On This Day, 15 Years Ago: India Defeated Sri Lanka to Win the 2011 ODI World Cup

Fifteen years ago, on April 2, 2011, one of the most memorable nights in cricket history unfolded at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In front of a packed crowd and millions watching around the world, India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The victory ended a 28-year wait for India’s second World Cup title and created one of the defining moments in the history of the sport.

A Final Between Two Asian Giants

The 2011 World Cup final brought together two of the strongest teams in world cricket. Sri Lanka entered the match with a talented and experienced side led by Kumar Sangakkara, while India were captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and carried the hopes of an entire nation.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. After a cautious start, the Sri Lankan innings gathered momentum through important contributions from Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayawardene produced one of the finest innings ever seen in a World Cup final. Batting with elegance and control, he scored an unbeaten 103 runs from 88 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to a total of 274 for 6 in their 50 overs.

At the time, it looked like a strong score in a World Cup final, especially under the pressure of the occasion.

India’s Difficult Start

India’s chase did not begin the way their fans had hoped. Virender Sehwag was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, trapped lbw by Lasith Malinga. Soon after, Sachin Tendulkar also fell cheaply, leaving India at 31 for 2.

The atmosphere inside the Wankhede Stadium suddenly changed. Sri Lanka were in control and India’s hopes appeared to be fading.

However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Kohli played confidently before being dismissed for 35, but his partnership with Gambhir gave India a way back into the match.

Then came one of the biggest decisions of the night.

Dhoni’s Masterstroke

Instead of sending in Yuvraj Singh, captain MS Dhoni promoted himself up the batting order. It was a move that surprised many at the time, but it would soon become one of the most celebrated decisions in cricket history.

Dhoni joined Gambhir at the crease and together they built the innings patiently. They rotated the strike, punished loose deliveries and slowly shifted the pressure back onto Sri Lanka.

Gambhir played one of the innings of his life, scoring 97 runs and falling just three short of a century. Dhoni remained calm throughout and played perhaps the finest innings of his career.

With India needing just a few runs to win, Dhoni struck Nuwan Kulasekara high over long-on for six. The ball disappeared into the crowd and India had reached 277 for 4 with 10 balls remaining.

Dhoni finished unbeaten on 91 from 79 balls.

A Moment That Lives Forever

The image of Dhoni’s winning six has become one of the most iconic moments in cricket history. The commentary line — “Dhoni finishes off in style” — is still remembered by cricket fans around the world.

As soon as the winning runs were scored, the Wankhede Stadium erupted in celebration. Players ran onto the field, fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky and the Indian team celebrated their first World Cup triumph since 1983.

For Sachin Tendulkar, it was an especially emotional moment. Playing in his sixth and final World Cup campaign, he finally achieved his dream of lifting the trophy. Indian players carried Tendulkar on their shoulders around the stadium as fans chanted his name.

Sri Lanka’s Brave Effort

Although Sri Lanka ended on the losing side, their performance in the final was far from disappointing. Mahela Jayawardene’s century remains one of the greatest knocks ever played in a World Cup final.

Sri Lanka had also reached the final through impressive performances throughout the tournament and pushed India all the way in Mumbai.

For Sri Lankan fans, the defeat was painful, but the team’s effort, discipline and fighting spirit earned respect across the cricketing world.

Why the 2011 Final Still Matters

Fifteen years later, the 2011 World Cup final is still remembered because it had everything — pressure, drama, world-class performances and a finish that created history.

For India, it was the moment they returned to the top of world cricket. For Sri Lanka, it remains a reminder of how close they came to winning the sport’s biggest prize.

Above all, the match is remembered as a final worthy of the occasion, played between two great cricketing nations.

Score Summary

Sri Lanka – 274/6 (50 overs)

• Mahela Jayawardene – 103*
• Kumar Sangakkara – 48
• Nuwan Kulasekara – 32

India – 277/4 (48.2 overs)

• MS Dhoni – 91*
• Gautam Gambhir – 97
• Virat Kohli – 35

India won by 6 wickets and lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup for the second time in their history.