Mumbai, April 2: After five ODI World Cup appearances, Sachin Tendulkar finally fulfilled a long cherished dream when the Indian cricket team won the ICC ODI World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. Although Sachin didn’t make too much of an impact in the final, his 482 runs, the second-highest by any batsman in the tournament, played a big role in India winning their first ODI World Cup in 28 years. Averse to making big statements about his personal achievements, Tendulkar described winning the World Cup as the best moment of his career.
“I continued to chase my dream,” said the batting great, referring to his five previous attempts at attaining World Cup glory.
“I am speechless, to be honest, to express myself and how I feel. This is, by far, the best moment. This is the moment I have been waiting for, for such a long time, 21 or 22 years. It is really worth every bit of it. It is really, really special,” said a visibly moved Tendulkar.
“As Indians, we have all won this cup. It’s not just us 15 [in the squad] but the entire nation. The cup belongs to the entire nation so I am sure they are feeling part of [the victory],” said the maestro who has battled on through injuries and lean patches in the two decades of his career to reach this milestone.
“I felt it was extremely important to chase my dreams and my biggest dream was this. The team has managed to win this cup for the nation,” repeated a delighted Tendulkar.
