'MS Dhoni is one of genuine massive high-pressure players, Yuvraj isn't' - Paddy Upton on bold decision in 2011 WC final

Indian fans cannot forget the night of 2^nd April 2011 when the Men in Blue lifted the World Cup for the second time after defeating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium. Everything remains to be magical about the day but if there is one knock that fans just cannot forget, it is of the then skipper MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91. It is known to all that Dhoni promoted himself in the batting order ahead of Yuvraj Singh, who was already shining with the bat in the tournament.

However, when MS walked in to bat ahead of Yuvraj, all the eyebrows were raised as he didn’t have even one fifty in his kitty in the 2011 WC by then. However, in the same line of events, India’s then mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton has opened up on the same decision, calling it right and stating that Dhoni is one massive high-pressure player.

MS Dhoni would do what he is the best in the world at: Paddy Upton

“He (MS Dhoni) would do what he is the best in the world at – which is seeing a team home in a chase in the second innings in a white-ball game. He had delivered nothing in the eight games before the final. Yuvraj had done his bit, he had played his tournament. He was done, he was spent. That moment was set up for someone like Dhoni. There are very few players in the world who are genuine “massive high-pressure” players. Yuvraj Singh is not one of those, Dhoni is,” wrote Paddy Upton in his column for Indian Express.

Talking of that ultimate match, India was in a spot of bother at 114/3 but the Ranchi stalwart walked in to stitch a crucial stand with Gautam Gambhir, who walked back after contributing a massive 97 runs. After Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh finally came to join hands with the skipper. Both played brave innings to take India over the line by six wickets and gifted the nation the ultimate glory after 28 years.