A generational triumph: revisiting the 2011 World Cup

We rewind to the 2011 World Cup that was jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh - and talk about ODI cricket back then, the bowler-friendly nature of many games, the big upsets, the nail-biting finishes, and a cathartic moment for India - and a generation that had never knew what it meant to win a World Cup. 

Support 81allout on Ko-Fi

Talking Points:

• The roundabout connection between the hosts of the 2011 World Cup and India taking part in the 2007 World T20


• How India had turned into a feisty ODI side leading up to the World Cup


• The close ODI series in South Africa before the World Cup


• Sehwag and Kohli trouncing Bangladesh in the opening game


• The pulsating tie against England in Bangalore


• Australia's first loss in a World Cup since 1999 - against Pakistan


• Steyn leading South Africa to a thrilling win in Nagpur


• Sri Lanka thriving in their home conditions - throttling the opponents


• Sri Lanka's thumping of England in the quarter-final - and echoes of 1996


• India's bowling attack - dealing in cutters, slower ones and knuckle-balls


• An unforgettable night at the Motera - when India overcame Australia


• The hype before Mohali - and the eventual anti-climax of India v Pakistan


• Mahela's silken grace in the final - an innings for the gods


• The riveting partnership between Gambhir and Kohli  


• Dhoni... finishes off in style

Participants:

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)

DP Prashant (@prashantdptweet)

Ashoka (@ABVan)

Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout)

India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy)

Australia (paperback, e-copy)

USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy)

UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy)

Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy)

Related:

• Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003


• On Board Test, Trial, and Triumph: My Years in BCCI - Ratnakar Shetty - Amazon


• The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back - Yuvraj Singh - Amazon


• 'I wanted to hug him and hit him at the same time till he confirmed we'd won the World Cup' - India's players look back on their triumph - The Cricket Monthly 


• BJP's Control of Cricket in India - Sharda Ugra - Caravan


• Kevin O'Brien's record century against England - ICC - YouTube


• War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast