Flashback: 3 historic sixes by Indian cricketing legends at the ICC World Cup 

#3 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India vs Sri Lanka, World Cup Final, 2011 World Cup)

8 years after 2003, India were playing another World Cup Final in 2011. The very loss against Australia years back was still fresh in every Indian’s heart and up until that day, was hurting every Indian. After a long wait of 28 years, India once again had the opportunity to win the cricket’s most prestigious trophy on their own soil.

The date was 02nd April, India were up against another Asian giant, Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It was Sri Lanka that won the toss, chose to bat and scored a very much defendable 272 runs and with Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan on their side, it was never an easy task at the World Cup final.

India had the worse start of the tournament, losing both their openers - Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar to red-hot Lasith Malinga. India were 31/2 in just the 7th over. After a decent partnership (83 runs) between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, the out-of-form, MS Dhoni chose to promote himself to safeguard the man of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh from the wily spin attack.

And as we have experienced it on several occasions, the best finisher of the game, with the support of the others around, gradually spoiled the evening for Sri Lanka. It was the 48th over and the victory for Men In Blue was inevitable now with 5 runs needed in 2 overs. Yuvraj Singh ran the single off the first ball of the over and billions of eyes were now on MS Dhoni. Nuwan Kulasekara ran one more time with hope against hope, pitched the ball right up in front and MS Dhoni hammered the ball out of the park over the long on for a massive six to reclaim World Cup after 28 years. The jam-packed stadium erupted in joy and so did the entire nation.

There have been and will be many more sixes in cricket, but MS Dhoni’s six will always remain the most iconic six in the history of the Indian cricket.