As everyone rewinds the clock back to celebrate the 10th anniversary of India’s historic 2011 World Cup victory on Friday (April 2), former Indian cricket team manager Ranjib Biswal has shared the biggest surprise of their famous World Cup journey.
In the thrilling final on April 2 in 2011, Dhoni hit Nuwan Kulasekara for an iconic six at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to help India lift the World Cup trophy after 28 years.
Recalling India’s historic World Cup 2011 triumph, Biswal said it was then India captain MS Dhoni who surprised all next morning with a shaved head after captaining the country to World Cup 2011 title and it would remain etched in his mind forever and the biggest surprise of their World Cup journey.
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Dhoni’s picture outside the Gateway of India in his new avatar is one of the most iconic pictures from India’s historic triumph and is etched in the minds of many including the team manager Biswal.
Biswal told ANI on Friday, “We literally had no idea what was awaiting us the morning after the final. We had celebrated till late in the dressing room after the win and then came back to the team hotel and continued celebrating till around 4:30 in the morning.
After that, we retired to our rooms. And what do we see when we wake up? Dhoni has shaved off his head after returning to his room. It was indeed a moment that will stay with us forever. We had no clue.”
On being asked whether Dhoni went to his room earlier than the rest, he replied: “Not at all. He was there with all of us and left only when the celebrations ended. And then he goes to his room and shaves off his head. That is Dhoni for you. He keeps his emotions close to his heart and doesn't express much.”
On high-pressure semi-final clash between India and Pakistan in Mohali in the World Cup, Biswal recalled: “An India-Pakistan clash, over that a World Cup encounter and even above that, it was the semi-final of the World Cup. Let us not even get started on the fact that dignitaries and fans from across the border were present in the stadium to watch the game.”
He added, “But as it is with MS and also then-coach Gary Kirsten, they didn't let the pressure show in their behavior. I think that helped calm the nerves of the others around. As for me, it was about making sure that the cricketers were focused solely on the game and everything else was taken care of.”
Biswal signed off by saying, “To be honest, it still gives me goosebumps to think of the whole stadium singing Vande Mataram as Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh took India home at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011.”
(With ANI Inputs)
