Sachin Tendulkar competed in six World Cups before winning the coveted trophy in his final tournament. The batting legend was nearing the end of his career at the time, but he has stated in the years since that winning the World Cup remains the pinnacle of his illustrious career.
Sachin Tendulkar famously, was unable to play a significant role in the final of that tournament, which was held at his beloved Wankhede Stadium, home of the Mumbai team for whom he played domestic cricket. The star-studded Sri Lankan side set a target of 275 for India to chase, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring an unbeaten 103 off 88 balls, and India were dealt an early setback when opener Virender Sehwag fell to Lasith Malinga off the first ball of the innings. Tendulkar had opened with Sehwag and shared a 31-run stand with Gautam Gambhir, who would go on to become one of the final’s heroes before succumbing to Malinga.
The pivotal moment occurred with the first ball of the seventh over. Tendulkar edged, and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara caught him behind the stumps. Tendulkar walked back into the stadium, having scored 18 in 14 balls. Tendulkar was replaced by a young Virat Kohli, with whom he had a brief conversation as they approached the boundary.
Tendulkar revealed the brief information he had passed on to Kohli on Friday. “Ab bhi ball thoda swing hai!” (The ball is still swinging a little bit)” Tendulkar said in a tweet in response to a fan who asked him what he had told Kohli at the time. Kohli would go on to play an important role in reviving India’s chase, scoring 35 in 49 balls in an 83-run stand with Gambhir. Captain MS Dhoni came in to replace him, and he and Gambhir put on a 109-run stand.
After Gambhir fell for 97 off 122 balls, Dhoni led India to victory with Yuvraj Singh at the other end. The Indian captain finished the chase unbeaten on 91 runs, hitting a six-over long-on off the second ball of the 49th over to end the chase and begin the celebrations.
