Gautam Gambhir Posts Emotional Message On Eighth Anniversary of 2011 World Cup Win

Gautam Gambhir will be always be remembered for his heroic knock in the final of the 2011 World Cup final. The entire Wankhede Stadium was covered by a blanket of silence when Lasith Malinga pegged back India by dismissing their legendary openers – Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar – with just 31 runs on t board. Chasing 274 under the lights and under such pressure was going to be herculean task against a side that boasted the likes of Nuwan Kulasekara, Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan.

But the silence soon gave way to cheers and chorus as Gambhir took charge of the innings. He mixed caution with aggression to revive the chase. In the hot and humid conditions of Mumbai, Gambhir gave it his all to bring cheers on the faces of millions of Indians. From running hard, finding gaps to hit fours to diving in order to save his wicket, Gambhir fought out of his skin to put India in command of the proceedings in the World Cup final.

The left-handed batsman, who was the top-scorer when India beat Pakistan in the final of the inaugural World T20, starred once again with the bat in another World Cup final.  He added 83 runs with Virat Kohli to steady the ship before stitching a match-turning partnership with MS Dhoni. The two added 109 runs for the fourth wicket which was the highest by an Indian pair in three World Cup final appearances. Gautam Gambhir was looking destined to become the first Indian to score a century in a World Cup final before being castled by Thisara Perera on 97.

Gambhir struck nine fours in a 122-ball monumental knock.

MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh then took India over the line. Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 91, sealed the game with an iconic six as India became the first country to win the World Cup at home.

Tuesday (April 2) marked the eighth anniversary of that famous win at the Wankhede. And Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter to post an emotional message. He posted a picture of the mud-clad jersey that he was wearing in the final while writing:

“कुछ यादों के पन्ने मिट्टी से सजे हों तो ही अच्छे लगते हैं।”

कुछ यादों के पन्ने मिट्टी से सजे हों तो ही अच्छे लगते हैं। @BCCI #WorldCup2011 pic.twitter.com/OOVG4uPOC7

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 2, 2019