The 2011 World Cup Final is an unforgettable moment in cricket history, enchanting the hearts of millions as two cricketing giants, India and Sri Lanka, clashed on the grandest stage. This pinnacle event at the Wankhede_Stadium showcased a spectacular showdown between bat and ball, determination, and skill. The fans held their breath, and nations cheered fervently. The 2011 World Cup final scorecard and thorough details of this monumental match offer a portal back in time, allowing cricket enthusiasts to relive that unforgettable day’s tension, drama, and thrill.
Let’s delve deep into the comprehensive account of the 2011 World Cup Final, immortalizing a chapter that forever altered the course of cricketing history.
The Background
Group Stage Journey
Sri Lanka advanced to the knockout stage by securing a second-place finish in Group A. From their six matches, they clinched victory in four encounters. They faced a setback against Pakistan and experienced a washout against Australia. Tied in points with Australia, their superior net run rate granted them the second position within the group standings.
Meanwhile, India was placed in Group B, concluding the group stage in the second spot, trailing behind South Africa. Out of their six matches, they emerged triumphant in four, suffered a defeat at the hands of South Africa, and engaged in a high-scoring tie against England.
The Knockout Clashes
Sri Lanka’s quarter-final clash against England showcased a clinical display, as they decimated their opponents by ten wickets. A remarkable partnership between the Sri Lankan openers, TM Dilshan and Upul Tharanga, led to unbeaten centuries and established a world-record first-wicket stand in World Cup history.
The semi-final encounter against New Zealand was more closely contested, yet Sri Lanka emerged victorious with relative comfort. These matches underscored the effectiveness of Lasith Malinga’s unorthodox pace bowling, the restrictive fielding tactics, and the impressive batting proficiency of the Sri Lankan top order.
On the other hand, India faced intense pressure in both of their knockout fixtures. Their quarter-final was against Australia, a challenging and defending champion team. India’s performance was pivotal in limiting the Aussies to 260 runs. Despite facing regular wicket losses during the chase, India successfully pursued the target.
The semi-final contest against arch-rivals Pakistan also carried immense historical significance. Attended by the Prime Ministers of both nations, the match placed substantial public expectations on both teams. Opting to bat first, India ultimately secured a 29-run victory over Pakistan.
Toss and the Controversy
A contentious situation arose when Kumar Sangakkara made the call for the toss. While the coin landed as heads, the match referee failed to hear the call amidst the crowd’s noise. Subsequently, a decision was reached to conduct a re-toss. In the re-toss, Sangakkara again chose heads as the coin went airborne. He emerged victorious in the re-toss and opted for his team to bat first.
Sri Lanka’s Innings
The first innings commenced deliberately, facing the challenge of tight bowling from Zaheer Khan and disciplined fielding orchestrated by Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Virat Kohli within the 30-yard circle. Zaheer’s initial burst consisted of three consecutive maidens and the prized wicket of Upul Tharanga, relinquishing six runs in his five-over spell.
The downfall of Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan by Harbhajan Singh, who managed to dislodge the stumps as the ball deflected off Dilshan’s gloves. Following Tharanga’s departure, skipper Kumar Sangakkara took the crease, diligently constructing a foundation alongside Dilshan until dismissal.
At the 17th over, with Sri Lanka at 60/2, Mahela Jayawardene stepped onto the field. Sangakkara and Jayawardene collaborated to stabilize the innings. Although Sangakkara’s departure at 48, caught behind by Dhoni, caused a shift in the momentum. Thilan Samaraweera faced a contentious moment when a delivery brushed his thigh pad off Yuvraj Singh’s bowling, leading to an umpire’s decision of not out. However, a review by the Indian team overturned the call, deeming Samaraweera out.
Chamara Kapugedera, making his World Cup debut, fell victim to Zaheer Khan’s crafty, slower ball, resulting in a caught dismissal. Jayawardene showcased his batting prowess throughout this period, amassing an unbeaten 103 from 88 deliveries in an exquisite exhibition.
Supported by the hard-hitting efforts of Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera, Sri Lanka generated a late surge, scoring 91 runs within the final 10 overs, with 63 of those during the batting powerplay (45–50 overs). This collective effort elevated Sri Lanka’s 2011 World Cup final scorecard to 274/6.
