Ball which MS Dhoni smashed for a six in 2011 World Cup final found

No Indian fan can forget Ravi Shastri’s words from the commentator’s box– ‘Dhoni finishes off in style… A magnificent strike into the crowd.’ It was truly a never-to-be-forgotten memory for every Indian who was glued to his television set. The 2011 World Cup final triumph at Wankhede will be remembered for generations.

Skipper Dhoni sealed the victory by India by smashing Nuwan Kulasekara into the stands. Almost a decade after Dhoni’s iconic six, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has come forward to help the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) locate the ball. Upon the Ranchi stalwart’s retirement, MCA is planning to honour Dhoni by naming the seat where the ball would have landed after him.

MCA to decorate and paint the seat where the ball had landed

While the search was underway, Gavaskar informed the MCA that the spectator who caught the ball in the stands is an acquaintance of Gavaskar’s friend. That spot has now been identified as seat number 210 in the MCA Pavilion, L Block. And the person in possession of the match ball has also been identified, as reported by the Indian Express.

After Dhoni’s international retirement on August 15th, MCA Apex Council member Ajinkya Naik had written a letter to the governing body in order to suggest the idea of honouring the Indian skipper with a permanent seat at Wankhede.

“As an act of gratitude and tribute to his immense contribution to Indian cricket, the MCA can devote a permanent seat on his name at the pavilion where his famous World Cup-winning six had landed. We can paint and decorate the seat in a unique way to celebrate Dhoni’s association with Wankhede Stadium… We can have a plaque on that seat with some special text to honour that moment,” Naik’s letter read.

It is expected that the MCA may request Gavaskar to help in getting in touch with the spectator, who also has preserved his match ticket along with the ball. The MCA had recently accepted a request by the Maharashtra government to open the Wankhede Stadium and allow tours of the venue for visitors. Fans, in their future visit to the stadium, will likely be able to witness the exact spot where Dhoni’s last-ball World Cup-winning six had landed.