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Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the toast of India today. He can write his own ticket. Despite being overcome by the heat, the Indian skipper shared a fourth wicket stand of 109 with Gautam Gambhir (97), and an unbroken 54 for the fifth with Yuvraj Singh (21*), to win the World Cup in Mumbai over Sri Lanka, by six wickets.
It’s only the third time in 10 World Cup finals the chasing team has won – a special night for India, ending a 28-year drought since Kapil Dev hoisted the trophy at Lords.
The chockers Wankhede Stadium went through two extremes.
The eerie silence when Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendular, were back in the shed for 31, chasing 275 – Sehwag trapped in front second ball of the innings for a duck, Tendulkar caught behind for 18 – both off the on-fire bowling of the “Slinga” Malinga.
From the eerie silence to the constant deafening roar once Dhoni joined the in-form Gambhir at 3-114 – 161 in arrears, with 146 deliveries remaining.
Still a big ask.
What makes a good captain? Making the tough decisions at the right time.
Dhoni’s had a very quiet tournament by his lofty standards, with 34 his top score against Ireland – while Yuvraj Singh has been virtually unstoppable with the bat, averaging 85. But with the World Cup on the line, Dhoni promoted himself above Yuvraj – and it proved a masterstroke.
The captain saved his best for the final, surviving a perilously close run out on 69, on his way to a title-clinching, and unbeaten, 91 – fittingly finishing with a huge six.
But it wasn’t Dhoni who was chaired by team-mates around the ground – that honour went to Sachin Tendulkar, playing in his last World Cup.
It was an anti-climax for Tendulkar fans, numbering billions.
The scene was set for India’s run-getting machine to crack his history-making 100th international century in the decider.
And what better stage than the final of the World Cup.
But the “Slinga” Malinga had other ideas, he came to poop the party.
He bowled the perfect ball that left Tendulkar, found the edge, and keeper Kumar Sangakarra snared a superb catch lowdown to his right, the maestro out for 18.
But that was the last hurrah for Sri Lanka, as the enormous depth in the Indian batting order regrouped.
The highlights:
* Sangakarra won the toss, eventually. In a first, match referee Jeff Crowe ordered a re-toss when he wasn’t clear who called what, the din in the stadium was so loud. Sangakarra made a patient 48 off 67 to set the launching pad.
* Mahela Jayawardena’s unbeaten 103 was superb off just 88, with 13 boundaries, to be there when Sri Lanka closed with 6-274.
* And the “Slinga” – who has made World Cups his personal playground, with an unprecedented four wickets in four balls – a double hat-trick – against South Africa, in the 2007 tournament.
* Gambhir’s 97 set the course for victory, his only loose shot in three hours cost him a deserved century.
* The thunderous applause to farewell Murali, who has hung up his boots after a stellar career – with a record 800 Test wickets at 22.72, and a record 534 ODI wickets at 23.08.
* And that left Mahendra Singh Dhoni on his road to glory – cometh the hour, cometh the man.
* Man of the Match – MS Dhoni, for his unbeaten 91 off just 79, with eight boundaries, and two sixes.
* Man of the Series – Yuvraj Singh, with four Man of the Match awards, 362 runs at 86.19, and 15 wickets at 25.13.
Fittingly, they were both at the crease when India clinched victory.