So the day has finally arrived. After toiling hard for over a month, “TEAM INDIA” is finally in the Final of the WC 2011. And the opponents are our mercurial neighbors separated by the sea named “Sethusamudram” down South of India. The team is Sri Lanka who along with India and Bangladesh are also the co-hosts of WC 2011.
“Team India” was one of the favorites’ to make the final and they are finally there. It has not been an easy ride in the park for “Men In Blue “. After playing some high quality, consistent and absorbing cricket throughout the tournament they booked their ticket for Mumbai. They had easy victories over Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and West Indies and had to contain with a Tie against England and were defeated by South Africa in the group stages. After playing some ordinary cricket during group phase they raised their games in knockouts and defeated world champions Australia and dangerous Pakistan in quarters and Semi finals respectively.
Sri Lanka too has not been at their best throughout the tournament. They started their World Cup campaign by beating Canada but were surprised by Pakistan in their next match. They had easy victories against the minnows Kenya and Zimbabwe and there much anticipated clash against the Aussies was a wash out. They defeated New Zealand just before the knockouts which gave them some confidence before the big games. With England and New Zealand in quarters and semis, Sri Lanka was lucky to cruise through the Final however not before few hiccups against the Kiwis.
So now it’s about the Big One. The main thing to India’s advantage is that they have faced two tough opponents in a lead up to the Final. Victory against arch –rivals Pakistan in semi finals is a perfect Tonic for Team India before the Big Match at Mumbai. It was like a Final before the Final and “TEAM INDIA” played some tough cricket in that match to beat Pakistan. However Sri Lanka is different than Pakistan. They are thorough professionals and are oozing with confidence. All the Pressure will be on India as the Final is been held in their home turf.
It is important for “Team India” to get their bowling combination right. The media grapevine is that Ashish Nehra is not fit for the Final and so Ravichandran Ashwin might get a go. India’s batting is their strength and if India bats first they should to try to post a decent total depending on the track. The wicket at Wankhede is not a flat track or a “National Highway” as Sunny and Ravi would say and has a bit of bounce and carry which will be good news for fast bowlers from both the sides.
Apart from Zaheer, no Indian pacer has been successful so far in the tournament so it will be very crucial for Munaf to bowl the way he bowled against Pakistan. Selectors might be also thinking of gambling with S.SreeSanth looking at the wicket and Sri Lanka’s weakness against quality fast bowling. India should look to target SriLanka’s fragile and untested middle order which is their main concern throughout the tournament. The way Indian bowlers bowl against the SriLankan middle order may be very crucial in the context of the match.
It will probably be the battle between the best batting and the best bowling side of the tournament when Indian batsman face off against the quality Sri Lankan bowling line up. It is important for likes of Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir and Virat to hold the top-order together before stroke players like Yuvraj, Raina and Dhoni can unleash themselves.
It will be also be an absorbing battle between Yuvraj and Murali. Yuvraj is in the form of his life and Murali will be playing his last international game and Yuvraj has been having his share of problems against Murali since last few years. It will be intriguing to see how Yuvraj tackles Murali. Indian batsman especially the lower middle order and tailenders should prepare themselves to face those toe-crushing Malinga Yorkers
Sri Lanka batting depends heavily on their three stalwarts namely TilakRatne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene . Indian bowlers will hope to get these three big guns cheaply. Sri Lanka have drafted in Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv in their squads as the cover for injured Murali and Matthews. Sri Lanka might seriously consider playing Vaas because of his vast experience and a decent record against the Indian team.
Overall a mouth watering contest is on the cards and the team which plays its natural game without taking any pressure of the Big Final might emerge victorious in the End. The stage is set for Sachin Tendulkar to score his 100th International hundred in front of his home crowd in probably the biggest match of his glorious career. So best wishes to “TEAM INDIA” to fulfill the dreams of One Billion Hearts.
- Best Of Luck “TEAM INDIA”
- Jay Hind
No comments:
Post a Comment