Gautam Gambhir Reveals The Conversation With Senior Players Ahead Of The 2011 World Cup Semi-final

In 2011, India managed to win the 50-over World Cup on home soil after a gap of 28 years. Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of that journey. Now, he opened up about some conversations he had with senior players during that mega event.

He said that the conversation took place ahead of the semi-final of that tournament against arch-rivals Pakistan. India won their first World Cup in 1983. Therefore, Gambhir said that senior players came up to him and shared the main reason why India needed to win that World Cup in 2011.

“I want to win this to extend our line” – Gautam Gambhir

While speaking on Indian Express’s Idea Exchange, Gautam Gambhir said that 2-3 senior players said that they need to win that tournament to take the conversation away from 1983. Gambhir said: “Two or three senior players came to me and said ‘we need to win this tournament because we have to take the conversation away from 1983. We have to finish their thing off’.

However, the former India batter refused it totally. Gambhir shared that he was not there to finish anyone. Instead of that, he wanted to extend their line. “I said I haven’t come here to finish anyone. I haven’t come here to shorten someone’s line. I want to win this to extend our line. If the media is giving them jobs from 1983 to 2011, that’s the media’s problem, not ours. We need to win the World Cup because we want this country to be happy. That is something which needs to change in the future.” Gautam Gambhir added.

Speaking of that semi-final clash against Pakistan, India scored 260 runs by losing nine wickets in 50 overs. In response, Pakistan got bundled out for 231 runs in 49.5 overs. Then, India qualified for the final against Sri Lanka. Eventually, India won that final by six wickets with 10 balls to spare. Gautam Gambhir scored a valuable 97-run while chasing a target of 245 runs in the final.