Throwback to when bat used by MS Dhoni in 2011 ICC World Cup final fetched 72 lakhs in auction

April 2 — a date that will forever remain etched in the minds of all cricket lovers in India. On this day in 2011, India ended their 28-year-long wait of winning the ICC ODI World Cup after the MS Dhoni-led star-studded team defeated Sri Lanka at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium to replicate the feat which was for the first time achieved by Kapil’s Devils in 1983.

MS Dhoni, who played a crucial role in winning the final, deservedly finished it off with a monstrous six off Nuwan Kulasekara which got notched up as one of the most iconic shots in Indian cricket books.

As emotions poured in, every cricket fan in India and particularly those of Dhoni wanted to have a closer look at the bat with which Dhoni pulled off one of Indian cricket’s biggest moments. the bat was, therefore, taken to an auction in July 2011 where it fetched a whopping 100,000 pounds, amounting to around 72 lakhs in Indian currency. The amount was used in the social works of Dhoni’s charitable foundation.

Dhoni and Gambhir realised India’s long-standing World Cup dream

After being favoured by the coin, MS Dhoni put Sri Lanka to bat and executed a brilliant powerplay, courtesy of Zaheer Khan. Zaheer dismissed Upul Tharanga early into the innings to reduce Sri Lanka to 17/1. Although Tillakaratne Dilshan and skipper Kumar Sangakkara stabilised the innings with important contributions of 33 and 48 runs respectively, it was Mahela Jayawardene who stole the show with a brilliant unbeaten century. Jayawardene scored 103* off 88 deliveries to help Sri Lanka put a total of 274/6 on the board.

Chasing 275 runs, India lost opener Virender Sehwag on the second ball of the innings itself when Malinga trapped him lbw. Left-handed top-order batter Gautam Gambhir starred with a scintillating 97-run knock that propelled India to a commanding position. After successfully checking the early fall of wickets with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Gambhir then stitched a 109-run partnership with MS Dhoni before being bowled out by Thisara Perera. His innings included nine boundaries.

The proceedings were then carried forward by skipper MS Dhoni who not only contained the flow of wickets at one end but also accelerated the chase with six fours and two sixes. Dhoni scored an unbeaten 91 to give effect to a 54-run unconquered stand with Man of the Series, Yuvraj Singh, who remained unbeaten on 21.