2011 World Cup Final, India vs Sri Lanka at the Wankhede: Relive It, and Where to Watch
Twenty-eight years after Lord’s, India won the World Cup again, at home, in front of about 33,000 at the Wankhede. No host nation had ever won the final on its own ground.
Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and Sri Lanka batted. Mahela Jayawardene made 103 off 88 balls, and Sri Lanka finished on 274/6.
India’s chase started badly: Virender Sehwag was lbw to Lasith Malinga off the second ball, and Sachin Tendulkar soon followed. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli added 83 before Kohli fell in the 22nd over. Then MS Dhoni promoted himself up the order, and he and Gambhir put on 109, an Indian record for a World Cup final. Gambhir went for 97 in the 42nd over.
Dhoni finished it. With 4 needed off 11 balls, he hit Nuwan Kulasekara for six: 91 not out off 79 balls, and India were champions. Dhoni was Man of the Match; Yuvraj Singh was Player of the Tournament.
The moments
- The six. 4 needed off 11 balls; Dhoni hits Kulasekara into the crowd. “Dhoni finishes off in style,” said Ravi Shastri on commentary.
- Dhoni promotes himself. The captain moves himself up the order after Kohli falls, and steers the chase with Gambhir.
- Gambhir’s 97. The innings that held the chase together after the early wickets.
- Jayawardene’s hundred. 103 off 88 balls in a losing cause.
Where to watch it now (legally)
| What | Video | Uploaded by |
|---|---|---|
| Full replay | No official full replay of the 2011 final is available online that we could verify. The ICC streamed it in full on Facebook in April 2020, but we have not confirmed those videos are still up, so we do not link them. | |
| Highlights | Cricket World Cup 2011 Final: India v Sri Lanka | Match Highlights ↗ Free. | ICC (official YouTube) Checked 3 Oct 2026 |
Questions
Is there a full replay of the 2011 World Cup final?
Not one we can verify. The ICC’s official YouTube channel has the match highlights; unofficial full uploads exist and we do not link them.
Who won the 2011 World Cup final?
India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on 2 April 2011: Sri Lanka 274/6, India 277/4 in 48.2 overs.
Who hit the winning six in the 2011 final?
MS Dhoni, off Nuwan Kulasekara, with 4 needed off 11 balls. He finished on 91 not out.
Who was Man of the Match in the 2011 final?
MS Dhoni. Yuvraj Singh was Player of the Tournament.
Sources
- Wikipedia, 2011 Cricket World Cup final ↗ (scorecard and match details, with its references) — checked 3 Oct 2026
- ICC, official match highlights on YouTube ↗ (uploader confirmed as the ICC channel) — checked 3 Oct 2026