Cricket World Cup final: India v Sri Lanka - in pictures

After more than a month of fixtures - many of them pulsating - India and Sri Lanka take to the field to contest the final of the ICC World Cup. Here, Sri Lanka's captain captain Kumar Sangakkara greets India's Sachin Tendulkar shortly before the start of the match Photograph: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images

Virender Sehwag celebrates with teammates after taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

The Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara looks in good touch as he cuts to the offside boundary. Photograph: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

Tillakaratne Dilshan adds the run-count Photograph: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images

Mahela Jayawardene, looking assured throughout his innings, nudges the ball away on the leg side while the India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks on. Photograph: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images

Mahela Jayawardene shows his delight after completing a near-flawless century as Sri Lanka reach 274-6 off their 50 overs Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

It's a dream start for Lasith Malinga, who dismisses the dangerous Virender Sehwag in the first over of India's reply. Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

The moment the host nation dreaded: Sachin Tendulkar is dismissed cheaply by Lasith Malinga. The wait for that hundredth international century will go on. Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images

Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka dives to take a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Virat Kohli Photograph: Graham Crouch/Getty Images

Gautam Gambhir leads India's recovery from the loss of their openers as their run rate remains on course. Photograph: Gurinder Osan/AP

India's Gautam Gambhir, left, dives acrobatically to save himself from a run out. Photograph: Saurabh Das/AP

India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes in to play a key role in India's fourth-wicket partnership. Photograph: Saurabh Das/AP

Gautam Gambhir adds to his impressive tally of runs with a paddle sweep Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Captain Dhoni hits a six to continue India's charge towards the Sri Lankan's total Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

Devastating bad luck for India's Gautam Gambhir as he misses out on a century when he has wicket skittled by Thisara Perera whilst on 97 Photograph: Philip Brown/Reuters

With India needing 4 runs from 11 balls captain MS Dhoni slogs a six into the crowd to win the match and the World Cup Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrate their victory. It's no wonder Dhoni has a big smile on his face, his awesome innings of 91 not out from 79 balls broke the will of the Sri Lankans Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

...as well as breaking the hearts of the Sri Lankan fans Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images

The best limited-overs team in the world lift the trophy as they celebrate their victory Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

The celebrations also take place in the streets of Kolkata, Mumbai and across the whole country Photograph: Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP/Getty Images