Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh recently spoke about India’s glorious winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy, where he won the Player of the Tournament award. Yuvraj felt that the Indian team was destined to win the semi-final of that tournament against the arch-rivals Pakistan, and that’s why most of the luck went for their side.
In the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India and Pakistan met at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium (Mohali, Chandigarh). After winning the toss, while India scored 260/9 (50 overs), Pakistan replied with 231 runs (49.5 overs).
The legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was one of the heroes of that match. He missed out to create history by scoring his 100th century in international career but the right-handed batsman scored the crucial 85 runs off 115 balls (11 fours). While the other Indian batsmen were struggling in that game, Tendulkar’s knock was proved the crucial match decider. However, Tendulkar got some crucial luck during the first innings as the Pakistan players dropped multiple catches off him.
Yuvraj Singh believes that they were destined to win that game which was proved after Tendulkar’s multiple lucky opportunities.
During the recent Instagram session, Yuvraj said, “I think we were destined to win that game. I think Sachin scored 87 in that game and got dropped twice. Hence, it was just meant to happen.”
Mohali has been a very unlucky ground for me: Yuvraj Singh
Incidentally, they played that game at Mohali, which was also Yuvraj’s home ground. That’s why many came to watch his performance during that game. However, Yuvraj earlier hadn’t good luck at this venue, as when he made his Test debut at this venue, he suffered a broken knee and fractured finger. In that CWC 2011 semi-final, Yuvraj scored a golden duck as the Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz crushed his middle-stump with an inswinging yorker.
Yuvraj added, “I played the semi-final at my home ground [Mohali]. Mohali has been a very unlucky ground for me, I made my Test debut over there, got my knee broken there and fractured my finger over there as well.
“Everyone had come to see me and watch the local boy perform in a World Cup game, and I got out on the very first delivery. The silence after my wicket was similar to when Sachin used to get out.”
However, as a left-arm spinner, Yuvraj got two important wickets (Asad Shafiq 30 and Younis Khan 13) in the second innings of that match. He finished that game with the bowling figures of 10-1-57-2.