Well deserved win.
However,I have this feeling that Dhoni did not get the mention he deserves in the post match speeches from players and MSD himself has been candor personified when he defended himself on selection of Sreesanth and change in the batting order,very uncharacteristic of Dhoni.
None of the players,including Sachin,Yuuraj mentioned Dhoni at all.
Will some body confirm otherwise?I shall be happy.
Sunil Gavaskar might have felt the same when he euologised Dhoni,so was Ravi Shastri.
Any problems in the team?
Harbhajan Singh wept into the India flag, Yuvraj Singh couldn’t hold back tears either. Sachin Tendulkar, not used to having his feet off the ground, for a change felt comfortable on the shoulders of his teammates as they took a lap of the Wankhede. He was being taken around a ground that had once booed him. All that didn’t matter on Saturday. A life-long dream had been achieved in a sixth attempt; in front of his home crowd, at a ground where he played most of his domestic cricket. MS Dhoni, Yuvraj, Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir followed with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Virat Kohli, playing in his first World Cup and inconsolable when he had got out earlier, sang Chak de India to the crowd.
There was delight, there were tears of joy, there was contentment. There was relief after a campaign in which their every move was noticed, dissected and criticised or praised. It was a moment nobody could take away from the Indian team. They took their time as they celebrated. Slowly, savouring each moment. Months of tension, build-up, sleepless nights, inability to eat regularly, cramps, vomit, sweat, toil; all of it was over, and in their hands was the World Cup.
Gary Kirsten‘s contribution was not forgotten. After Tendulkar had been around the ground on the strong and reliable shoulders of Yusuf Pathan, the team chaired Kirsten too, who was coaching India for one last time. An equally loud applause followed. Quietly, Paddy Upton, the mental conditioning coach, and Eric Simons, the bowling coach, watched. They watched men become kids, they watched and heard, 33,000 people’s gratitude.
“There have been some incredible moments in my involvement with sport, but this has got to be the highlight,” Upton told ESPNcricinfo.
http://sports.ndtv.com/world-cup-2011/news/item/171554-india-planned-final-for-a-year
Related:
Mumbai: Statistical Highlights of the World Cup 2011 final match between India and Sri Lanka
# Sachin Tendulkar’s run-aggregate of 482 at an average of 53.55, including two centuries and two fifties, is the second best in the 2011 edition of the World Cup,next only to Dilshan’s 500
# The top six run-getters in the 2011 edition of the World Cup are – Tillakaratne Dilshan (500), Sachin Tendulkar (482), Kumar Sangakkara (465), Jonathan Trott (422), Upul Tharangta (395) and Virender Sehwag (380).
# Dilshan is the fifth batsman to amass 500 runs or more in a World Cup Competition, joining Sachin Tendulkar (twice – 673 in 2002-03 & 523 in 1995-96), Matthew Hayden (659 in 2006-07), Jayawardene (548 in 2006-07) and Ricky Ponting (539 in 2006-07)
# Sreesanth’s economy rate in the 2011 edition of the World Cup is 8.07, conceding 105 runs.
# Mahela Jayawardene (103 not out) has become the sixth batsman to post a century in a World Cup Final – the first five being Adam Gilchrist – 149 off 104 balls against Sri Lanka at Bridgetown on April 28, 2007, Ricky Ponting – 140 not out against India at Johannesburg on March 23, 2003, Vivian Richards – 138 not out against England at Lord’s on June 23, 1979, Aravinda de Silva – 107 not out against Australia at Lahore on March 17, 1996 and Clive Lloyd – 102 against Australia at Lord’s on June 21, 1975.
# Sri Lanka (274 for six) have registered their highest World Cup total against India, bettering the 272 for four at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi on March 2, 1996.
# Jayawardene has equalled Sanath Jayasuriya’s feat of three hundreds in the World Cup. They share a Sri Lankan record for most hundreds in the World Cup.
# Jayasuriya has posted his second hundred against India – his 14th in ODIs – 13 for Sri Lanka and one for Asia XI.
# For the first time in an ODI, Zaheer Khan has delivered the first three maiden overs.
# Zaheer (21 at an average of 18.76 in nine matches) has emulated Shahid Afridi’s tally of 21 at an average of 12.85 in eight games. Both share a record for most wickets in the present edition of the WC.
# Zaheer had an excellent first spell, conceding six runs, his figures being 5-3-6-1.
# Muralitharan became the first Sri Lankan to appear in 40 games at the World Cup.
# Muralitharan has appeared in the final game of his career – his 350th game in ODIs.
# Sangakkara and Jayawardene were involved in a stand of 62 for the third wicket – Sri Lanka’s highest against India at the World Cup, eclipsing the 51 between Marvan Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva at Taunton on May 26,1999.
# Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with Sangakkara’s catch, has effected ten dismissals (seven catches + three stumpings) in the 2011 edition of the World Cup.
# Mahela Jayawardene has completed his 1,000 runs in India – 1049 in 29 matches at an average of 38.85, including three centuries and four fifties.
# With Samaraweera’s wicket, Yuvraj Singh has completed his 20 wickets (ave.23.10) in 23 games in the World Cup.
# Yuvraj has bagged 20 wickets in a calendar year for the first time – at an average of 26.05 in 14 matches
# Yuvraj’s bowling figures of 2 for 49 are his best in 23 tournament finals.
# Yuvraj’s tally of 15 wickets at 25.13 runs apiece in nine matches is the second highest for India, next only to Zaheer’s 21.
# Nuwan Kulasekara (32 off 30 balls) has recorded his highest innings at the World Cup.
# Perera (22 not out off nine balls) has registered his highest innings at the World Cup.
# Gautam Gambhir has completed his 4,000 runs in ODIs. He is the eleventh Indian to do so.
# Gambhir has recorded his highest innings in eight tournament finals – his maiden fifty.
# Gambhir’s 25th fifty in ODIs is his fifth against Sri Lanka.
# The 83-run partnership for the third wicket is India’s highest for any wicket in a World Cup Final, next only to the 88 between Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag against Australia at Johannesburg on March 23, 2003.
# Jayawardene and Kulasekara put on 66 for the sixth wicket – Sri Lanka’s highest against India at the World Cup, eclipsing the 34 between Roshan Mahanama and Arjuna Ranatunga at Taunton May 26, 1999.
# The aforesaid partnership is the highest for the sixth wicket in a World Cup Final, obliterating the 32 between Michael Bevan and Stuart Law for Australia against Sri Lanka at Lahore on March 17,1996.
This is what Mahi said when called up for an interview in Post match presentation.
1. Why I didn’t`choose Ravichandran Ashwin instead of Sreesanth ?
2. Why I change the batting order ?
He Answers himself without even asking, As per need of the situation and knowing Sri Lankan`s attack, I promote myself up the order, coach Gary Kirsten along with senior players (Sachin, Sehwag) had shown confidence in me, more often I have to prove myself as for long time, I am coming lower down the order as to give opportunities to younger players – –
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