India have overcome challenges from Australia and Pakistan in the knock out stages of the tournament. Both teams considered as contenders have stretched the home team but never to a bothersome extent. India's bowling a worry in the league stages looked much improved in their two knock out games. Bowlers seemed to have found some rhythm. Batting, at least to me, isn't a big worry. The power packed Indian batting has had a few uncharacteristic collapses, but I wouldn't read too deep into them. If the Indian batting plays to potential, there is no stopping them. Tendulkar and Sehwag form the crux right on top of the order and both have been in ominous touch. The Lankans must be tiring themselves on the drawing board trying to plot their dismissals.Gambhir though has been amongst runs, hasnt set the stage alight in any of the matches yet. Yuvraj is probably in the phase of his career where he can barely do any wrong. Been excellent with both bat and ball. Winning four Man of the Match awards in the same World Cup is no mean achievement. Zaheer, as expected has been India's lynchpin with the ball. The tournament's 2nd highest wicket taker, Zaheer has foxed batsmen throughout the Cup with his excellent variations and perfect lengths. India are expected to play both Harbhajan and Ashwin in the finals. Both have looked good when they've bowled together. They together must plan to stifle Dilshan, Tharanga and Sangakkara who've been in excellent touch.
Sri Lanka on the other hand have had it comparatively easy after their defeat to Pakistan in the league stages. They only had to face a weary and almost uninterested looking England in the quarters. Lankan openers pulverised English bowling to take the team home by 10 wickets chasing a modest score of 230. New Zealand's resistance with the bat was poorer but they fought hard with the ball causing a mini collapse, but Lanka won the game by 5 wickets. Both England and New Zealand are traditionally poor players of spin. All Sri Lanka had to do was to spin a spin web around. Sri Lankan top order is in fantastic touch. Middle order though is a spot of bother. Samaraweera and Chamara Silva havent been amongst the runs. Sri Lanka is going to miss Angelo Matthews dearly. He is one player in their ranks capable of changing gears with great ease. Lankan bowling has been quite upto the mark. Murali's fitness though would be a worry. Unless 100% fit, his effectiveness against quality players of spin that Indians are can be questions. Malinga and his yorkers will be something India would be working on though.
Ultimately it is going to come down to how the two teams react to pressure of the situation. Both teams have played innumerable final games against each other. But this surely is a notch above them all. I would say Sri Lanka have a slight edge over India in terms of chances. India after two mentally draining games really need to re focus on this all important game. Sri Lanka have had two breezy wins in the knock outs. They are yet to be stretched in the tournament except for their defeat vs Pakistan over a month back. India on the other hand need to field and bowl as well as they did against Pakistan to pose a challenge to the Lankans.
Both teams have a huge legend in their ranks, one who will play his last ODI tomorrow and the other whose CV has everything but a World Cup medal and is expected to hang his boots in the near future. Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to bowl to Sachin Tendulkar one last time in international cricket. As the cliche' goes, May The Best Team Win.
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