'I Can Promise You That Wasn't A Very Pleased MS Dhoni,' Graeme Swann Said Of The 2011 World Cup Match Against India

Former England spinner Graeme Swann recalls the dramatic tie match between India and England during the 2011 World Cup.

Every Indian cricket fan still remembers the 2011 World Cup. The MS Dhoni-led team had defeated Sri Lanka in the tournament final, clinching India’s second World Cup trophy.

Despite India’s dominance throughout the competition, England gave them a scare when they tied with them in Dhoni and co’s second game.
With Andrew Strauss hitting 158 and Ian Bell reaching a courageous half-century, India had a bad start to their bowling, posting 338 in 49.5 overs (69 off 71 balls).

With nearly seven overs to go, England was 281/2 and appeared to be the favorites to win. India was able to claw their way back into the game thanks to a united effort from the bowling attack, which saw them take the next six wickets in 37 deliveries.

Graeme Swann has spoken about the thrilling match in Bengaluru when he and Ahmad Shahzad helped the English team to a tie.

“We were smiling, cracking jokes in the locker room.” ‘Hah, they’re down 20 runs,’ or ‘Hah, look at how terrific we are.’ Mishra (Piyush Chawla) then took a couple of wickets. Then we got extremely trapped.”

“We never were going to win the game. Then it was up to the bowlers to bail out the batters and focus on winning, as is customary in one-day cricket. We then entered. I got a six from Mishra. I struck him for a six with a googly, which brought us back into the game.”

‘MS Dhoni got angry on a fielder at midwicket’: Graeme Swann

Swann then told how MS Dhoni became enraged at a fielder at midwicket after the partnership scored two runs on the match’s last delivery.

“It got down to four balls required off of two.” We scurried for two when there should’ve been none. I can promise you that MS Dhoni was not pleased. The extra cover dove and blocked the last ball because it was too full to get underneath. “We only got one,” Graeme Swann recalled.

The MS Dhoni-led team had defeated Sri Lanka in the tournament final, clinching India’s second World Cup trophy.

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