Sachin Tendulkar retired former legendary Indian batsman has revealed he asked Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan to ensure he did not fall down as Team India did the victory lap after winning the 2011 World Cup.
India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the 2011 World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following the famous win, the players thanked the fans with a victory lap, during which Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan lifted Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders.
Sachin Tendulkar Told Virat Kohli And Yusuf Pathan To Ensure He Won’t Fall Down After India Won 2011 ODI World Cup After A Hiatus Of 28 Years
Sachin Tendulkar, who went to complete a century of centuries in a 24-year-long career, scoring a mountain of runs for India, lifting the 2011 World Cup trophy turned out to be the moment he will cherish the most.
Recalling the iconic moment, Sachin Tendulkar said during an interaction organized by Unacademy: “The victory lap had one incident, when Virat and Yusuf Pathan lifted me, I told them to ensure that I do not fall down. It was not just the Indian team that won the World Cup, it was the entire nation, it is all of us who did it.”
Sachin Tendulkar also admitted that the 2011 World Cup triumph was the “best cricketing day of his life”. Sharing his emotions, the 48-year-old elaborated that the unbelievable moment saw the entire country celebrating.
“When I saw Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup in 1983, it was an unbelievable experience. I enjoyed it with my friends and I wanted to chase my dream. I decided what may come, I have to focus and chase my dream of lifting the World Cup.
“In Mumbai at Wankhede, it was just unbelievable, it was the best cricketing day of life. How many times you have the country celebrate, many few things are there which the entire country celebrates.”
That moment, titled ‘Carried On The Shoulders Of A Nation’, is a reference to the Indian historic win and has been shortlisted as one among the five contenders for the greatest Laureus Sporting Moment 2000-2020 Award. Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh have urged fans to vote for the cricketing great.
That moment made India the first team to win the World Cup on home soil, 28 years after Kapil Dev’s men had lifted cricket’s biggest trophy at Lord’s in 1983.
In the final, Sri Lanka had set India a target of 275, aided by Mahela Jayawardene’s sublime century. In reply, Lasith Malinga got Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag early, however, Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni, who promoted himself up the order scoring an unbeaten 91, led the chase as India won by six wickets.
Sachin Tendulkar Who Recovered After Testing Covid-19 Positive Donated INR 1 Crore To Help Procure Oxygen Concentrators
India is grappling with one of its biggest crisis, as over 3 lakh COVID-19 positive cases are being reported per day, as per official numbers. Sachin Tendulkar himself tested positive for the virus earlier this year and was even admitted to a hospital.
Speaking about his battle with COVID-19, Sachin Tendulkar thanked the medical fraternity as well as his family and friends who kept him in a positive frame of mind.
“I think it is a difficult time for all of us, these are unprecedented times and all I can say is from my first-hand experience, the entire medical fraternity, I cannot thank them enough. How they have stayed committed to saving lives, helping so many people, and nobody has complained. Nobody has said that today we do not feel like working, they are saving lives. A big thank you to all of them.”
Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images
“To my friends and family, when I was diagnosed with COVID-19, they kept me in that positive frame of mind. It is a challenging time for everyone, but we have to stay positive and help each other. My message for everyone will be to follow the new normal, washing your hands, making sure you maintain a certain level of hygiene and also to maintain social distancing,” Sachin Tendulkar added.