Waking up to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni's shaved head was the biggest surprise of 2011 World Cup journey: Team India Manager

On 2nd April 2011, the Indian side led by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted the prestigious World Cup title. After winning the title MS Dhoni's pic of holding the cup in a new look was very much appreciated.

Image By: ESPN

It just seems like yesterday when MS Dhoni hit Nuwan Kulasekara for a huge six at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai winning the 2011 World Cup trophy. Now, it has been a decade, then also it gives goosebumps to think how 45 thousand cricket fans were singing Vande Mataram as India came closer to Sri Lanka’s target of 275 runs. 

While most of the people talk about how it was the ultimate gift for the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, and how the team celebrated the winning moments but for then team manager Ranjib Biswal, it was the morning of the next day that would remain printed in his mind forever.

Talking to ANI, Ranjib Biswal said that the biggest element of surprise was the moment when former skipper MS Dhoni walked with a shaved head the next morning. Ranjib Biswal also said that it shall remain the biggest surprise element of the 2011 World Cup journey.

"We literally had no idea what was awaiting us the morning after the final. We had celebrated till late in the dressing room after the win and then came back to the team hotel and continued celebrating till around 4:30 am in the morning. After that, we moved back to our rooms. And what do we see when we wake up? Dhoni has shaved off his head after returning to his room. It was truly a moment that would stay with us forever. We had no clue;" he told.

When asked if MS Dhoni had moved to his room earlier than other players, Biswal answered: "Not at all. He was present with all of us and left only when the celebrations ended. And then he went to his room and shaves off his head. This is what actually MS Dhoni is for you. He always keeps his emotions close to his heart and doesn’t express much."

Though it was a superb performance in the final to chase down 275 runs against Sri Lanka, the greatest match had to be the thrilling semi-final clash against Pakistan in Mohali. Here, Ranjib Biswal agrees that it was truly a pressure-cooker scenario, especially with fans and other dignitaries from the other side of the border in the stadium to enjoy the game.

"An India-Pakistan match, over that a World Cup encounter and even above that, it was the semi-final clash between the two teams. Let us not even get started on the fact that dignitaries and fans from the other side of the border were present in Mohali to watch the game. But as it is with MSD and also former coach Gary Kirsten, they did not let the pressure show in their behavior. I think that helped TO calm the nerves of the others players around. As for me, it was about making sure that the cricketers were focused solely on the match and everything else was taken care of," he said.

When asked few questions about his role, any calls made for match tickets/passes, and also interviews with the players, Biswal said that there was no such moment that went out of hand. "Well, it was obvious that India was playing at home and there were requests made for match passes. But there wasn’t any such demand which was out of control. As for the media, I must tell you that they were as much understanding of the situation as you can expect them to."

"Yes, there were requests for interviews, but the media personnel also understood that playing and winning matches was India's primary focus. We did press conferences and sessions which were all manageable. Honestly, it still gives me goosebumps to think of the whole stadium singing Vande Mataram as MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh took India home at the Wankhede Stadium on 2nd April 2011," he signed off.