RCB Bold Diaries: Virat Kohli opens up on the historic 2011 World Cup win

It has already been 11 years. 11 years since Team India lifted the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on the 2nd of April,2011; a day that has been etched into the history books of Indian cricket. Ask any Indian cricket fan, or otherwise, and they would have a story to tell about the day.

Amidst the many narratives that would take shape on the evening - Gautam Gambhir’s 97, MS Dhoni finishing it off in style, Sachin Tendulkar’s last world cup game, there was a crucial 35 from Virat Kohli that would help steady a wobbling run-chase after both Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag had been dismissed.

Reminiscing the victory on RCB Bold Diaries, Virat Kohli said, “I remember the pressure of walking in to bat. At 2 down for 20, I think it was - Sachin and Sehwag both got out. I was walking in - Sachin Paaji had a brief chat with me when I walked in to say ‘Build a partnership’. And we did build a partnership. Me and Gautam had a 90-run partnership(83) - I got 35, probably the most valuable 35 that I’ve scored in my cricketing career. I felt very happy that I was a part of putting the team back on track and contributed in whatever way I could and just the thrill of winning the world cup was something unbelievable. And the whole atmosphere of the crowd singing ‘Vande Mataram’, and the ‘Jo jeeta wohi sikandar’ song - it was a surreal moment, that’s something that’s so fresh in our memories even now.”

“He(Sachin Tendulkar) has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, it was time we carried him,” is probably the most memorable quote from the evening. And the man himself who said it, Virat Kohli had this to say, “I said what I said. It was true, legacy had to be taken forward. Massive shoes to fill, and I think we all have tried to contribute to Indian cricket close to what we can, but his achievements are so great and so far-fetched and done over such a long period of time that it feels surreal to actually be in that process after 11 years, I stand here. I said what I said back then, but now I understand the weight of those expectations.”