‘Ab bhi ball thoda swing ho raha hai’: Sachin Tendulkar reveals what he told Virat Kohli after his dismissal during the 2011 WC final

There’s a famous frame from India’s 2011 World Cup final triumph against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As Sachin Tendulkar walked back to the pavilion following his dismissal, in came Virat Kohli.
In hindsight, seen as a passing of the torch moment, given the bulk of runs and centuries Kohli has gone on to score across formats for India. During their crossover, there’s a short conversation that takes place.
Many would’ve wondered over the years what was it that Tendulkar told a young Kohli walking out to bat with India two wickets down for 31, chasing 275.
On Friday, Tendulkar cleared the air. “Ab bhi ball thoda swing ho raha hai!” Tendulkar responded to a fan query on Twitter.
Tendulkar, who was the highest run scorer for India in the competition had been caught behind off Lasith Malinga, whose delivery from over the wicket would move away from the right-hander and take the outside edge on its way to Kumar Sangakkara.

Kohli would go on to stitch a crucial 83-run stand for the fourth wicket with Gautam Gambhir in India’s six wicket win and a first ODI World Cup win since 1983.
Kohli currently has 75 international tons, second most after Sachin Tendulkar, who ended his career with a 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs.