“Everyone kept saying win the World Cup,” Virender Sehwag reveals how MS Dhoni ensured players remained focused during 2011 World Cup amid distractions

He revealed that players used to discuss cricket all the time and before and after the World Cup matches, they used to have get-togethers.

“Everyone kept saying win the World Cup,” Virender Sehwag reveals how MS Dhoni ensured players remained focused during 2011 World Cup amid distractions

MS Dhoni, India after winning ODI World Cup in 2011 (Images via NDTV, ESPNcricinfo)

Former India opener Virender Sehwag reveals how the team atmosphere was during the 2011 ODI World Cup. He praised the then-India skipper MS Dhoni and team coach Gary Kristen for ensuring players follow the process amid several distractions.

Sehwag recalled how the players stopped watching television or reading newspapers to avoid drifting off. He revealed that players used to discuss cricket all the time and before and after the World Cup matches, they used to have get-togethers.

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“On dinners, cricket strategies used to be a topic. I used to give suggestions. That was a big reason behind our World Cup win,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. “Whether we were on the flight, the CISF personnel, in the hotel, the managers and waiters… everyone kept saying, ‘win the World Cup’. But MS Dhoni had this one line, ‘focus on the process’. Our process was good, that’s why we won.”

MS Dhoni and company defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to become the World Champions in 2011. All the players except Virat Kohli from that squad retired from cricket. Kohli is a part of the 2023 World Cup squad which will be led by Rohit Sharma.

Related: “The medical panel didn’t take it seriously,” ex-Pakistan player accuses PCB of continuously playing Naseem Shah despite his raising injury concerns

S. Sreesanth recalls an unheard anecdote about MS Dhoni

The cricket fraternity respects MS Dhoni because of his unparalleled contribution to the Indian team as a captain. He led the side to three ICC trophies; and even in the Indian Premier League (IPL), under him, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crowned as champions five times.

"Everyone kept saying win the World Cup," Virender Sehwag reveals how MS Dhoni ensured players stayed together during 2011 World Cup amid distractions
MS Dhoni (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Former India bowler S. Sreesanth, on Sportskeeda, reveals an unheard story of Dhoni about the time when Captain Cool was still a rookie batter. At that time, India faced Pakistan in front of a crowded stadium in Kochi, Kerala with fans chanting ‘Sachin Sachin’.

As per Sreesanth, Dhoni was eager to prove his worth to the team and told the support players, ‘‘I want to express myself. I am not getting the chance where I can express myself“. Dhoni later consistently scored runs for India A and cemented his spot in the playing eleven.

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