Home comforts

For the third time in World Cup history, the tournament returned to the subcontinent — albeit minus Pakistan as one of the hosts. Pakistan was among the named hosts when the World Cup was first being planned, but by 2011, the security situation in the country was such that international teams were unwilling to play in Pakistan. There was little that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could do to change perceptions or ground realities either.

As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) offered compensation money to Pakistan, in lieu of allowing 14 matches that it was supposed to host, including one semi-final, to be played in India. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hosted their games as originally planned; Pakistan was to play its ‘home’ games in Sri Lanka.

The 10th edition of the World Cup was the epitome of commercial consideration and technological triumphs, with revenue from broadcasting rights touching a monstrous two billion dollars, and games available online and on smart phones. This was also the first World Cup that employed the Decision Review System, the technology that India was averse to but had to include as it was an ICC mandated event.

The powerplay was also adjusted: after the mandatory opening 10 overs, two blocks of five overs were spread across the remaining 40 overs, one to be chosen at the behest of the batting side but before the 46th over and the other to be selected at will by the bowling side.

History was about to be rewritten: in the nine editions before 2011, no host country had won a World Cup on home soil. MS Dhoni’s men were set to buck the trend

The format reverted to what it was in 1996: two groups of seven teams followed by a knockout stage beginning with quarter-finals. And like 15 years earlier, there was grumbling that there would be 42 matches played over a month, all to eliminate six teams which could be named on the opening day. That in the opening match of the tournament, India, led by Virender Sehwag (175), slaughtered the Bangladesh attack considered better than the other five Associate teams drove the point home emphatically.

And yet, the match of the tournament was also one that featured an Associate team, Ireland, playing their rivals across the Irish Sea, England.

England had posted an imposing 327 and had Ireland out of luck at 111-5. It was then that Kevin O’Brien came out with a fantastic onslaught that rocked England and caught them completely unaware. By the time he had finished on 113 off a mere 63 balls, with six sixes and 13 fours (he reached his hundred off 50 balls, which is the fastest in World Cups), Ireland were within striking distance and eventually won by three wickets and five balls to spare. O’Brien’s was certainly the innings of the tournament.

Pakistan exited after the semi-final despite Afridi playing his heart out

By that time England, were getting used to living on the edge. The easiest of their wins was with 10 balls to spare against minnows Holland and there they had to chase 296! Otherwise they lost from a winning position to Bangladesh but tied with India chasing 338! They defended 171 against South Africa after the Proteas were 75-0 and then 160-7, and a total of 243 against West Indies when the Calypsos were 222-6. They were so mentally exhausted eventually that they lost by 10 wickets to Sri Lanka in the quarters after posting 229.

Pakistan had a few escapes even against lower-ranked sides but had the honour of breaking Australia’s 34-match unbeaten run in World Cups. By then, both had qualified for the quarter-finals but still it was sweet success for the Shahid Afridi-led team that had seen some trepidation on way. It was a great effort by the Green Caps, considering they were playing away from home crowds while their neighbours all had home advantage.

This was the first World Cup that employed the Decision Review System, the technology that India was averse to but had to include as it was an ICC mandated event.

Pakistan started well by trouncing Kenya by over 200 runs and then beating hosts Sri Lanka after Younis Khan (72) and Misbah (83 not out) had helped them post 277. But it still had to take some wily leg spin from Afridi (4-34) to keep the Lankans short by 11 runs. Admittedly, he was often their saviour, extricating them from possible losing situations. In fact, against Canada, Pakistan were bowled out for 184. Trouble beckoned with the Canadians at 104-3, until Afridi (5-23) ripped into their middle order and Pakistan won comfortably in the end.

They eventually floundered against New Zealand, conceding over 300 and being bowled out for 192. It was a game which set forth some seismic changes in the Pakistan team. It was in this game that Kamran Akmal dropped Ross Taylor twice in three balls off Shoaib Akhtar adding to his woeful keeping till then and all through that World Cup. It was also the game which saw Taylor take 28 off one over from Akhtar to go from 76 to 102 and then Razzaq conceded 30 off another to totally demoralise the Pakistanis. Shoaib Akhtar was not to play for Pakistan again due to his altercation with Kamran Akmal on the field.

