In the realm of cricket, few names carry as much weight and reverence as Sachin Tendulkar.
The legendary Indian batsman is often hailed as the 'God of Cricket' for his remarkable skills and countless records.
One of the most talked-about incidents involving Tendulkar and the game-changing Decision Review System (DRS) took place during the 2011 World Cup.
In this article, we delve into the details and explore the impact of the DRS on Tendulkar's performance in that historic tournament.
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What happened during Sachin Tendulkar's innings vs Pakistan in 2011 World Cup?
During the 2011 World Cup, India faced off against arch-rivals Pakistan in a highly anticipated semi-final match. Tendulkar, being a pivotal figure in the Indian batting lineup, carried the hopes and aspirations of millions of cricket enthusiasts around the world. However, he had a couple of nervy moments during his innings that triggered debates about the effectiveness of the DRS.
Tendulkar, batting on 23, was given out lbw by the on-field umpire off the bowling of Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal. However, Tendulkar immediately opted to review the decision using the DRS.
The ball tracking during the review showed that although the ball pitched outside off and the impact was in-line, the ball went on to miss the stumps, which led to the decision being overturned.
Tendulkar's survival had a significant impact on the match and the final outcome. He went on to score 85 runs, which played a crucial role in India's victory over Pakistan.
The knock helped India reach a respectable total of 260, and their bowlers successfully defended it to secure a place in the World Cup final. The incident ignited a wave of discussions and controversies surrounding the efficacy of the DRS.
Saeed Ajmal criticises ICC over DRS row
The incident involving Tendulkar's review during the 2011 World Cup semi-final led to a heated debate among cricket pundits and fans alike.
Supporters of the DRS argued that it was a testament to the system's ability to rectify human errors and ensure fairness. On the other hand, critics claimed that the DRS was unreliable and prone to its own set of inaccuracies.
Ajmal recently appeared on Nadir Ali's podcast and reflected on the incident that took place 12 years ago.
“I played in the 2011 World Cup in India. If you could remember the controversial call of Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket. Umpire and I still say he was out. They cut the last two frames to make the ball miss the stumps. Otherwise, it would have directly hit the middle stump.”
