The 2011 World Cup Win, 15 years on: April 2, 2011 – a night like no other

India_2011 ODI WC
India_2011 ODI WC (PC: BCCI)

The World Cup triumph at home was India’s second tryst with cricketing destiny, after June 25, 1983 at Lord’s. For starters, it ensured that cricket – already perched at the very top of the sporting ladder in India – would have no competition in the foreseeable future. Cricketers, as a result of this achievement, were accorded god-like status, and corporate India helped expand the size of the cricket industry in the aftermath of the competition.

Brand cricket, thanks to the World Cup, was at an all-time high and was considered the safest investment in capturing millions of eyeballs across the country. For 28 years, the nation had waited for this very moment. It had finally arrived on home soil in the best way possible.

The final week of the Cup was among the best in India’s cricketing history. India beat Australia in a superb quarter-final encounter in Ahmedabad, thanks to the heroics of Yuvraj Singh, before proceeding to beat Pakistan at Mohali in the most-watched match of the tournament. Finally, the World Cup was won at the Wankhede, courtesy of classics from Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Indian cricket fans will never forget Dhoni’s eyes as he tracked the ball beyond the boundary on the night of April 2, 2011. With that six, Sachin Tendulkar’s 22-year-long wait was over.

The moment Dhoni hit the winning six, fans lined the entire stretch from the Wankhede Stadium to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. When the team left for the stadium ahead of the final in the morning, there was not a soul to be seen on the road. Security had been tightened and fans were not permitted to line the route in anticipation. Post-match, the scene was different. There were thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of people. They were dancing on top of cars, bursting crackers and blowing conches.

Sachin’s wife, Anjali, has a rather interesting story to tell about these celebrations. She is superstitious when it comes to Sachin playing and, as a result, refused to go to the Wankhede to watch the final. It was only after India had won that Sachin asked her to join in the celebrations. As her car was approaching the Wankhede, jubilant fans stopped the vehicle, intending to jump on top of it to celebrate. However, seeing her inside and knowing who she was, the fans stopped short of doing so and allowed the car to enter the stadium’s VIP parking.

The story wasn’t over just yet. Soon after Anjali was dropped off and the driver was back on the road, fans jumped on the car and started dancing on the roof. When Sachin saw the car the next morning, he was shocked to see his BMW with dents all over. But this was the World Cup, and everything was permitted. Not only did Sachin not say a word to the driver, he even consoled Anjali, saying these should be looked upon as ‘happy dents’, which would forever remind them of the World Cup win.

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