Pakistan beat Australia without him though, bowling them out for 176 and chasing down the runs without much bother. Likewise they rolled over West Indies in the quarter-finals with Afridi’s 4-30 leading the way to them being bowled out for 112 and set up a semi-final with India. And what a match that was at Mohali.

India appeared favourites, if only because they were playing at home. They had had their share of street fights on the way. The best of all, following the tied game against England, had been against Australia in the quarter-finals though they had in an earlier game against South Africa gone mysteriously from 267-1 in the 40th over to 296 all out to eventually lose.

Australia had looked totally out of character through the tournament, with their captain Ponting off colour. But in the quarter-final, he scored a hundred to help his side to 260-6. Pulling India to 187-5, they felt they had done pretty good and indeed India had a fight on her hands.

But the Aussies were thwarted by Yuvraj Singh, who had four fifties and a hundred in the event and was to be the man-of-the-tournament. Singh pulled India through with no further loss and with more than two overs to spare.

The semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was less than a sideshow for most of the world, as all eyes were on the other semi-final, where India and Pakistan were to cross swords. There was much media riffraff leading up to what was deemed the final before the final. The Indian media made much of a match fixing scenario, quoting officials in high places. On the Pakistan side, government officials publically warned Pakistani players of going down that route. Nevertheless much bonhomie was reached between the supporters of the two sides on the ground.

The match began with Sehwag and Tendulkar taking the initiative with a near fifty stand and on 141-2, India were dominating. But soon India were five down for 187 and gone among the batsmen was Yuvraj, yorked by Wahab Riaz’s first ball. Ironically, Sachin Tendulkar had benefitted from DRS as he was called halfway back toward the pavilion after being given LBW to Ajmal. The Pakistanis made their own bad luck though dropping him four times until he left for 85; India eventually touching 260.

Pakistan were always just behind the run rate though at 142-4, they had a good enough base. But then they lost Umar Akmal and Razzaq back to back. Even with Misbah and Afridi together and the batting powerplay available, there was hope but then strangely Misbah chose to plod, perhaps fearful of another wicket falling and waiting for the right time to launch. He left it too late especially when Afridi went at 184 and when he did begin something of an assault it was pitifully late; Pakistan were bowled out for 231 in the last over.

The final was a classic, the first time ever in World Cup history that two teams from the same continent had met in the final. There was much talk of the fact that no country had won the World Cup on home soil. Sri Lanka therefore felt they had a chance though there was an element of rancour in their camp regarding selection, with skipper Kumar Sangakkara going in with four changes. To his credit, he helped his side to 122-2 with a fine 48 and with Jayewardene slamming a century Sri Lanka put up a challenging 274-6. At 114-3 India were nervous and at 223-4 came in their skipper MS Dhoni, surprising all to enter ahead of Yuvraj Singh.

It was to be an inspired move, as he used his calm presence and unorthodox stroke play to yank the initiative away from the Lankans. Aiding him was Gambhir and by the time he left, a stroke short of a hundred, India were well on course for victory. They won in style, with Dhoni (91 not out) lofting the ball into the stands with 10 balls and six wickets to spare.

For the first time ever, the World Cup had been lifted by a side on home soil. For the first time, one Sachin Tendulkar could claim a hand on the trophy after having come closest to one in 2003. India had reclaimed the World Cup after 28 years, and just like in 1983, when it was near midnight when Mohinder Amarnath took the last wicket, all of India was alight on a wondrous night.

ICC World Cup — 2011

Teams: 14
Matches: 49
Hosts: India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
Format: Round-robin and knockout
Winners: India
Most runs: Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka (500)
Most wickets: Shahid Afridi of Pakistan (21) and Zaheer Khan of India (21)
Man of the Series: Yuvraj Sindh (India)