Great teams are usually built on more than skill alone — they also need the right leadership, and India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph is still the best example of that. Under Gary Kirsten, the Indian team found not just a coach, but a calm and trusted figure who helped turn a talented group into champions on home soil. Fans remember the title run for its big moments and Sachin Tendulkar’s long-awaited World Cup glory, but as Yuvraj Singh has now revealed, there was a lot more happening behind the scenes.
Speaking on Stick to Cricket with former England captain Michael Vaughan, Yuvraj explained why Kirsten made such a difference to that team. According to him, India did not just need tactics or planning at that stage — they needed a strong human presence in the dressing room.
“I think Gary Kirsten was a big influence in that moment. Gary was a good man. We needed a good guy. That’s all we wanted,” Yuvraj Singh said. “Someone who said, ‘Guys, let’s be one on the park. Let’s be together.’ And Gary was very hardworking.”
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Singh also recalled how bold Kirsten’s vision was when he first took charge. The South African did not arrive with small targets. Instead, he set out a clear roadmap to make India the best side in the world across formats over the next four years.
“And I think the day he came, he said that in the next four years, till the 2011 World Cup, we are going to be the number one T20 side. We are going to be the number one Test side. And we are going to be the number one ODI side. And a couple of guys looked at each other. ‘What are you saying?’”
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“And that’s what we did in the next four years. While Australia was dominating as well. So, I think his intention was good. He is a good man. And he took Indian cricket to a different level,” he added.
Gary Kirsten’s tenure coincided with one of the strongest phases in Indian cricket history, and Yuvraj believes that belief, trust, and unity were just as important as talent in making that success possible.
