Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir made a rather blunt remark while reflecting on the 2011 World Cup-winning campaign. Gambhir expressed that former star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was not given due credit for helping the Men in Blue reach the final of the World Cup as the media instead focused on MS Dhoni’s title-winning six.
It is no secret that Gambhir and Dhoni contributed invaluably with the bat in the summit clash against Sri Lanka in April 2011, to bring home the title after 28 years. However, Gambhir reflected on India’s campaign and stated that Yuvraj, Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina, and Munaf Patel among others played a vital role in winning the title.
“We haven’t credited Yuvraj enough for the 2011 World Cup. Even Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina, and Munaf Patel. Sachin Tendulkar was the highest run scorer, but do we talk about that? Media keep talking about that one MS Dhoni six. You’re obsessed with individuals; you’ve forgotten team,” Gambhir told on RevSportz.
It is worth noting that Yuvraj Singh was declared Player of the Tournament as he claimed 15 scalps and scored 362 runs in nine appearances. In addition, speedster Zaheer Khan was the joint-highest wicket-taker of the competition with 21 wickets in his account in nine matches. Meanwhile, legendary batter Tendulkar emerged as the leading run-getter for the Men in Blue with 482 runs in nine matches and the second-most in the tournament.
Picked up my bat to make 100 crore people happy: Gambhir on his stellar knock in WC final
Speaking about the World Cup final, it was Gambhir who helped orchestrate team India’s win as he slammed 97 off 122 balls, which featured nine boundaries. The southpaw was further aided by a magnificent knock by skipper MS Dhoni as he hammered an unbeaten 91 off 79 balls, which helped India attain glory, their first since the 1983 World Cup-winning campaign.
Short of just three runs to score a century, Gambhir stated that he did not think much about the stats and instead focused on how his knock would help his side and the country proud.
“When I played that inning, my thinking was not about getting celebrated. My thinking was if I can make 100 crore people happy, if I can make my country proud, that is all I have picked up my bat for,” he added.