[ad_1]
Dhoni’s Iconic Six Sealed the Deal for Team India
“Dhoni, finishes it off in style, India lifts the World Cup after 28 years” – Ravi Shastri’s fervent lines from the commentary box still reverberate in every Indian cricket fan’s ears. MS Dhoni’s majestic six off Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara over mid-on sealed the deal for Team India who won the title for the first time since 1983. Dhoni, fondly known as ‘Mahi’, gave Indians something very special to celebrate on April 2, 2011.
The World Cup Returns to India After 12 Years
After 12 years, India will be hosting the World Cup once again (this time as sole hosts) and needless to say the fans are expecting an encore of the team’s 2011 exploits when Dhoni’s match-winning six sent billions into a frenzy as the Men in Blue lifted the coveted cup in front of a jam-packed Wankhede Stadium.
- India co-hosted the 2011 edition alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- This time, India will be the sole host
Looking Forward to India vs Sri Lanka Encounter
Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella hopes the final of the upcoming tournament later this year will be another India vs Sri Lanka encounter. The glittering tournament will kick off on October 5 with defending champions England taking on New Zealand in the opener. Interestingly, India is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in the league stage on November 2 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the same venue where the Men in Blue won the title in 2011 by beating the Lankans.
“I hope for another India vs Sri Lanka final this time too. Whoever will follow the process right, basics right, and play good cricket on that particular day, will win. We want to focus on ourselves, not the opposition,” Dickwella, who has played 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20Is for Sri Lanka, told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
India-Sri Lanka Clash in Asia Cup
Ahead of the World Cup, India and Sri Lanka will be locking horns in the Asia Cup as well. Sri Lanka entered the Asia Cup last year in 2022, which was played in the T20 format, as ‘underdogs’ and surpassed everyone’s expectations by winning the title in style. They defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the summit clash in Dubai.
- India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the Asia Cup
- Sri Lanka won the title in 2022 as underdogs
Sri Lanka Embraces Underdog Status Against India
Against India though, the Lankans will go in as the underdogs. Dickwella says – ‘being underdogs is better than being favourites’.
“We have to follow the right process, know the basics, and do the homework. We have the proper training and homework done. That’s what Sri Lanka did in the last Asia Cup. We followed the process and did well. That’s what drove Sri Lanka forward in the last edition. Being underdogs is better than being favourites,” the Sri Lankan further told TimesofIndia.com.
[ad_2]
Source link
