2011 Cricket World Cup- India World cup Journey

Cricket World Cup:

The biggest platform for world cricket, a tournament that defines the greatest to have ever graced the game. An event which is the jewel for every cricketer’s career and to get it is played the game at the highest level imaginable.

From sweating it out to get accustomed to the conditions, the pressure of performing in crunch situations, having the weight of an entire country’s hopes on your back. Each ball bowled, each run scored, each wicket taken, every catch taken, and every six hit out of the park – the world’s eyes are on you. And if you can overcome all this adversity, well you’re a world champion and have your name forever etched in history.

The Cricket World Cup is organized by the highest governing body of International Cricket – the International Cricket Council ICC, The tournament is played out in the One Day International format and is one of the biggest sporting events across the globe and The 2011 Cricket World cup was one of the most memorable world cups for the Indian Cricket fans where India World cup drought of 28 years end at Wankhede.

World Cup History:

The first World Cup was played in England in 1975 and was known as the Prudential Cup which was was named after it’s sponsors Prudential PLC. The members who played in the inaugural world cup were – England, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, East Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

It was won by the legendary West Indies side who defeated Australia. West Indies continued their dominance by winning the next Prudential Cup as well which was now called the ICC Trophy. They defeated hosts England in a thumping manner to lift the title of world champions again. And who can forget the joys of 1983 World Cup for India,

A side that was given no chance by the media and fans came out on top against the formidable Windies. A talented side led by the legendary Kapil Dev announced themselves on the world platform that they were here and were to stay. Mohinder Amarnath running towards the pavilion with a stump in his hand is a picture deeply embedded in Indian cricket fans.

And who can forget about the Australian side who completed the treble (1999 – 2007). A side that demolished anybody who came in their way was one of the most dominant ever. Balanced, ruthless and extremely talented they were one the best teams ever to lift the Cup. The 2003 final in Johannesburg wherein Ricky Ponting and his men steamrolled India to post a target of 359 still haunts many. And the semi-final match of 1999 against South Africa with the last minute run out of Allan Donald brings back the nightmares for the South Africans.

World Cup Qualification Process:

The tournament is open to all the members of the ICC but automatic qualification is only received by the top-seeded sides. The rest of the team has to undergo a qualification round which is known as the World Cricket League or the ICC World Cup Qualifier.

All the Test-playing teams of the ICC automatically qualify for the ICC World cup 2011, while the rest of the associate members have to undergo a series of preliminary rounds to achieve qualification which is mainly known as the ICC World Cup Qualifier. Associate and Affiliate members have to play 5 rounds between them to qualify for the main event.

For example for the 2015 World Cup hosted in Australia the World Cricket League was played for two years and the top 2 qualified for the World Cup. The rest 6 qualified for the 2014 World Cup qualifier. From here another top 2 teams were taken and the bottom 2 were relegated where’s the rest would remain the same.

The format for the main event has however undergone a huge amount of change over the years. Since the number of teams playing has kept on altering throughout its history no fixed format has been adopted and that seems only fair. However, the competition has kept one thing constant which is being divided into the group stages and knockout stage. A similar type of format was used in 2003 and 2007 with teams being allocated into groups and then advancing into the Super 6 and the Super 8 rounds.

Then again in Icc Cricket World Cup 2011 was played in the same ways 2 groups of seven teams and the top four teams from each group advanced for quarters, semis and finals.

2011 Cricket World Cup Host countries:

The 2011 World Cup was the tenth official Cricket World Cup and was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Fourteen teams took part in the tournament with 10 Test-playing sides and 4 Associate members also taking part. Pakistan was originally a co-host but after the terrorist attacks in 2009, ICC decided to cancel its involvement and awarded its allotted matches to India and Sri Lanka.

After the elimination of Pakistan as co-host India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka were to host its matches- India had 8 venues – Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Mohali. Sri Lanka had 3 venues- Colombo, Pallekele, and Hambantota. Chittagong and Dhaka were the host cities for Bangladesh.

2011 Cricket World Cup- India World cup Journey:

The 2011 Cricket World cup was the tenth edition of the world cup, where Team Indian becomes the 2011 Cricket World cup winner the first country to win the world cup on their home soil by defeating Sri Lanka in the Finals by Six Wickets, This was the first time in the history of world cup where two Asian teams battled it out for the trophy in the finals.

2011 World Cup Indian team was determined to win the trophy for the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar in their home ground.

2011 Cricket World Cup Group Stages:

The tournament was carried forward by dividing the fourteen teams into two groups Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, and Kenya was in group one. India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, and the Netherlands were part of group 2.

