2011 Cricket World Cup in Asia
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth edition of the tournament, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The event took place from February 19th to April 2nd, and it included 14 teams from around the world. The tournament was won by India, who claimed their second World Cup triumph after a gap of 28 years.
The 2011 edition of the World Cup was unique for several reasons. Firstly, it was the first time that the tournament was jointly hosted by three countries. Secondly, it saw the return of the minnows, with countries like Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands earning a spot in the tournament. Thirdly, the World Cup was held in the Asian subcontinent for the third time in history, with India and Sri Lanka hosting it for the second time after the 1987 and 1996 editions.
The tournament began with the Group Stage, which was divided into two groups of seven teams each. The top four teams from each group progressed to the Quarter-Finals, where they faced off in knockout matches. The Semi-Finals and the Final were also played as knockout matches.
The Group Stage produced its fair share of drama and upsets. Ireland, who were playing in their third World Cup, shocked England in a dramatic game. Chasing a target of 328, Ireland were reduced to 111 for five before Kevin O'Brien played one of the greatest innings in World Cup history. He smashed 113 off just 63 balls, including 13 fours and six sixes, to guide Ireland to a famous victory.
Another surprise package of the tournament was co-hosts Bangladesh, who made it through to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history. They defeated the Netherlands, Ireland, and England along the way, with the latter being a convincing 2-wicket win in front of a raucous home crowd.
The knockout stages of the tournament were equally thrilling. The Quarter-Finals saw Pakistan defeat the West Indies, India overpower Australia, Sri Lanka ease past England, and New Zealand stun South Africa in a nail-biting finish. The Semi-Finals pitted India against Pakistan and Sri Lanka against New Zealand.
The India-Pakistan Semi-Final was the most watched cricket match in history, with an estimated 988 million people tuning in to the broadcast. The match was played at the iconic Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, India, and it lived up to its billing as a high-pressure clash. India emerged victorious by 29 runs, thanks to brilliant performances from Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 85 runs, and the young left-arm spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, who picked up two crucial wickets.
The other Semi-Final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was a more one-sided affair. Sri Lanka, playing in front of their home crowd at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, cruised to a comfortable 5-wicket win. The win was set up by a dominant bowling display, with the likes of Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis proving almost unplayable.
The Final of the tournament was played between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. The Sri Lankan side won the toss and elected to bat first. However, their innings got off to a shaky start as they lost opener Tillakaratne Dilshan early on. However, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene steadied the ship with a partnership of 62 runs. Jayawardene, in particular, played a brilliant innings, scoring an unbeaten 103 off just 88 balls to guide Sri Lanka to a total of 274 for six in their 50 overs.
India's chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost both their openers, Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar, early on. However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a partnership of 83 runs. Gambhir, who had already played a crucial role in India's Semi-Final win over Pakistan, played another critical innings, scoring 97 runs off 122 balls.
However, the defining moment of the match came in the form of the skipper MS Dhoni, who promoted himself up the order and played a blistering innings of 91 not out off just 79 balls. Dhoni hit the winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara in the 49th over, sparking scenes of jubilation across the country. India had won the World Cup, and the young captain had sealed his place in history with a captain's knock for the ages.
The 2011 Cricket World Cup was a fitting tribute to the sport of cricket, played in the traditional manner that Indians love: full of emotion, personality, skill, and passion. As Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh said at the time, "This win is for all the people of India. This isn't just about cricket. This is about life." Indeed, for a country with such a rich and storied cricketing history, this win was not just about lifting a trophy; it was about a unifying moment that brought a nation together like never before.