On his sixth attempt, legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar and the India men’s national cricket team finally achieved a glorious victory at the 2011 ICC World Cup. India’s historic defeat of Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final was watched live by an estimated 135 million fans across India.
For Tendulkar and the team, this World Cup victory could not have been more significant. It was India’s first World Cup win on home soil and second ever triumph. After 28 years of sorrow for his country – and 19 years for Tendulkar personally – Tendulkar led India to their first World Cup title since 1983 in 2011, at his sixth and final attempt.
Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket, was carried on the shoulders of the Indian team. After such dedication to his country, the fans and his team, Tendulkar made a lap of honour in front of raucous cheers, shedding tears of joy after achieving such a momentous victory in his home city.
The Indian Express reported Tendulkar’s spectacular achievement, “For very long, cricket has been synonymous with Tendulkar all over India. But home is where the heart lies, and no other ground in India, or the world, could have provided a more emotional platform for the batting maestro.”
Tendulkar was celebrated and carried on the shoulders of a proud and grateful nation. Describing the event, he explained, “That is what I lived for. That is what I started cricket for.”