All the teams were to play each other in a round-robin format and the top 4 teams from each group would advance for the quarter-finals. From there on the semi-finals and finals would take place. This format was also repeated for the Trans Tasman World Cup in 2015.

The qualifying round was held in South Africa to determine the four Associate members to play the main tournament. Ireland defeated Canada and both automatically achieved qualification. The Netherlands and Kenya finished third and fourth respectively and achieved qualification too and also kept their ODI status.

In the 2011 World cup first match, India World Cup began in the thunderous start for team India in the inaugural match against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Virender Sehwag began the tournament in some style scoring a mammoth 175 and took India’s total to 370/4 (Which was most runs in world cup 2011 by any team) Sehwag smashed the Bangladeshi bowlers to all corners with 5 sixes- in a slow and steady inning, he led the Indian attack in some style.

The young gun Virat Kohli too added a century to India’s tally with a quickfire 100 from 83 balls. In return, Bangladesh succumbed to 283/9 with Tamim Iqbal trying with a well-fought 70. Munaf Patel led the bowling attack by picking up 4 wickets and giving up only 48.

The lush green of Bangalore was the next venue for team India as they readied to face a good England side. India started out well with Sehwag continuing his good form but it was Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar who stole the show. A crafty hundred from the master batsman meant India posted a formidable 338 on board. Tendulkar played a wide array of shots on a pitch that was heavily productive for batting.

Tim Bresnan was impressive with the ball as he picked up a fiver along with all-rounder Yuvraj Singh who scored a quickfire 58. In reply England captain Andrew Strauss played one of the best innings in world cup history – a fantastic 158 meant he had kept England in the match. Strauss, an elegant left-hander paced his innings brilliantly and scored his runs in 145 deliveries including 18 boundaries and a six at a strike rate of 109.

Although he had kept England in the hunt, there was still a lot of work to be done in the dying moments of the match. Ian Bell and Strauss had put up a brilliant partnership to etch England closer to victory but a flourish of wickets meant India were right back on top.

Munaf Patel was given the responsibility of bowling the final over with Shahzad and Graeme Swann at the crease. 11 from 4 required and Shahzad hit the ball clean over long-off to reduce the deficit to 5. 2 required from the final delivery and the ball was played to deep cover only to result in a single and bring the match to a tie! Probably a fitting result to a heavily competitive match.

Up next for team India World Cup Quest they faced South Africa. A side which had proved its mettle in the Indian subcontinent and posed a considerable threat to India’s unbeaten record.

The South African team had a dangerous bowling attack which included Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. But the form in which Sachin Tendulkar was in meant that India was not to be troubled. Consecutive centuries from Tendulkar meant there was no stopping his wrath. Along with Sehwag who scored 78, they started India’s innings in brilliant fashion and posted 297 in the allotted 50 overs.

In response, South Africa started well with Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith. The middle-order duo of AB De Villiers and JP Duminy proved to be the difference between the two sides. De Villiers who was in fantastic touch played improvised shots and got the full support of Duminy.

Together they fought through the middle overs to put South Africa in a respectable position. This time the final over was given to Ashish Nehra. 13 was required in the final over and it started out in the worst fashion possible for the Indians- a boundary. Nehra followed up with a dot but was smashed over mid-wicket for a huge six by Peterson and then through the covers to give South Africa the victory and silence the crowd. A huge lesson for India but it only meant they could strengthen their mistakes.

In the India World Cup journey, the Men In Blues in the final group stage match was against the West Indies at the M.Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. The match totally belonged to the one and only Yuvraj Singh. A fantastic century with the bat and two wickets with the ball meant India achieved easy victory. At the end of the group stages the eight qualified teams for the quarterfinals were- Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, England, South Africa, and the West Indies.

2011 Cricket World Cup Quarterfinals:

India World cup 2011 journey, India faced it’s the biggest challenge when it was drawn to play the current World Champions Australia. A side that was always tough to beat regardless of where it was being played and it was no different in this case as well. Australia led by their talisman- Ricky Ponting opted to bat first on a spin-friendly Ahmedabad pitch.

The Aussie innings was given a quick start by wicket-keeper batsman Brad Haddin who scored a half-century. Captain Ricky Ponting scored a fantastic century and led from the front. Ponting played the Indian spinners with utter class and chose weak deliveries to put away to the boundary. Australia set India a target of 257 and all eyes were on the opening pair of Sehwag and Tendulkar.

Tendulkar and Sehwag started well until the latter gave away his wicket in a cheap manner. Tendulkar then formed useful partnerships with Kohli and Gambhir before being dismissed as well. Onto the pitch came, India’s all-round star- Mr. Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj played with such confidence along with Raina that the run rate never lagged behind the required rate. Choosing his deliveries well, he ensured that he didn’t play a rash shot and guided Suresh Raina who too provided good support.

