World Cup 2011: We didn’t get overawed by the hysteria outside, says Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir gets nostalgic as he relives the special memories of the 2011 World Cup with Chander Shekhar Luthra.

When did you first dream about winning the World Cup?
It all started when I was a 10-year-old kid. Though it took a long time to realise this dream, I’m happy I helped India win the WC after nearly 28 years.

What was so special about Kirsten?
He was the best coach India had. He gave us freedom to play in our own style. Gary understood the players’ psyche. There were so many similarities between Gary and me. Like me, he was a left-handed opener. He gave me absolute liberty to play my own game. I credit our WC success to him.

What was that one thing he taught you?
There were so many things he taught me casually without making me realise the learning process was on.

Did you set a few goals for yourself during the WC?
The World Cup is too big to set any goals. If I had tried to set any, I would have put enormous pressure on myself. I was taking one game at a time. That’s how I am. I can’t really plan much in advance.

How was the pressure of playing before a home crowd?
Enormous, let me tell you. It was not easy to perform, given the hype. The media and fans actually believed that India, being the hosts, would win the World Cup. It was difficult to handle such overpowering emotions.

We had three tough games: against Australia, Pakistan and the final. One couldn’t have planned for such high pressure matches. It was important to deliver that particular day and keep the momentum going. Beating Australia has always been tough, whatever the circumstances. The semifinal against Pakistan was like a pot-boiler. The media focussed on it, not just for cricketing reasons. We all wanted to win that game, but it was equally important to do the routine stuff and not think much.

During the WC, did you ever have doubts about winning?
Not once did I think on those lines. If you start doubting yourself, you can’t expect to win a tournament like that. It was simple: play to your potential and win.

Were you overconfident then?
Not for a second. The way we were playing, I was sure we would win nine times out of 10. But in cricket, like any other sport, one can never guarantee anything till the task is accomplished.

Did the amount of ad shoots in the run up to the WC disturb you?
There was a great deal of hype, especially after the semifinal victory over Pakistan. But, as a professional, it is important to focus on the target. Our biggest test was playing in the present.

Did the seniors have a role in ensuring this?
There’s no senior or junior when you play for your country. You can’t win with one or two seniors and treat the rest as juniors. The seniors knew their role and were allowing others to play their natural game. There was always a specific role for everyone but, at the same time, there was no pressure on any individual.

Take us through the game against Pakistan...
We all knew we had to be at our peak to win in such pressure situations. With prime ministers of both the countries watching the match, it had become more prestigious. Also, we heard the media saying that our people, being hosts, were not ready to settle for anything less than a win. The smallest mistake could have ended our journey. But we played like a unit and didn’t get overawed by the hysteria outside.

And the final was all yours...
I’m happy I played my part by scoring 97 in the team’s victory. But my efforts alone may not have been enough had Zaheer (Khan) not bowled that great first spell, or Harbhajan (Singh) not taken those two crucial wickets in the middle overs. I think the credit should go to all the 11 players.

When did it actually sink in?
Emotions were running high as the mission was accomplished. I was so exhausted by the time I reached my hotel. I could speak only with my family before crashing for a very satisfying sleep. There were no extra celebrations. It was all about going back to sleep and start dreaming again.