The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 provided the perfect ending to Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's heroics at the previous editions of the World Cup that the 'Master Blaster' participated in and left his indelible mark courtesy his craftsmanship with the bat. In the earlier articles, we recalled a teenager Sachin's entry on the World Cup stage in 1992 to him becoming the 'Master Blaster' in 1996 Wills World Cup. In the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Sachin was the son who lost his father in between the tournament and returned to score an emotional hundred to add life to India' world cup campaign. Schedule of Team India at ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: List of Indian Team’s Matches, Time Table, Date, Venue and Squad Details.

In the 2003 edition of the World Cup, he proved to the world why he is the best batsman around and in the 2007 World Cup played in West Indies proved to be a heartbreak for Sachin and the fans. But India and Sachin came back like a champion in the 2011 edition of the World Cup and became the first team to lift the coveted World Cup trophy at home. The 2011 World Cup was jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Special: Remembering Arrival of the Master Blaster at Cricket's Biggest Stage at Benson & Hedges World Cup 1992, Watch Video.

India's World Cup campaign in 2011 began against Bangladesh in Dhaka. It was also the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Though Sachin scored only 28 runs in the match, India went on to win the game by 87 runs as Virender Sehwag's 175 and Virat Kohli's 100 helped India post 370/4 on the board. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Special: Master Blaster Lights-Up Wills World Cup 1996 With His Run Feast, Watch Videos. 

India next faced England in Bengaluru. Batting first, India scored 338. Sachin Tendulkar played a magnificent innings of 120 and brought up his fifth hundred in the World Cups. The match proved to be a thriller as England too made 338 and the match ended in a tie. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Special: Master Blaster Suffers Personal Loss, Returns to Score an Emotional Hundred in 1999 Cricket World Cup; Watch Video.

Watch Sachin Tendulkar's 120 vs England in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 

India faced Ireland in their third match of the World Cup at Bengaluru. India elected to field first after winning the toss. Ireland was all out for 207 and India needed 208 runs to win the match. India reached there with 5 wickets in hand and 30 balls remaining. Sachin scored 38 runs against England. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Special: The Master Plays Splendid Knocks Against Pakistan and Other Teams to Help India Reach Final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Watch Videos.

India then played Netherlands in New Delhi. Chasing 190 to win, India won by 5 wickets in hand and with 81 balls remaining. Sachin was dismissed for 27 runs in this game. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Special: Why ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Was Such a Nightmare for Master Blaster and Team India.

India's fifth match of the World Cup was against South Africa in Nagpur. South Africa had a strong bowling line-up with names like Dale Steyn, Morkel and Kallis. India won the toss and elected to bat first. Sachin and Sehwag got India off to a great start and the duo put on 142 runs opening partnership. Sachin scored a brilliant century in this match and brought up the sixth hundred of his World Cup career and 48th overall. However, after the fall of his wicket, India slumped from 267/2 to 293 all out. South Africa won by 3 wickets and with 2 balls remaining as Jack Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers scored fifties. This was the only match India lost in the 2011 World Cup. On Sachin Tendulkar's Birthday, ICC Picks Master Blaster's Five Best Cricket World Cup Knocks.

Watch Sachin Tendulkar's 111 vs South Africa in World Cup 2011

After the loss to South Africa, India played West Indies at Chennai. Though Sachin didn't do much with the bat in this match, it will be remembered for his sportsmanship as Sachin walked away without waiting for umpire's signal when he knew the ball had hit the bat on its way to the keeper. India was defending 268 and the bowlers did a great job to restrict West Indies to 188.

India played Australia in the quarter-finals at Ahmedabad. Australia were the defending champions and like always, the favourites to lift the trophy. Batting first, Australia scored 260, which was a fighting total on a slow Ahmedabad wicket. Sachin chipped in with the bat and scored 53 as India was helped by Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh's half-centuries to a famous victory. India won the match by 5 wickets and with 14 balls remaining.

The ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final was like a final before the finals. India played arch rivals Pakistan at the Mohali cricket stadium in a high intensity game. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni led men were up against Shahid Afridi's boys for a spot in the finals. Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. Against a quality pace and spin attack, India managed 260/9 thanks to Sachin's 85 runs knock. Pakistan wilted under pressure and were all out for 231 as India won by 29 runs. Sachin was the man of the match for his effort with the bat.

Watch Sachin Tendulkar's 85 vs Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

India played Sri Lanka in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Thanks to Mahela Jayawardene's 103 runs knock and Kumar Sangakkara's 48, Sri Lanka put up 274 runs on the board. Fans were expecting a Sachin hundred in this match as they did whenever he came out to bat in Indian jersey. However, India lost two quick wickets in the form of Sehwag and Sachin. The master blaster was looking good with the bat but was dismissed by Malinga on 18. However, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni took India forward and India won the match as Dhoni hit Kulasekara for a six over the long on. The rest, as they say, is history. Sachin Tendulkar Remembers India's 2011 Cricket World Cup Victory on 8th Anniversary, Watch Video.

This was Sachin's last World Cup. He emerged as the second highest run scorer in the tournament with 482 runs. "Tendulkar has carried the burden of nation for 21 years; It was time we carried him. Chak de India!", said a young Virat Kohli. Players took turns to carry Sachin on their shoulders as Sachin waved the Indian flag amidst tears of joy and smiles all around. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 not just fulfilled Sachin's ambition for a World Cup trophy, but also ended a nation's 28 years wait as it's favourite son had a dream ending and fairytale farewell from the World Cups.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 29, 2019 10:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).