Crickets11

Dhoni's gift to Tendulkar
If the world was a perfect place with fate written by an Indian hand, Sachin Tendulkar would have scored his hundredth international century yesterday in the World Cup final, and taken his country to their second world trophy in front of his home town crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
But India fans hoping Tendulkar would reach the landmark in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday were stunned when he fell for just 18.
It had happened before: after being in sublime form to take India to the final in the 2003 edition, and faced with an even more daunting chase than the one confronting him yesterday, Tendulkar was caught and bowled by paceman Glenn McGrath for just four in a match India lost by a colossal 125 runs.
Tendulkar had said before the World Cup started that it was the only thing missing from his career, and Indian players vowed that they would do their utmost to win the trophy for the icon.
Yesterday, as he was leaving the field with his head bowed, he crossed paths with the incoming batsman, captain MS Dhoni, a man who in many ways is set to inherit the mantle of the most celebrated cricketer in the land from Tendulkar. Dhoni would have seen the man that his generation idolised returning dejected, ruing another missed opportunity, and perhaps something stirred in him.
The Indian captain had not scored a single fifty in the entirety of this tournament, but yesterday he was in the 'zone' that great batsmen like Brian Lara and Tendulkar talk about. With Gautam Gambhir, and later Yuvraj Singh, he played a consummate captain's innings, one which Tendulkar himself would have been proud of, and the rest will now be consigned to the annals of history.Dhoni's gift to Tendulkar
If the world was a perfect place with fate written by an Indian hand, Sachin Tendulkar would have scored his hundredth international century yesterday in the World Cup final, and taken his country to their second world trophy in front of his home town crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
But India fans hoping Tendulkar would reach the landmark in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday were stunned when he fell for just 18.
It had happened before: after being in sublime form to take India to the final in the 2003 edition, and faced with an even more daunting chase than the one confronting him yesterday, Tendulkar was caught and bowled by paceman Glenn McGrath for just four in a match India lost by a colossal 125 runs.
Tendulkar had said before the World Cup started that it was the only thing missing from his career, and Indian players vowed that they would do their utmost to win the trophy for the icon.
Yesterday, as he was leaving the field with his head bowed, he crossed paths with the incoming batsman, captain MS Dhoni, a man who in many ways is set to inherit the mantle of the most celebrated cricketer in the land from Tendulkar. Dhoni would have seen the man that his generation idolised returning dejected, ruing another missed opportunity, and perhaps something stirred in him.
The Indian captain had not scored a single fifty in the entirety of this tournament, but yesterday he was in the 'zone' that great batsmen like Brian Lara and Tendulkar talk about. With Gautam Gambhir, and later Yuvraj Singh, he played a consummate captain's innings, one which Tendulkar himself would have been proud of, and the rest will now be consigned to the annals of history.If the world was a perfect place with fate written by an Indian hand, Sachin Tendulkar would have scored his hundredth international century yesterday in the World Cup final, and taken his country to their second world trophy in front of his home town crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
But India fans hoping Tendulkar would reach the landmark in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday were stunned when he fell for just 18.
It had happened before: after being in sublime form to take India to the final in the 2003 edition, and faced with an even more daunting chase than the one confronting him yesterday, Tendulkar was caught and bowled by paceman Glenn McGrath for just four in a match India lost by a colossal 125 runs.
Tendulkar had said before the World Cup started that it was the only thing missing from his career, and Indian players vowed that they would do their utmost to win the trophy for the icon.
Yesterday, as he was leaving the field with his head bowed, he crossed paths with the incoming batsman, captain MS Dhoni, a man who in many ways is set to inherit the mantle of the most celebrated cricketer in the land from Tendulkar. Dhoni would have seen the man that his generation idolised returning dejected, ruing another missed opportunity, and perhaps something stirred in him.
The Indian captain had not scored a single fifty in the entirety of this tournament, but yesterday he was in the 'zone' that great batsmen like Brian Lara and Tendulkar talk about. With Gautam Gambhir, and later Yuvraj Singh, he played a consummate captain's innings, one which Tendulkar himself would have been proud of, and the rest will now be consigned to the annals of history.Dhoni's gift to Tendulkar
If the world was a perfect place with fate written by an Indian hand, Sachin Tendulkar would have scored his hundredth international century yesterday in the World Cup final, and taken his country to their second world trophy in front of his home town crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
But India fans hoping Tendulkar would reach the landmark in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday were stunned when he fell for just 18.
It had happened before: after being in sublime form to take India to the final in the 2003 edition, and faced with an even more daunting chase than the one confronting him yesterday, Tendulkar was caught and bowled by paceman Glenn McGrath for just four in a match India lost by a colossal 125 runs.
Tendulkar had said before the World Cup started that it was the only thing missing from his career, and Indian players vowed that they would do their utmost to win the trophy for the icon.
Yesterday, as he was leaving the field with his head bowed, he crossed paths with the incoming batsman, captain MS Dhoni, a man who in many ways is set to inherit the mantle of the most celebrated cricketer in the land from Tendulkar. Dhoni would have seen the man that his generation idolised returning dejected, ruing another missed opportunity, and perhaps something stirred in him.
The Indian captain had not scored a single fifty in the entirety of this tournament, but yesterday he was in the 'zone' that great batsmen like Brian Lara and Tendulkar talk about. With Gautam Gambhir, and later Yuvraj Singh, he played a consummate captain's innings, one which Tendulkar himself would have been proud of, and the rest will now be consigned to the annals of history.

Crickets17

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
Sachin cried, happily
Sachin Ten-dulkar said he could not hold back his tears after India thrashed Sri Lanka in the World Cup final on Saturday to win the "ultimate" prize after a gap of 28 years.
"I couldn't have asked for more," said Tendulkar, as his teammates carried him on their shoulders for a victory lap before adoring fans at the Wankhede Stadium, where Dhoni's men emulated Kapil Dev's compatriots who won the World Cup in 1983 by beating the West Indies in the final at Lord's.
"Winning the World Cup is the ultimate thing. It is the proudest moment of my life. It shows it is never too late," he said referring to India's wait for 28 years for the coveted crown.
"I thank my teammates who were fabulous. I could not really hold back my tears. These are happy tears so I don't mind crying."
Tendulkar made just 18 with the bat as he missed out on scoring his 100th international century.
Young star Virat Kohli said the victory was a fitting tribute to Tendulkar.
"This goes out to all the people of India. Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him."
Gautam Gambhir, who played a key role with the bat in making 97 off 122 balls, said the win was a gift to his great teammate from the entire squad.
"All credit for this win should go to Tendulkar. We were all playing for him, this trophy is for him."
But it needed a courageous a decision from the Indian captain Mehendra Singh Dhoni to turn the tide around after the home side had lost dashing opener Virender Sehwag and Sachin with only 33 runs on the board.
"I took a quite few decisions tonight and if we hadn't won I would have been asked quite a few questions," said Dhoni, who batted at number five and had selected fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth instead of Ravichandran Ashwin.
"Why no Ashwin? Why Sreesanth? Why no Yuvraj (at five)? Why did I bat ahead? That pushed me and motivated to do well."
While Dhoni led his side like a true general, his Sri Lanka counterpart Kumar Sangakkara, who made 48 when his team batted, admitted India had been the better side.
"When you look at this Indian team anything less than 350 doesn't look enough," he said.
"They deserved this title, the way they played in front of a great crowd."
He also added: "I am very proud of everyone in the team, especially Mahela [Jayawardene] who rose up to the occasion and put up a great hundred."
"India were the better side. They were fantastic tonight. The only way for us to stop India was to get at least seven wickets. Gautam [Gambhir] was outstanding and [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni stepped up and performed.
"We are disappointed but the better side won."