What Moment From The 2011 Men’s ODI World Cup Meant The Most To MS Dhoni?

Was it about Gautam Gambhir or was it about MS Dhoni? Or better yet, was it about India’s favourite and most prominent batting all rounder Yuvraj Singh?

To this day, we recollect with much anticipation and perhaps the heartbeat of many us pauses with sheer thrill when we see the big six being hit by MS Dhoni in the much-anticipated final clash of 2011 against Sri Lanka.

Truth be told, it was way more than just a six; it was a massive one at that, one that put an end to the last of the fight that Sri Lanka tried to put albeit in vain to put a pause on India’s run chase.

It was a stroke of glory, one that has since been romanticized, fetishized even. A stroke that hasn’t been forgotten in all these years and may never any time soon.

The very fact that the then captain of India MS Dhoni wasn’t in such a great form and yet played a big vital role, most importantly, when it most mattered for India has been hailed as a spectacular effort that eventually played the big differentiator.

After all, not only did MS Dhoni miss out on the big runs up until that stage but desperately sought a respite of sorts given not an awful lot was going his way particularly where the bat was concerned.

Which is why it isn’t too difficult to understand why there’s so much hype attached to the big sounding words by former India coach and current commentator Ravi Shastri, who rightly remarked, “Dhoni finishes off in style.”

Yet, what’s rather surprising is that the big stroke off the Sri Lankan medium pacer isn’t the legendary keeper-batter’s favourite World Cup memory.

Surprised? Stunned? What can possibly be the other adjectives that ring the mind?

That being told, the following is what MS Dhoni revealed just recently when quizzed about his most memorable moment from 2011, the last that India won any world cup edition:

“The best feeling was 15-20 minutes (before the winning moment)!”

To add further, the blazing right handed batter who affected several dismissals from behind the stumps putting into play his lightning fast reflexes has opened up on the importance of the real moment that mattered the most to him.

Here’s what MS Dhoni added in a recent disclosure to the media

We did not need a lot of runs, the partnership was well-placed, there was a lot of dew. And the stadium started to sing Vande Mataram. That atmosphere I feel is very difficult to recreate – maybe in this [upcoming 2023] World Cup, there is a similar scenario, once the stadium, the fans start contributing.”

“You know, it is a very difficult (atmosphere) one to replicate. But it can only be replicated if the occasion is similar to that (in 2011) and there are like 40, 50 or 60,000 people who are singing.”

What’s rather remarkable is that on a day that meant so much to all time India legend and batting demigod Sachin Tendulkar, it’s Dhoni’s masterclass that scripted headlines whilst one notes that the effort of someone like Gambhir went rather unsung.

Regardless, to MS Dhoni, the following matter seemed utmost vital on that unforgettable Wankhede evening:

“To me, it was not the winning moment, it was 15-20 minutes ago when emotionally I was very high. And at the same time, I wanted to get done with it. We knew that we will win this from here, and it was very difficult for us to lose. So yes, you know it was more of a sense of satisfaction, job done, let us move on from here.”