Sachin Tendulkar shared in a Reddit AMA that he suggested MS Dhoni should bat earlier in the 2011 World Cup final. India was chasing 275 runs and was in trouble at 114/3 after Virat Kohli got out. Instead of Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni came in to bat at number five and turned the match around.
He made a 109-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir and stayed not out on 91 runs from 79 balls, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes, leading India to a six-wicket win and their first World Cup in 28 years.
During the session, an user asked Sachin: “Hi Sachin. Viru revealed that it was your idea to promote MSD ahead of Yuvi in the CWC final. Is that true and what was the reason behind such a strategic change?”
Sachin explained that his idea was based on strategy. He felt that sending MS Dhoni up the order would create a left-right batting combination with Gautam Gambhir, which would make it difficult for Sri Lanka’s main off-spinners, Muttiah Muralitharan and Suraj Randiv.
He also added that Dhoni had experience facing Muralitharan in the nets during their time together at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, which gave him an extra advantage.
“There were 2 reasons (behind his idea to promote Dhoni up the order). The left-right batting combination would have upset the two off-spinners, also Muralitharan had played for CSK (from 2008-2010) and MS had played him for 3 seasons in the nets,”
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