Men in blue won the World Cup ‘in a city that never sleeps’ but, the whole of India didn’t sleep that night.

The 2011 World Cup win was without a doubt quite possibly the most energizing crossroads throughout the entire existence of Indian cricket. This achievement occurred because of the aggregate endeavours of the fifteen individuals from the Indian cricket team.

After ten years, as we glance back at the notable accomplishments, it is peremptory to take apprehension of the numerous invaluable contributions that went into making this 28-year-long dream a reality.

There are a few days and minutes that stay carved in memory for eternity. Each individual from varying backgrounds has that one date, that holds a special feeling. The simple token of that day brings back a surge of feelings. For fanatics of Indian cricket, 2nd April 2011 was one such day. It was a night that everybody related with this game in the nation won’t forget until their final breath.

India’s race to the finale was no simple one. Facilitating the tournament, the Men in Blue began the tournament as favourites. However, playing on home soil, the pressure in the team was at a record-breaking high. The initial stages didn’t go as made arrangements for Team India, as the game against England completed in a tie and loss against South Africa followed. The worry around the country was apparent as in the two games, India couldn’t rack up a score of 300; where Sachin Tendulkar had scored a century.

This was harming because, inside and out, that tournament was about Sachin Tendulkar. His status in Indian cricket stays unmatched. His records, accomplishments, and measurements represent themselves. However, overall that was the spot he had procured in the core of Indian fans. No one preceding procured that height.

2nd April 2011 was a date that the cricketing fraternity had marked for a lengthy timespan. India’s adversaries in the last were co-host’s, Sri Lanka. On the off chance that there was Sachin Tendulkar for India, there was Muttiah Muralitharan for the Lankans; who was playing his last game. The Wankhede was set for an energizing, enthusiastic, and sensational match of cricket. A billion dreams were one stage away from materializing.

It was not an extraordinary day for Virender Sehwag. The brave opener got out for a duck and soon Sachin Tendulkar followed his initial accomplice back to the pavilion.

With the score perusing 31/2 and panic-stricken silence at Wankhede Stadium, a tyro aged 22-year old – Virat Kohli strode out to the middle. The way Virat Kohli ingested the pressing factor in the large last was exemplary. He batted reasonably well to squeeze out the ones and twos while dispatching the odd ball away. He realized that building a partnership was key at that point and that is actually what he pursued.

He additionally survived from a modest left-handed batsman who, in his grimy shirt went on to score although India lost two big wickets in quick succession. To fail to remember Gautam Gambhir’s 97 in the last would be ridiculous, and it’s time due credit is given to the innings that set the partnership for India’s success. He reestablished Indian fortunes close by Virat Kohli, who outflanked his age and showed improvement which reflects in his world overpowering status today. Together, they set up a stage.

Gautam Gambhir in his renowned cricketing history has numerous records amazingly yet his game dominating exhibitions in the two World Cup finals possess a special spot in the chronicles of cricket history.

A deferred call-up to the team, a forgettable maiden match, a captaincy offer out of the blue, a World Cup ticket, an IPL legend, and tout of the country’s greatest medication. A country that had hurled the entire night discovered its delivery, and MS Dhoni protected his position in the cricketing history with an innings of a lifetime. It truly might have been nobody else to hit the runs that finished India’s 28-year long drought for the ICC trophy.

Skipper, MS Dhoni advanced himself up the order ahead of Yuvraj to settle the Indian innings with a significant century partnership with Gautam Gambhir. At that point alongside Yuvraj, he took India past the finishing line in the 49th over.

With the task practically finished, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh applied the final artworks and took India to their second ODI World Cup win. The Indian skipper polished things off in style with a glorious six over long-on as India won by 6 wickets with 10 balls to save. Not only the thousands of spectators present at the Wankhede Stadium, but a billion arose when Ravi Shastri, the commentator said – “Dhoni finishes it off in style, a magnificent strike into the crowd, India lift the World Cup after 28 years, the party starts in the dressing room, and it is an Indian captain who has been magnificent in the night of the final.”

The tears after openers departed early, the hope when Virat Kohli stood there, the adrenaline rush after Gautam Gambhir’s dive, the butterfly in the stomach after Dhoni’s cut for six and the tears of joy after his final six – this was the night on 2nd April 2011 in a nutshell.

From a ball boy who had seen the end of India’s World Cup crusade in 1987 to a marvel kid who experienced childhood before a country of a billion dreams. Sachin Tendulkar was cloaked in the tri-colour and not trying to battle tears took a lap of the Wankhede and waved at the spectators in appreciation, who cheered back in subservient regard.

The entire team bouncing around, numerous in tears, the players doing a triumph lap with the staff strolling behind them affectionately intertwined. All potential feelings came flooding in.

Addressing the camera, a 21-year-old tyro summarized the public feeling inarticulate words. “He carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, so it is the time we carried him on our shoulders”, said Virat Kohli.

Wankhede ascended to another day of merriment with an awesome presentation of firecrackers, enormous cheering, Team India displaying its much merited World Cup Trophy and the sheer fervour of history rehashing the same thing indeed.

Truly flawless grins radiated on the essences of Indian players and a feeling of public pride exuberated from them. These men made the country glad by winning the World Cup.

The ‘city that never sleeps’ lived up to its name. Not just the city the entire nation didn’t sleep that night.