By Indian Cricket Fever
March 31 2011

India and Sri Lanka have played each other 22 times in the past two years in ODIs alone, not counting numerous Test matches and T20 encounters.  At one point it seemed that India was playing Sri Lanka pretty much every other week.  So in a way it is appropriate that these two most familiar of rivals square off for the World Cup 2011 Finals. 

One thing is certain, a major headache was avoided by the ICC when Pakistan met India in the semi-finals in Mohali, instead of the finals in Mumbai.  The PR machine of both countries political leaders would have been hard pressed to celebrate the "bhai-chara" and "aman ka mahaul" in a City where the wounds of a brutal terrorist attack hatched in Pakistan are still pretty raw, especially under the surface.  Indeed a match between Pakistan and India just a stone's throw from the Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Churchgate Station, etc. in the heart of South Mumbai, would have been like pouring salt on barely healed wounds.

Thankfully for the ICC and especially for its new President, Sharad Pawar, the atmosphere now is now much more likely to be focused on the game, and particularly on two of its greatest ambassadors, Sachin Tendulkar and Muthiah Muralitharan.  Both have been icons, not just with their once in a lifetime talent, but with their examplary behavior on and off the cricket field.   Muralitharan has already won the Cup once, back in 1996 at the start of his career, winning the cup this time would be the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition of Tendulkar, who has admitted in the past that he truly started taking keen interest in the game, in the wake of India's victory under Kapil Dev and Co. back in 1983.

Both the teams are evenly matched and it will be a matter of which team wins the key momments and avoids silly mistakes, while taking every chance, or even half chance that comes its way, as to who will end up with the Cup.  On paper India hold the slight edge as they seem to have the psychological advantage over Sri Lanka playing in India, but unlike Pakistan, Sri Lanka have beaten India in the World Cup, and more than once, so India will know that any complacency they have from their win over Pakistan in the previous game, may come back to haunt them.  Both teams have reached the finals of the World Cup three times, and one of them come Saturday will become a World Champion again. 

You Again?!

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 31/03/2011 04:39

Indian Cricket Fever
31/03/2011 04:39

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:01:03:36:36 by Birbal.

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Birbal
31/03/2011 15:09

Both teams know each others strengths and weaknesses so well...

but I think Dhoni will will out manuever Sanga

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Meet_New_Mr_India
31/03/2011 17:35

If we get their openers cheaply we are in business big time.. How is the pitch? I heard the stadium has been completely renovated but what about the pitch?....

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Birbal
31/03/2011 18:34

It should be spin friendly...but will assist pace at the start...

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Spirit of Cricket
31/03/2011 21:49

Sri Lanka just has a very poor record playing in India, which will weigh on them in the final.

Moreover I see the Lankans already whinging about the brown pitch in Wankhede seemingly so different from the one on the same ground on which they beat NZ. They already are looking for excuses, not a good sign!

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Birbal
31/03/2011 22:46

They will have bad memories of Mumbai...albeit of Brabourne and a Test...where Sehwag savaged them for nearly a triple century in one day....

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