Ahead of the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2011, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian cricket team found themselves to be high on confidence and they had all the reasons in the world to do so. 

After all, they had just ended Ricky Ponting and the Australiansâ 12-year dominance over World Cup cricket, thanks to Yuvraj Singhâs match-winning performance in the quarter-final clash at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium.

#OnThisDay in 2011,

Yuvraj Singh and Brett Lee gave their all for their respective teams. However, only one could win.

50s of Sachin and Gambhir as well as Raina's partnership with Yuvraj helped India win this quarter final against Australia. pic.twitter.com/jfVj1BUZDt

â Rashmi (@Iam__Rashmi) March 24, 2020

On the other side, Shahid Afridiâs Men in Green had just defeated the West Indies by 10 wickets in their quarter-final match and had no reason to doubt themselves against their neighbouring opponents, even though they were the hosts.

However, the sheer significance of the historic rivalry is enough to overwhelm the strongest of men. For India, the need to make it to the finals and finally clinch the World Cup trophy after a drought of 28 years. For Pakistan, the desperation to break the curse of being winless against the Men in Blue in the history of the tournament.

A WC SEMIFINAL CAN'T GET ANY BIGGER THAN THIS
Sehwag sizzler at the top
Lucky Sachin anchoring the innings
MS-Raina with key knocks
Indian bowlers having a field day#OnThisDay in 2011, India snatched another Mauka Mauka from Pak in a WC encounter, winning by 29 runsð®ð³ pic.twitter.com/gG7y5tuJRo

â North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) March 30, 2020

By the end of the day, only one team would go on to fulfil their dreams, the other, as we now know, would have to wait for at least 12 more years. 

Before the toss, Dhoni announced that he had replaced an inform Ravichandran Ashwin with an experienced Ashish Nehra. Afridi, showing faith in his Playing XI from the Windies win, didnât change a single man, and Shoaib Akhtarâs dream of facing the Indian batsmen in a World Cup duel remained unfulfilled.

#OnThiDay in 2011 India beat Pakistan and qualofied for final of ICC cricket World Cup amd it was my first ever match which made me fall in love with cricket it made me extremely sad i remember those tears in @SAfridiOfficial eyes i remember shoaib akhtar got retired pic.twitter.com/PuqPjLliKr

â Momina Shahzadian ðµð° (@IamMomina_19) March 30, 2019

As India won the toss, an arrogant Shahid Afridi mentioned that the toss didnât matter anyway and that the Mohali pitch was in favour of the spinners.

India, throughout the tournament, had dangerously depended on their two openers to give them a fleeting start and they had just the two men to get the job done.

One on side of the pitch was Virender Sehwag, who scored 36 out of the 38 run-innings with boundaries before giving up his wicket Wahab Riaz on an LBW appeal, and on the other was the master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, the man who was at the twilight of his illustrious career, and only one good innings short of scoring his 100th century. 

© Reuters

After Sehwagâs early dismissal, Tendulkar knew that the burden of giving a good start to his captain would fall on his shoulders and he was ready for it. He continued to hold the fort while the bleeding of wickets didnât stop on the other end.

First, Gambhir was sent back to the pavilion at 27, then Virat Kohli was dismissed on 9. Even the hero from the previous match, Yuvraj Singh failed to impress as he was bowled out by Riaz on a golden duck.

© Reuters

Tendulkar was hungry for the win, he wanted his 100th century and he wanted it against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final. However, as the oldest veteran of the team, he also knew better than to lose his wicket in haste. 

Slowly but steadily, he struck 11 fours and never in his innings lofted a shot for a maximum, except that one time when he failed to keep it down and âBoom Boomâ Afridi caught him out at cover in the 37th over. The hope of watching their God complete the unprecedented journey of scoring 100 tons came to a crashing halt for millions of his fans.

© Reuters

Nonetheless, his 85 runs turned out to be enough to hold off Afridiâs batting-order as it was backed up by some fine bowling by the lastest team inductee, Nehra ji who, while giving away just 33 runs and picking up two wickets in his 10 overs, became the most efficient bowler against Pakistan. 

Other Indian bowlers in Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, all scalped two wickets each, as well.

Most High Voltage World Cup Match India Vs Pakistan#OnThisDay in 2011 Sachin Tendulkar Made 85 Runs in WC Semi Final Mohali.
6 WC ODIs Vs Pak#SachinTendulkar Played 5 Match
Sachin Won M.O.M 3 times
INDIA WON ALL

How Old Were You When India Beat Pakistan in 2011.? pic.twitter.com/zCNzdyKhdN

â Sachinð®ð³ Tendulkar FC CrickeTendulkar (@CrickeTendulkar) March 30, 2020

India won the match by 29 runs and went on to the final of the 2011 World Cup to meet Kumar Sangakkaraâs Sri Lankan squad for the ultimate recognition at Tendulkarâs home ground in Mumbai.

As far as the match against Pakistan was concerned, the little master turned out to be godsent for Dhoni and Co. He was crowned a well earned âMan of the Match,â before he went on to address the Mohali crowd: âI would like to thank everybody in Mohali for the terrific support. The team played brilliantly. The way we bowled and fielded was awesome.â

© Reuters

âInitially, Viru got us off to a flier and we had to take our time and play out the spinners. We kept losing wickets which we did not want. Raina played well in the end,â he said in the post-match interview.

âGoing back to Mumbai is a great occasion. We want to focus on the job that is ahead. All the five matches against Pakistan have been memorable.â

The second half of the ICC World Cup 2011 journey for the Men In Blue was rather unique. For every match that India won during the knockout rounds, you could pinpoint the very specific player who led us to the other side. 

In the quarter-final, it was Yuvraj Singh, in the semis it was Sachin Tendulkar and in the final, it was going to be the then Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who would hit the greatest six of his career to win the World Cup trophy. 

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