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When Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men crossed the finishing line after overhauling Sri Lanka's stiff target of 275, it was the first-ever time in the tournament's history that the nation hosting the grand finale had come out trumps.
England had hosted the tournament on four occasions (1975-1983 and 1999) without tasting success even once.
India was the co-hosts of the 1987 edition along with Pakistan, and Allan Border's Australians beat Mike Gatting's England at the Eden Gardens to snatch away the top prize.
Five years later, Australia hosted the final (the tournament's joint co-hosts being New Zealand), and it was the turn of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan to lift the trophy.
In 1996 though winners Lanka were the co-hosts of the tournament with India and Pakistan, but the final was held at Lahore.
After the 1999 tournament, won by Australia in England, Ricky Ponting led the Aussies to back-to-back title triumphs in 2003 (in South Africa) and in 2007 (in West Indies).
But tonight, egged on by a capacity crowd of 33,000, India created history as hosts of the summit clash by denying co-hosts Lanka the Cup as well as the top prize of USD 3 million. Runners-up Sri Lanka pocketed USD 1.5 million.
The triumph also placed India alongside the West Indies and Australia as the teams to have won the much-admired title on more than one occasion.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said his team were disappointed at missing out on a second World Cup title but proud to go down to a team that deserved victory more.
"I am very proud of everyone in the team, especially Mahela (Jayawardene) who rose up to the occasion and put up a great hundred," he said, after India defeated his side by six wickets in the final at the Wankhede stadium.
"When you look at this Indian team anything less than 350 is not enough. It has been a great tournament for us. The way India played they deserved the tag of favourites.
"Both Sri Lanka and India will be proud with the way they have played."
"India were the better side. They were fantastic tonight. The only way for us to stop India was to get at least seven wickets. Gautam (Gambhir) was outstanding and (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni stepped up and performed.
"We are disappointed but the better side won."
Gambhir made 97 while skipper and man-of-the-match Dhoni finished unbeaten on 91.
Sachin Tendulkar failed with the bat but still ended a World Cup-winner for the first time on Saturday as India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final.
Yuvraj Singh was named the Man of the Series of the 2011 World Cup and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named the Man of the Match of the final against Sri Lanka.
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