• Home
  • Player Stories
  • When Sehwag Kohli Smashed Tons Against Bangladesh To Avenge The 2007 Wc Loss

When Sehwag & Kohli Smashed Tons Against Bangladesh to Avenge the 2007 WC Loss

image-lsslj1yeIndia played their opening game of 2011 World Cup vs Bangladesh [X.com]

19th February remains a date etched in cricket lovers' memories as it was today, 13 years back, India defeated neighbours Bangladesh in Dhaka to kickstart their dream run towards winning the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent. 

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men dominated the Bangla Tigers, who had proven to be their unexpected nemesis during the 2007 edition in the Caribbean and defeated the Indians to crash them out in the group stage.  



Having deemed it a "revenge" clash in the pre-match press conference an evening before,  swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag backed his words with a tremendous century. Opening his account with a boundary first ball of the World Cup, the Nawab of Najafgarh smashed the hapless Bangladeshi attack for a knock of 140 balls. 

When India Hammered Bangladesh In 2011 World Cup Opener 

Sehwag's brutal innings overshadowed young Virat Kohli's record hundred in his very first World Cup outing in India colours. Kohli played a magnificent innings of 100 not out off 83 deliveries to emerge as a perfect ally to the aggressive Sehwag as they took India to a daunting 370/4. 



Even as the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (28) and No.3 Gautam Gambhir (39) missed out on a flat batting surface at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, Sehwag made sure he maximised his stint, producing 14 fours and 5 maximums during his glorious innings. 

His third-wicket stand with Kohli fetched India 203 runs as the tournament favourites mercilessly treated the inexperienced Bangladeshi bowling unit and batted the opposition out of the contest despite heavy dew expected under lights in the second half. 

Enjoying great scoreboard pressure, Indian bowlers curtailed the Bangladeshi wings and even as the dangerous Tamim Iqbal (70) and Shakib Al Hasan (55) gave them some scare, Zaheer Khan (2/40) and Munaf Patel (4/48) ensured Dhoni & company won by a whopping margin of 87 runs.