3 innings of 30 that changed India's 2011 World Cup campaign

Cricket has seen divine performances in both victory and defeat. Performances which are remembered for generations. Cricket has also seen more 'human' acts, which might be forgotten as time passes and may not even find a mention in the history books. But without them, history wouldn't be as we know it.

Yuvraj's all-round show, Zaheer's bowling exploits, Gambhir and Dhoni's match-winning knocks and Sachin's performances are the most remembered moments of India's winning campaign during the 2011 World Cup. Historic moments like those are often accompanied by a few acts which do not live long in the public memory, but go a long way in history's creation itself.

Let's have a look at 3 of the most understated innings in popular opinion, which ensured India held the trophy in their hands after a 28-year long wait.

#3 Raina's innings against Australia in the quarter-finals

The highlight of India's 2011 campaign was their performances in big moments, especially in the knock-out matches. Such matches came with added pressure. One bad over or one wicket at the wrong time and you might be out of the World Cup.

The quarter-final against Australia showed that India were peaking at the right time, capturing the big moments whenever they got a sniff. Although the target was only 260, against a team like Australia and in a World Cup knock-out match, it almost turned out to be a winning total. At the 38-over mark, half of the Indian batting was back in the pavilion with 74 runs still required to win. On normal days, it is moments like these when Australia seize the opportunity and run away with the match. But with Yuvi and Raina still at the crease, India had hope.

2011 World Cup was Yuvraj Singh's destiny. But the left-hander on the other end did make sure that India were not huffing and puffing to the target. Raina showed nerves of steel against a quality Australian attack, playing the finisher's role to perfection with a 28-ball 34 not-out, hitting two fours and a six. MS Dhoni said during the post-match presentation, '70-odd runs needed with the last batting pair, it basically meant if we played 50 overs with Yuvraj and Raina, we would make it. There was pressure, and it was about handling it'.

Raina later confessed that in the dressing room after the win, Sachin told him 'You have just won the World Cup for us'. In such a match, Australia were the only side in the world that could have knocked India out. But that day, the Indian team taught the world a thing or two about winning matches during such big moments.

#2 Raina's innings against Pakistan in the semi-finals

Raina added valuable runs late in the innings

A World Cup semi-final.

On home soil.

Against Pakistan.

It is the closest cricket can ever get to war. The Prime Ministers of the two nations were in the stadium that day. There are not enough words to describe the atmosphere in the stands and the emotions of the public glued to their TV screens. Amidst all the organised chaos, Suresh Raina scripted a story of his own.

Batting first on a two-paced Mohali pitch, India found the going tough against the Pakistani attack. Wahab Riaz was breathing fire. Spinners refused to give an inch. Yet, Pakistan were committing suicide on the field, dropping multiple catches of Sachin Tendulkar. Amidst all this drama, India found themselves tottering at 187 for 5 after 37 overs, with Tendulkar just having returned to the pavilion.

Enter Suresh Raina.

Five overs later, MS Dhoni departed as well, with the scorecard reading 205 for 6, leaving Raina in the company of the tail. But the southpaw had other plans. He didn't exactly set the stands on fire with towering sixes and booming drives. It wasn't an innings of that kind. One false shot and India could have been without a proper batsman at the crease.

Raina held one end like an anchor and kept finding gaps in the field, scoring everything that he could. In a sedate knock of 36 runs off 39 balls, he hit only three fours but ensured that he was there until the end. By the time India finished, they had 260 runs on board, giving the bowlers something to defend.

Although Tendulkar was adjudged the Man of the Match for his scratchy 85, Raina's innings was equally important, if not more. It turned out to be the most important knock of his career as India eventually bundled out Pakistan for 231, thus entering the finals.

#1 Kohli's innings in the Final

Kohli's partnership with Gambhir laid the platform for the chase

The master of run-chases was taking baby steps towards batting divinity when a small knock of his set the stage for India's greatest triumph in modern cricket. On the night of the final, 275 runs stood between India and cricket's ultimate glory.

Sri Lanka's plans were working just fine, as Lasith Malinga sent back Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, with just 31 runs on the board. A generation of fans had grown up with bitter memories of the 2003 World Cup final. Another generation had lived through the humiliation of 1996. Kohli must have had vivid memories of both.

On a night when the cricketing world held its breath, Kohli and Gautam Gambhir stitched a vital partnership of 83 runs off 93 balls for the third wicket. Kohli had an excellent start to his first World Cup, hitting a century off 85 balls in the first match against Bangladesh. He had rather quiet returns post that knock.

He brought all his powers to the fore in a high-pressure chase, scoring 35 runs off 45 balls with four hits to the fence. By the time he departed, India were 114 for 3 in 21.4 overs, still far from victory. However, after an early collapse, he had seen India through a tough period. In the process, the platform was laid for MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir to take India to victory. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kohli himself said in an interview that he thought the match was over when Sachin got out. Seeing the composure that he displayed that night, he might well have been joking. After all, he walked in just after Sachin's wicket, amidst a shellshocked stadium in complete silence.

In hindsight, that might have just been the beginning of the Kohli era.