‘So other 10 players were drinking lassi?’ – Harbhajan Singh on MS Dhoni getting all the credit of 2011 WC win

It has been 11 days since the 11th anniversary of team India’s iconic win in the 2011 World Cup; and yet fans are in no mood to be getting over that sensational game anytime soon. 

2 April 2011: A night to remember for all Indians

Looking back at it, team India’s overall performance in the 2011 World Cup was a very commendable one. The team, under the able leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, managed to win 4 of its 6 group stage matches- which included a draw against England- and went on to defeat Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the knockouts to lift its second ODI World Cup after a span of 28 years. 

All things considered, it was a really thorough performance from the men-in-blue to clinch the coveted silverware, and each and every member of that World Cup winning team deserves recognition for the individual roles that they had assumed. 

But unfortunately, the popularity of social media as such has spurred a divisive and individualistic culture among fans. 11 years down the line since that unforgettable performance, certain groups of people on social media try to isolate and attribute the success and failures of India’s WC campaign to certain individuals.  

Some fans, for instance, label India’s 2011 World Cup victory as a win achieved solely thanks to captain Dhoni’s stellar knock in the final. Now, no one’s taking away the fact that MSD- who had walked in to bat at number 5 on that fateful night- played a whirlwind innings of 91 not-out to take the game completely out of Sri Lanka’s grasps. 

It is, however, another thing, to associate Dhoni’s name as the only singular player who helped India script that iconic win. Dhoni’s teammate in that final match, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, for one, is of the opinion that India’s win in the 2011 World Cup was a complete team effort. 

‘Baaki 10 players lassi peene gaye the?’- Harbhajan Singh on team India’s 2011 World Cup win

Over on a discussion segment on Star Sports during Kolkata and Delhi’s IPL match on Sunday afternoon, Harbhajan came up with a candid analysis of India’s 2011 World Cup campaign.

” When Australia wins the World Cup at that time everyone says ‘Australia won the World Cup’. When India wins the World Cup at that time, eveeyone said, ‘MS Dhoni won the World Cup’. Toh baaki ke 10 waha lassi peene gaye the?,” (T: Were the other 10 players there to do nothing?), Bhajji pa said. He also made a point to highlight Gautam Gambhir’s name, who scored 97 in the final.

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“What did the other 10 players do? What did Gautam Gambhir do? What did the others do?  It’s a team game. When 7-8 players play well only then only your team will progress”, Harbhajan told the presenters.