Harbhajan Singh, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Indian Cricket Team, India 2011 World Cup
(Photo Credit: BCCI)

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh revealed Gary Kirsten’s message to the team ahead of the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

India lifted the prestigious trophy on home soil 28 years after Kapil Dev and his men attained the feat at Lord’s by defeating West Indies in the 1983 World Cup final.

The MS Dhoni-led side beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Wankhede after chasing 275 in 48.2 overs. Dhoni remained not out on 91 and Gautam Gambhir laid the foundation for the chase with 97 in 122 balls.

India, 2011 World Cup
India. Image Credits: Twitter

There was no team meeting for 2011 World Cup final: Harbhajan Singh

It was a challenging campaign for the hosts to defeat the heavyweights like Australia and Pakistan in the path to the 2011 World Cup final.

Harbhajan, who finished the tournament with nine scalps at 43.33 and an economy of 4.48, said there was no team meeting conducted ahead of the marquee clash at Wankhede.

When we played the final after defeating Pakistan, players had no pressure whatsoever. In fact, there was no team meeting. We just got together and Gary (Kirsten) said — ‘Enjoy’. That’s it. The meeting just had ‘enjoy’ in it,” Harbhajan said on Star Sports.

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Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh (Image Credit: Twitter)

Will India end the ICC trophy drought?

India hasn’t won any major ICC tournament for almost a decade with the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy being the last one in the cabinet. Since then they have reached three semi-finals and two finals only to return as the second-best side.

India had an unforgettable tournament at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Successive defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand confirmed their exit from the group stage.

The Indian team is targeting at another T20 World Cup in Australia this year under a new management comprising skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.

The team has been undefeated in seven T20I series since the last World T20. Rohit and his men are gearing up for the Asia Cup 2022 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the first games on August 28. The continental tournament will allow the Indian think tank to finalise their T20 World Cup squad.

Also Read: ‘We Aren’t Ready To Win The World Cup Final’: Paddy Upton Reveals Indian Coaching Staff’s Comments 10 Months Before 2011 World Cup