Sports
‘Dhoni Never Mentioned That Six…’: Ex-Sri Lanka Star Reveals Heartwarming Story From After India’s 2011 World Cup Triumph
Former Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Kulasekara recalled how MS Dhoni never once spoke about the iconic 2011 World Cup final despite the two becoming teammates at Chennai Super Kings.
More than a decade after the unforgettable 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, former Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara has shared a remarkable story that highlights the humility and character of legendary India captain MS Dhoni.
Kulasekara, who conceded the iconic winning six to Dhoni at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, revealed that the former India skipper never once brought up that famous moment when they later became teammates at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
‘Dhoni Never Talked About the World Cup Final’
Speaking in an interview with Revsportz, Kulasekara said he joined CSK immediately after the 2011 World Cup, but was surprised that Dhoni never mentioned the historic final.”I joined Chennai Super Kings immediately after the World Cup, but Dhoni never spoke about that final. That shows the kind of person he is.”
According to the former Sri Lankan pacer, Dhoni always remained focused on the present instead of dwelling on past achievements.”He is incredibly calm and always focused on the present. For him, the past is over. His only concern was winning the next game. That is something I really admired about him.”
Kulasekara’s comments have once again reinforced Dhoni’s long-standing reputation for remaining grounded despite achieving some of the greatest milestones in international cricket.
The Six That Changed Indian Cricket History
The 2011 World Cup final remains one of the most iconic matches in cricket history.
Chasing 275, India looked under pressure after losing early wickets before Gautam Gambhir steadied the innings with a superb 97. Dhoni then promoted himself in the batting order and produced one of the finest captain’s knocks in an ICC final, remaining unbeaten on 91 off 79 balls.
The innings ended memorably when Dhoni launched Kulasekara over long-on for a towering six, sealing India’s first 50-over World Cup title in 28 years.
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Kulasekara Reflects on That Painful Night
Looking back at the final, Kulasekara admitted he had tried everything possible to dismiss Dhoni but accepted that sometimes great players rise to the occasion.”I tried my best to dismiss him, but he still hit me for a six.”
However, the former seamer said the disappointment was softened three years later when Sri Lanka defeated India to win the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup, calling it one of the positive memories of his career.”We came back and won the 2014 T20 World Cup in a similar fashion. That is how this beautiful game works.”
Regret Over Dropping Gautam Gambhir
Kulasekara also reflected on another crucial moment from the 2011 final—dropping Gautam Gambhir when the Indian opener was batting on 30.
Gambhir capitalised on the reprieve to score a match-defining 97, laying the foundation for India’s successful chase.
The former Sri Lanka pacer admitted that the missed opportunity still hurts but acknowledged that such moments are part of elite sport.
He compared his experience with Ben Stokes, who endured heartbreak in the 2016 T20 World Cup final before playing a decisive role in England’s victorious 2019 Cricket World Cup campaign.
Kulasekara also believes that heavy dew later in the evening made it significantly harder for Sri Lanka’s bowlers to defend their total.
Even after all these years, the 2011 final continues to evoke strong emotions on both sides, while Kulasekara’s recollection offers a rare glimpse into MS Dhoni’s humility beyond the cricket field.
