Everyone Had One Aim – To Win The World Cup For Sachin Tendulkar : Suresh Raina

Former Indian middle order batsman Suresh Raina has impressed with his new role as a commentator in the on-going IPL 2022. Raina, who was an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings, was not retained by the team. For the first time in IPL history, Suresh Raina went unsold at the IPL mega auction.

Suresh Raina was one of the members of Indian Team who won 2011 world cup. Raina credited former Indian cricketer great Sachin Tendulkar as the reason behind their victory in the World cup 2011 while recollecting the memories during a chat with Ranveer Allahbadia on his podcast titled ‘ The Ranveer Show ‘

Everyone Had One Aim – To Win The World Cup For Sachin Tendulkar :

“In the 2011 World Cup squad, there was immense unity, everyone was very caring towards each other. Everyone had one aim – to win the World Cup for Sachin, as this could be Paaji’s last World Cup. Everyone knew that this was a different team. After the 1983 World Cup, there had been a long gap. Sachin hadn’t won a World Cup. He had played five World Cups and won it in his sixth attempt… in 2011. So, he would get involved in every meeting,” said Raina.

It was Sachin Tendulkar’s sixth World Cup having first appeared in the 1992. He also played in the 1996 world cup where India reached the semi-finals. Also in the year 2003 World cup where India reached the finals and he was awarded as player of the match. But in the 1999 World Cup and the 2007 World Cup India got eliminated from the tournament early.

Sachin Tendulkar had an excellent tournament in 2011 where he scored two centuries against England(120) and South Africa(111). Sachin scored a Player of the Match worthy 85 against Pakistan in the semi-finals . India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final at Wankhede Stadium. Dhoni scored unbeaten 97 and Gambhir (91) played brilliant innings. Yuvraj Singh won Player of the tournament because of his magnificent performance with bat and bowl.

“In the 2011 World Cup squad, there was immense unity, everyone was very caring towards each other. Everyone had one aim – to win the World Cup for Sachin, as this could be Paaji’s last World Cup. Everyone knew that this was a different team. After the 1983 World Cup, there had been a long gap. Sachin hadn’t won a World Cup. He had played five World Cups and won it in his sixth attempt… in 2011. So, he would get involved in every meeting,” Raina said.

Tendulkar, who was playing his last World cup in 2011 amazed everyone with his magnificent batting and scored 482 runs in nine games at an average of 53.55 and a strike rate of 91.98. He was second most run scorer in the tournament behind Tilakratne Dilshan.

Raina Credits Gary Kirsten :

India lifted the World cup trophy 28 years after the title in 1983 in England. “Coach Gary Kirsten made sure that everything around was comfortable… players, dressing room. Everything in the dressing room was very casual. And then Dhoni bhai was the captain… he was always very cool and conducting meetings in a manner that everyone was comfortable. That was different, it used to be a lot of fun,” the former batter mentioned.