But we have to appreciate the fighting efforts of the Aussies- Brett Lee took a major hit to his face while diving for the ball but made no complaints and started bowling the next over. Yuvraj thumped the ball in exquisite style to send the Indian side into the semi-finals and the crowd into a frenzy. Australia had been eliminated and India had made it into the semi-finals.

In the Other Quater Finals, Pakistan defeated West Indies by 10 wickets, and New Zealand defeated South Africa by 49 runs and Sri Lanka emerged victorious against England by 10 wickets.

2011 Cricket World Cup Semi Finals:

India Wolrd Cup 2011 Journey in the semi-final, the stage was set, The fans were ready, The teams were ready for the biggest match on the biggest stage of world cricket. The India Pakistan semi-final in Mohali. A match which was to surely go down in the history books. India was put in to bat by Pakistan and Sehwag started out in typical fashion. Smashing Umar Gul to the boundary in 4 consecutive times he set the tempo

Tendulkar was extremely lucky and he utilized it to the full extent. However, Pakistan fought back in the middle overs with paceman Wahab Riaz picking up the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh in consecutive deliveries to just derail India’s march. Suresh Raina stepped up to the occasion once again and played a wide range of shots along with the tail-enders to make sure India didn’t crumble.

India set Pakistan a target of 261- a decent score which wasn’t a tough one for Pakistan who started well with Mohammed Hafeez and Kamran Akmal. However, the Indian bowling lineup was persistent and bowled with lots of variations to keep the Pakistani batsman thinking.

Misbah Ul Haq played a fighting inning but it wasn’t enough as the Indian bowlers made sure Pakistan was never in control and had no big partnership. Continuous fall of wickets meant they really never got going and the required run rate just kept on rising. Pakistan was bowled out of for 231 and the sight of Virat Kohli claiming the final catch at deep long-on to send India into the finals is remembered by every Indian fan. A moment of pure joy.

2011 World cup Semi Final match between India and Pakistan was a cracker to watch for the fans.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka outsmarts New Zeland by five wickets at Colombo, and India SriLanka World Cup Final match imminent at Wankhede Stadium.

2011 Cricket World Cup Final:

And as the sun dawned on Mumbai on the morning of April 2^nd,2011 World Cup Final was played between India and Sri Lanka in front of the  2011 Cricket World cup Venue Wankhede crowd for the ultimate prize.

Sri Lanka was put in to bat first and the legend Mahela Jayawardene scored a century fitting for the final, gathering runs at a quick rate, he kept on rotating the strike to set up Sri Lanka for a grand slam finish. Kumar Sangakkara too was crucial but missed our in a half-century after being dismissed by Yuvraj Singh. Thisara Perera ended the innings in grand style to set India a challenging 275.

The run chase began in the worst possible way for India as Sehwag was dismissed in the 2^nd ball after being trapped dead in front by Malinga who then went on to claim the prize wicket of Tendulkar to send the Wankhede crowd into utter shock. Virat Kohli just started to get going until he was thwarted by a mind-blowing catch by Dilshan. And while everybody expected Yuvraj Singh to come on, out came the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Together with Gautam Gambhir, he created the most important partnership for India, Gautam Gambhir world cup 2011 final score was unbeaten 97 runs,

Dhoni knew what he was up against and never once looked into trouble. From sliding the ball past cover to rocking on the back foot for a punch. Gambhir fell short of a century by 3 runs but had set up India for victory. Malinga went under the radar by Dhoni’s bat and the platform was set for victory. Nuwan Kulasekara began his run-up and pitched the ball uppishly- “ Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent six. India lift the World Cup after 28 years and it’s been an Indian captain who has been absolutely tremendous on the night of the final”

Words that will never be forgotten. An innings that will remain in history. A team that will be worshipped for years. This was the journey of the 2011 World Cup winner– India.

2011 World cup final scoreboard where Sri Lanka scored 274 runs and team India Scored 277 runs with 10 balls remaining, 2011 World cup Dhoni finished off the match with a six, and it was something special for the Master Blaster, As Sachin Tendulkar world cup 2011 was his first world cup trophy in his illustrious career.

2011 Cricket World Cup Stats:

In the 2011 Cricket world cup, many Players have put their outstanding performances for their country to claim the highest trophy in Cricket, there were many batsmen around the world showcased brilliant batting performances and many bowlers around the world showcased their fierce bowling skills as well, and Yuvraj Singh 2011 world cup got the man of the series award for his scintillating performance with the bat and ball.

Here we would put 2011 World Cup highest Wicket Takers list and 2011 world cup highest Run Scorers list: