Ravi Shastri lauds MS Dhoni while reminiscing about World Cup 2011

Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri has lauded MS Dhoni once again for soaking up the pressure and leading India to victory in the 2011 World Cup.

“Dhoni finishes off in style”, these words of Ravi Shastri will forever ring in the memory of the Indian cricket fans as one of their fondest memories. It was in the 2011 World Cup final, played on homeland, that MS Dhoni promoted himself up the order.

He not on played an unbeaten 91-run knock but also shepherded the Indian batting. To top it up, he hit a massive six off Sri Lankan pacer Kulashekhara to finish it off in style.

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Recently, in an interview with Gaurav Kapur on the Youtube interview series Breakfast with Champions, the current Indian head coach Ravi Shastri compared and contrasted the World Cup victories in 2011 and 1983.

No one gave India a chance against the likes of Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Vivian Richards, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Sir Andy Roberts in 1983. However, a Kapil Dev led side caused an upset in the final to beat the mighty Windies.

“In 1983, we were the underdogs. Everyone suggested us to just go and give our best shot, there were no expectations. But 2011 was huge for various reasons. The tournament was in India, no team had a World Cup whilst hosting. Everyone wanted India to win,” head coach Ravi Shastri said.

Shastri conceded that the team was under far more pressure in 2011 as compared to 2011. As the tournament was held in India and no team had won it in home conditions hitherto, the media hype was something else.

“The difference in media hype in 2011, when compared to 1983, was chalk and cheese. The pressure on those boys (2011 team) was massive and to pull it off in that style, the way MS (Dhoni) finished it, unbelievable,” Shastri proudly remarked.