Harbhajan Singh, a former cricketer turned commentator, made a remark about former India captain MS Dhoni receiving all the credit for the team’s World Cup victory in 2011. Harbhajan Singh reflected on the team’s historic World Cup victory in 2011 and wondered why Dhoni was given so much praise. Harbhajan inquired why the rest of the squad was left out of the credits while speaking on Star Sports as part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 preview presentation.
At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India defeated Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final, bringing the legendary trophy home after a 28-year drought.
MS Dhoni made an incredible 91 runs and ended the chase with a six. The occasion was chronicled in history as one of the golden moments, and the Indian captain was named ‘Player of the Match’ in that match. Harbhajan Singh, though, has challenged the unequal acclaim given to the players for the triumph a decade later.
Harbhajan Singh, stated it was the team’s victory, not Dhoni’s alone
While speaking on Star Sports with fellow experts, he questioned why the remainder of the squad, which included players like Gautam Gambhir, was left out of the World Cup credits. During the game, he inquired if the rest of the squad had gone to collect ‘Lassi.’
Actually, it all started before the commencement of the IPL 2022 match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, when Mohammad Kaif, Harbhajan’s former India teammate, pointed out that Shreyas Iyer guided Delhi Capitals to the final in IPL 2020. Kaif stated on Byju’s Cricket Live Show,
“Iyer was the captain of Delhi Capitals (in 2020), and took the team to the final. He doesn’t show much emotion although in his heart he would have wanted to win against his previous team.”
Before the conversation shifted to a more lighthearted tone, Harbhajan mentioned the 2011 World Cup in the conversation. In a plainly irritated manner, irritated Harbhajan answered,
“I don’t understand one thing,” Shreyas Iyer took the team to the final? Were the rest of the players playing gulli-danda?”
On Star Sports, Bhajji asked,
“When Australia wins the World Cup at that time everyone says ‘Australia won the World Cup’. When India won the World Cup at that time, everyone said, ‘MS Dhoni won the World Cup’. So, the rest of the 10 players went to drink Lassi?”
He later emphasised that cricket is a team sport, saying,
“What did the other 10 players do? What did Gautam Gambhir do? It’s a team game. When 7-8 players play well only then only your team will progress.”
Bhajji on 🔥🤣🤣🤣… But no hate for MS 👍 pic.twitter.com/4tXxc90lt6
— Arghya Dey (@91_arghya) April 11, 2022
It’s worth noting that India’s World Cup victory was followed by the 2013 Champions Trophy victory, making Dhoni the only Indian skipper to win three ICC trophies. Dhoni was lauded as India’s finest captain in history after winning the ODI World Cup after a 28-year wait. Kapil Dev led India to their first World Cup victory in 1983, defeating the West Indies.