When you are hosting the tournament and face off against the defending World Cup champions in a knockout, the pressure of expectation can get to you. No such alarms for India though.
AFP
On March 24, 2011, India faced off against Australia in Ahmedabad in the 2nd quarterfinal. After Ricky Ponting's hundred had helped the visitors post 260/6, India were left struggling at 187/5.?
Sachin Tendulkar (53) and Gautam Gambhir (50) had made good contributions but with the lower middle order exposed, Australia had a good chance to run ?through the side. But one man had other ideas.
AFP
Yuvraj Singh was in great form during the World Cup. Fresh off a century in the previous game against West Indies, he carried on where he had left off. In partnership with Suresh Raina, the runs soon began to flow.
Soon the Aussies ran out of ideas as Yuvraj's well-timed shots and great running between the wickets left them clueless.
The winning hit came off a booming drive by Yuvraj and his reaction told the whole story. The champions were going home and India set up a date with Pakistan in the semis. Ponting's face fell as he realised his last World Cup had ended and for the first time ever since 1992, Australia were not playing in the final.
Yuvraj finished with 57 not out in 65 balls. His 8 fours found gaps with precision and it was a great win for India.
They would go on to eventually win the tournament by overcoming Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But the joy of ending the reign of the World Champions must have given the Men in Blue some special satisfaction.