India’s Innings
India confronted a shaky start as both Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar fell early victim to the precision of Lasith Malinga’s bowling, leaving the team struggling at 31 for 2. Sehwag found himself trapped LBW without contributing to the scoreboard on the second delivery of the innings. On the other hand, Sachin Tendulkar began with promise, accumulating 18 runs off 14 balls, only to send an edge into the waiting hands of Sangakkara behind the wickets.
The recovery process was initiated with a resilient partnership between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, characterized by deft stroke play and swift running between the wickets. This duo pushed India’s total to 114 before Kohli’s departure, caught and bowled by Tillakaratne Dilshan for 35.
During Kohli’s stay, Gambhir encountered a moment of fortune when a mistimed shot off Suraj Randiv’s delivery soared high. Still, a challenging opportunity was let slip by Nuwan Kulasekara at long off. The partnership between Kohli and Gambhir, worth 83 runs, was then disrupted by Kohli’s exit.
In an unconventional move, MS Dhoni entered the crease at number five, a slot typically reserved for Yuvraj Singh. With a focus on preserving wickets, Gambhir and Dhoni created a gradual acceleration through well-timed boundaries.
Their efforts culminated in a pivotal 109-run stand for the fourth wicket, during which Gambhir compiled 97 runs. However, his quest for a century concluded with an unsuccessful boundary attempt, resulting in his dismissal as Thisara Perera breached his defenses.
Following Gambhir’s exit, the equation stood at 52 runs needed off 52 balls at the 2011 World Cup final scorecard. Yuvraj Singh joined Dhoni in the middle, steering India towards triumph. Dhoni’s decisive blow, a six struck off Nuwan Kulasekara, sealed the deal with only 4 runs required off 11 deliveries.
Dhoni concluded his innings unbeaten at 91 runs from 79 deliveries. As night descended, dew formed on the outfield grass, rendering the ball damp and challenging to grip, particularly during the latter phase of India’s batting. India’s successful chase of 274 runs marked a historic achievement, setting a new record for the highest victorious run-chase in a World Cup final.
Sum Up
The 2011 World Cup Final etches its place in history books as a timeless saga of resilience, strategy, and unwavering determination. From Mahela Jayawardene’s majestic century to Lasith Malinga’s masterful bowling, every chapter of Sri Lanka’s innings was full of drama.
Meanwhile, India’s pursuit of the 274-run target at the 2011 World Cup final scorecard embodied their relentless spirit, overcoming a shaky start to build partnerships. Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s resilient stand, Dhoni’s calculated entry, and Yuvraj Singh’s steady support highlighted their resolve.
2011 World Cup Final Scorecard
First Innings Scorecard
| BATTER | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upul Tharanga | 2 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Tillakarante Dilshan | 33 | 49 | 67.34 | 3 | 0 |
| Kumar Sangakara | 48 | 67 | 71.64 | 5 | 0 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 103 | 88 | 117.04 | 13 | 0 |
| Thilan Samaraweera | 21 | 34 | 61.76 | 2 | 0 |
| Chamara Kapugedera | 1 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | 32 | 30 | 106.66 | 1 | 1 |
| Thisara Perara | 22 | 9 | 244.44 | 3 | 1 |
| Extras | 12 | ||||
| TOTAL | 274/6 | ||||
| BOWLER | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Economy Rate | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | 9 | 0 | 42 | 4.66 | 2 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | 8.2 | 0 | 64 | 7.68 | 0 |
| Thisara Perera | 9 | 0 | 55 | 6.11 | 1 |
| Suraj Randiv | 9 | 0 | 43 | 4.77 | 0 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 5 | 0 | 27 | 5.4 | 1 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran | 8 | 0 | 39 | 4.87 | 0 |
Second Innings Scorecard
| BATTER | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 18 | 14 | 128.57 | 2 | 0 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 97 | 122 | 79.5 | 9 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 35 | 49 | 71.42 | 4 | 0 |
| MS Dhoni (c)† | 91 | 79 | 115.18 | 8 | 2 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 21 | 24 | 87.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Extras | 15 | ||||
| TOTAL | 277/4 | ||||
| BOWLER | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Economy Rate | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | 10 | 3 | 60 | 6 | 2 |
| Sreesanth | 8 | 0 | 52 | 6.5 | 0 |
| Munaf Patel | 9 | 0 | 41 | 4.55 | 0 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 10 | 0 | 50 | 5 | 1 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 10 | 0 | 49 | 4.9 | 2 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
