Indian cricket witnessed one of its greatest moments when Dhoni launched Nuwan Kulasekara over wide long-on for a six to seal the 2011 World Cup win on this day ten years ago. However, ten years after that triumph, Gautam Gambhir, the other hero in that final, is irked that Dhoni’s six became the defining moment of India’s World Cup triumph and not Yuvraj Singh’s all-round contribution in the tournament.

With 362 runs at an average of 90.5 and 15 wickets at an average of 25.13, Yuvraj Singh was a key player in India’s second ODI World Cup win and deservingly won the Player of the Tournament award.

Gautam Gambhir lashed out for MS Dhoni’s tournament-sealing six dominating public consciousness and not Yuvraj Singh’s efforts. In an interview with The Times of India, Gautam Gambhir said:

Chasing 275 for victory, India were in a precarious position at 114 for 3 in the 22nd over after the fall of Virat Kohli. Dhoni promoted himself ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh and stitched together a 109-run stand with Gautam Gambhir that set up the platform for the successful chase.

Gautam Gambhir fell for 97, but MS Dhoni (91*) took the team home and was awarded the Man of the Match.

Yuvraj Singh won two World Cups: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir has credited Yuvraj Singh for two World Cup wins for India (T20 World Cup in 2007 and ODI World Cup in 2011).

In the 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh scored only 148 runs in the tournament, with two fifties. But he got those runs at a strike rate close to 195. His 12-ball half-century against England in the tournament remains the fastest fifty in international cricket.

Despite Yuvraj Singh playing a key role in the 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, MS Dhoni’s leadership was portrayed as the key reason for India’s success.

Gautam Gambhir continued:

Talking of World Cups, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, here’s an interesting trivia.

Back in 2000, both Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni were overlooked for the Under-19 World Cup. Yuvraj Singh went on to win India their maiden U-19 World Cup that year, bagging the Player of the Tournament award.

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