India’s triumph over Sri Lanka to bag the 50-over World Cup in 2011 was one of the greatest moments Indian cricket has ever witnessed. Ravi Shastri’s commentary of the colossal six by M.S Dhoni of Nuwan Kulasekara still reverberates in the ears.
Six years down the line, some of India’s World Cup warriors are still plying their trade in the cricketing globe. Some of them are even in the fag end of their illustrious cricketing careers. We take you down the memory lane and list out some players who deserve a grand farewell.
#5 Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh, over the years, has been an epitome of passion, grit, dedication and will power. He is one who has defied a vicious illness and resurrected himself for cricket- a game which he worships. He is one Indian player who deserves a grand send-off.
It’s been six long years since India’s World Cup triumph in 2011 and the southpaw’s contribution is still afresh in the memories. Not only did he perform with the bat, but also chipped in with important wickets when India needed them the most.
It wasn’t a surprise that he bagged the Man of the Series award for the tournament. He is currently representing India in the Champions Trophy in England and started the tournament with a blitzkrieg knock against Pakistan which won him the Man of the Match accolade.
#4 Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a man for the big occasions and rightly so as he shepherded India to the World Cup title with a gutsy innings of 91 runs. Many a time, he has helped India snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and has established himself as one of the best finishers of world cricket.
A player who has been an indefatigable servant of Indian cricket, he deserves a grand farewell from the Indian cricket management. The Indian team has won every ICC organised event under M.S Dhoni, which speaks volumes about the leadership of the individual.
Earlier this year, Dhoni had given the leadership mantle to Virat Kohli, but he still remains an inextricable element of the Indian team.
#3 Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir, in the last couple of years or so, has found it a tad difficult in finding a spot in the Indian national team. However, that doesn’t downgrade the astounding ability the left-handed batsman from New Delhi possesses.
While it’s harsh to overlook Gambhir persistently, he is a player who certainly merits a grand farewell. He was a major contributor towards India’s run to glory in the 2011 World Cup with his innings of 97 in the finals being his most impactful knock.
At the age of 35 years, the Delhiite hasn’t yet given up on his dreams of donning the national colours, which been displayed in the way he has piled on runs at the domestic level and also in the Indian Premier League.
#2 Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh can be rated as one of the best spinners India has ever produced in any format of the game. In the recent past, he hasn’t been on the radar of the Indian national selectors, but he is one player who deserves a proper send-off by Indian cricket.
With his guile, trajectory and frugal spells of bowling, he has rescued India from precarious positions time and again. Even in the 2011 World Cup, he came up with useful contributions to restrict the opposition from achieving massive totals.
Going by the grit he has displayed over the years, the Turbanator isn’t down and out by any stretch of the imagination. He has shown that he still has it in him to bamboozle the best in the business in the recently concluded IPL.
#1 Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra is arguably one of the most stupendous bowling talents Indian cricket has ever produced. But marred by injuries and lack of consistency, he hasn’t been able to retain his place in the team. As a result, his career never flourished the way he wanted it to.
However, the left-arm pacer hasn’t given up and has worked tremendously hard on his fitness to continue playing at the highest level. He was in India’s World Cup winning squad and got few games to show his class and calibre, but credit to him for making it that far instead of giving up.
At the age of 38, he still hasn’t run out of gas and is undoubtedly a player who deserves a grand farewell.
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