Cricket World Cup 2011 final, India Vs. Sri Lanka: India 277-4 Beat Sri Lanka 274-6 By Six Wickets

Destiny fulfilled.

Ever since it was announced that the sub-continent would host this World Cup and moreover that the final was to be staged in Mumbai, the expectation that India, unquestionably the most fanatical of the cricketing nations, would be the side that would hold the trophy aloft.

In doing so, they became the first host nation to win the trophy: the pressure of that expectation too much of a burden for sides previous and great credit should be given to the Indian side for overcoming the levels of expectation that no other sporting side has to bear.

Whilst the dreams of over a billion people came true, the fairytale of Sachin Tendulkar crowning the occasion with his hundredth century for India was not to be. The sight, post-game, of him being held aloft on his team-mates shoulders said everything. As twenty-two year old batsman (who was only just born when Tendulkar made his Indian debut aged 16) Virat Kohli said: “Sachin carried the burden of a nation for 21 years so he deserves it.”

It was a deserved win for India on balance, but at the half-way stage looked to be a run chase that may just be beyond them. The onslaught from the Sri Lankan batsman over the final ten overs, aided by the wonderfully caressed hundred from Mahela Jayawardene (the sixth in a World Cup final – and the only one to end up on the losing side), pushed a competitive total into the realms of a challenging one.

Kohli and Gautam Gambhir managed to stabilise the innings, less than aggressive Sri Lankan field placings aiding their ability to keep the score ticking over, and when Kohli departed in came MS Dhoni. Taking captains responsibility, he pushed himself up the order ahead of the in-form man of the tournament Yuvraj. He and Gambhir continued the pace and put on 109 as India moved into the ascendancy. Gambhir fell though, a loose shot when a century was in sight with still needing 44 to win and with Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan with overs left.

Muralitharan though, try as he might, could not conjure up one final spell of magic before riding off into the sunset and once Yuvraj had steadied himself, India chased down their total, with, perhaps fittingly, the winning runs hit long and straight from the bat of Dhoni.

There will be questions for Sri Lanka; namely around their selection in which they made four changes for the final, including jettisoning Ajantha Mendis that looked a gamble that failed.

But this was India’s time, and perhaps all along their destiny was meant to be fulfilled.