'He was like the second coach in the team' - Suresh Raina reveals which Indian player played a crucial role in 2011 World Cup glory

It was a memorable night for every Indian when MS Dhoni and Co lifted the prestigious World Cup trophy after 28 years of wait. No Indian fan could forget the 2011 World Cup final when MS Dhoni hit the maximum and steered the Men in Blue to the title glory. A jubilant Indian side started celebrating as soon as Dhoni hammered the ball for a six off Nuwan Kulasekara’s delivery.

The whole Wankhede stadium erupted in joy as India clinched the World Cup trophy by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Moreover, the tournament was supposed to be a memorable one as it was the last and final World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar. Hence, fans wanted the Master Blaster to bask in the World Cup glory before ending his illustrious career.

After clinching the trophy, the whole Indian team took a lap of the stadium with Sachin on their shoulders. It was a moment which got etched in the heart of every Indian fan.

Suresh Raina heaps praise on Sachin Tendulkar

Speaking in an interview to Khaleej Times, Suresh Raina, who was a part of the 2011 World Cup-winning side, reminisced the win and revealed that Tendulkar’s calmness was the reason behind India winning the trophy.

“With Sachin, it’s always about his calmness. It was because of Sachin that we won the World Cup,” Raina said.

“He was the guy who made everyone in the team believe that we can do that, He was like the second coach in the team,” he added.

The Master Blaster had a memorable World Cup too as Tendulkar finished as the 2nd-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 482 runs in nine games at an average of 53.55. However, it was Yuvraj Singh who was awarded Man of the tournament for his impressive all-round performance throughout the World Cup.

The left-hander emerged as a match-winner for the Men in Blue on multiple occasions and was crucial in India’s success in the tournament.