MS Dhoni inaugurates site of his 2011 World Cup six memorial at Wankhede Stadium, felicitated in Mumbai

MS Dhoni was at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, April 7 to inaugurate the special memorial – a series of seats, in honour of his World Cup 2011 final-winning six.

The Chennai Super Kings captain cut the ribbon and unveiled the seats, which will be immortalised at the iconic stadium in Mumbai.

MS Dhoni, dressed in Chennai Super Kings colours, was present at the special ceremony hosted by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday ahead of their blockbuster clash against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023.

A Victory Memorial will be built at the site of the 5 seats where MS Dhoni’s winning six landed. MS Dhoni posed for a photo at the memorial site before he was felicitated on the ground. The 5 seats will be removed to build the memorial.

MS Dhoni six, the winning shot in India’s successful chase against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final on April 2, became part of Indian cricket’s history. Dhoni smashed Nuwan Kulasekara into the long-on stands as a country of billion erupted in joy. Dhoni raised his arms in delight and celebrated with his batting partner, Yuvraj Singh.

MS Dhoni was surrounded by the ground staff and MCA officials as he was the Man of the Moment once again at the Wankhede Stadium.

The World Cup-winning former captain was also presented with a memento and a special poster of the moment he hit the winning six. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh can be seen beginning to celebrate the historic moment in the poster.

Apart from the Polly Umrigar and Vinoo Mankad Gates, the iconic Wankhede Stadium has stands named after Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Vijay Merchant. This will be the first time a seat at the Wankhede will be named after a player in the entire country. However, the concept has been used a few times outside of India.

MS Dhoni led India to glory in the 2011 World Cup, leading from the front with the bat in the final. He surprised quite a few by promoting himself at No. 5 ahead of Yuvraj Singh in a chase of 275.

Dhoni took the attack to the Sri Lankan spinners, including Muttiah Muralitharan, and remained unbeaten on 91. Gautam Gambhir top-scored with 97 as India ended a 28-year-long wait for a World Cup trophy.