How Sachin Tendulkar’s Crucial Advice Inspired Suresh Raina in India’s 2011 World Cup Quarter-Final Win Over Australia?

The crowd was tense, and the Aussie players were constantly sledging. That’s when Suresh Raina walked into bat, and at that crucial moment, he turned to none other than the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. A few encouraging words from Tendulkar gave Raina the strength and belief he needed. Staying calm, Raina played a key role in taking India over the line and knocking Australia out of the 2011 World Cup. Here’s how it all happened.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Advice to Suresh Raina During the 2011 ODI World Cup Quarter-Finals

With the Australian team as opponents, the Indian team has always faced certain pressure, especially in knockout World Cup matches Australia has long been known for its tough mentality, aggressive cricket, and sharp sledging tactics. When India met them in the quarter-final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup at Motera, the stage was set for yet another intense battle.

Batting second, India had the crowd behind them, but chasing a target of 261 against the defending champions was never going to be easy. At one point in the chase, things were looking steady with Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir at the crease. However, when key wickets started falling in the middle overs, tension began to build. Tendulkar got out after a fine knock, followed by Gambhir and then the captain MS Dhoni. Suddenly, the situation turned tricky. India were still some distance away from victory, and the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd started showing.

That is when Suresh Raina was called in to bat and for him, the moment was big. The team was in trouble, the opponents were not just skilled but also constantly sledging, and the entire country was watching. Sitting in the dressing room before walking out, Raina was understandably nervous and at that point, Sachin Tendulkar, the most experienced player in the side, came to him with a calm and confident message. That small piece of advice gave Raina the belief he needed. He said:

On a personal level, any World Cup match between India and Australia brings back memories of the quarter-final in 2011, a game full of pressure and Australia were the holders and the favourites to win it again. We were chasing 261 and when [MS] Dhoni was out, I joined Yuvraj Singh at 187 for five. We had to dig in, we had to take responsibility and play the ball, not the occasion and that’s what me and Yuvi did. In a quarter-final against the reigning champions, you need to bring your a-game and we delivered.

Once on the field, Raina joined Yuvraj Singh, who was already fighting hard to keep India in the contest. Together, they had to rebuild the innings and ensure there were no more hiccups. Even though the required runs were not too many, the situation demanded composure. What made the task harder was the behaviour of the Australian players. Raina later revealed that Brad Haddin and others tried to distract them by making remarks and even blocking his path while running.

But he and Yuvraj stayed focused and refused to respond to the sledging. The partnership that followed was one of the most important ones in India’s World Cup history and Raina remained not out on 34, while Yuvraj finished with 57. Their unbeaten 74-run stand took India safely to the target and into the semi-final. The crowd erupted in celebration, and Raina had proven that he could handle pressure on the biggest stage.

Reflecting on that match a year later, Raina said that the words from Tendulkar before he walked into bat stayed with him. In that difficult moment, having the support and belief of someone like Sachin gave him a sense of calm. It was not just a win against Australia, it was a moment that shaped Raina’s career and showed the importance of leadership and experience in big matches. He further added:

I remember the stadium being full of fans shouting and screaming and before I went in to bat, I was sitting with Sachin [Tendulkar] and he told me to go out there, take the chase deep, stay calm and breathe. He told me I could do it and I had already played 100 ODIs by that time, so I knew how to play those crucial knocks. I was very calm and composed and I thought ‘Let’s do it for India.

Raina also praised Australia for always turning up strong in important games. He said that Australia’s mindset and experience in big matches make them a dangerous side. Their ability to handle pressure and rise to the occasion is what sets them apart. He mentioned how even in the recent World Cup, performances like the double century by Glenn Maxwell have shown why they should never be taken lightly.

But in that quarter-final in 2011, it was India who rose to the occasion and the calm of Raina, the fire of Yuvraj, and the wisdom of Tendulkar all came together to knock the mighty Australians out of the tournament. That victory helped India move closer to their ultimate goal and added another memorable chapter in Indian cricket history.

India vs Australia: 2011 ODI World Cup Quarter-Finals

When India took on Australia at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Stadium on March 24, 2011, for the World Cup quarter-final, the place was buzzing with 51,000 fans and Australia won the toss, decided to bat, and put up 260/6 in their 50 overs. India, with Yuvraj Singh playing like a man possessed, chased it down in 47.4 overs, finishing at 261/5 to grab a nail-biting five-wicket win that had everyone jumping. Australia’s innings started with Shane Watson, who scratched out 25 off 38 balls before Ravichandran Ashwin cleaned him up. Brad Haddin came out swinging, smashing 53 off 62 balls with six fours and a six, putting on a 70-run stand with Ricky Ponting. The Aussie skipper was pure class, carving out 104 off 118 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, holding the innings together like a pro. But India’s bowlers weren’t just watching.

Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh each bagged two wickets, Yuvraj’s 2/44 was a game-changer and Zaheer Khan got in on the act, knocking over Michael Hussey for 3 and Cameron White for 12. David Hussey kept the fight alive with an unbeaten 38 off 26 balls, smashing three fours and a six to give Australia a late kick. They scored 40 in the first powerplay, 30 in the bowling powerplay, and 44 in the batting powerplay, ending at 260, with 11 extras, mostly wides, sneaking in. India’s chase had us all on edge. Virender Sehwag got out for 15 to Shane Watson, and the mood dipped.

Sachin Tendulkar looked like he would win it single-handedly, stroking 53 off 68 balls with seven fours, but Shaun Tait got him caught behind. Gautam Gambhir battled for 50 off 64 balls, only to get run out in a total mess and Virat Kohli chipped in with 24 before David Hussey sent him back, and MS Dhoni could only manage 7. At 187/5, the fans thought we were done for. But Yuvraj Singh? He was ice-cold and his unbeaten 57 off 65 balls, with eight fours, was like watching a hero rise and Suresh Raina came in and smashed an unbeaten 34 off 28 balls, with two fours and a six, and their 74-run stand for the sixth wicket turned the game upside down.

India got 21 extras, including 16 wides, which was a big help. They played the power plays like champs, 50 runs in the first, 26 in the bowling powerplay, and 22 in the batting powerplay, hitting 250 in 46.1 overs. Yuvraj, the Player of the Match, was unreal and his 2/44 with the ball and that match-winning fifty broke Australia’s back. Taking down the Aussies in a World Cup knockout was huge.