cup Final so famous?
The match is famous because India won the World Cup after 28 years, Dhoni finished with an iconic six, and the final remains one of the most emotional title wins in modern ODI cricket.
How did India reach the 2011 World Cup Final?
India reached the final by defeating Pakistan in the Mohali semi-final, then completed the title run by beating Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
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