The onus is on Indian skipper MS Dhoni. The excitement, expectation and hype surrounding the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup has mainly been focused on the Indian side, especially as they are going to play the big match at home. They have also been tagged as favourites to win the final, and expectations have peaked after the 29-run victory over Pakistan in the high-voltage semifinal at Mohali.
The cricket-mad Indian people are not ready to believe that Dhoni's boys will frustrate them after the way they have progressed to the last stage since starting the campaign as a 'hot favourite'. India are now very near to achieving a unique feat by winning the World Cup at home, but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played down the hype when speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday, on the eve of the highly anticipated all-Asian final. But there was no shortage of confidence about his team's chance to lift the trophy for the second time in their history after the 1983 triumph of Kapil Dev's outsiders.
“Pakistan game was a big game and you saw the guest list, so there was further pressure. But what we know as a team is not the hype or expectations. In a sport you may be at your best, but the opposition can outplay you,” said Dhoni when he was asked about the high expectation with the final.
“We did not have a long break between semifinal and final; that however helps not to think too much ahead of the final. You however must be in the present when you want to do well in a tournament like this in India. Every game was a challenge for us. We had to be at our best. We did not think too much about our result; how to increase our intensity is the issue,” said Dhoni.
“It's not about quarters or semis but the final, how you turn up to the field and what you do till the end is important. Full stop does not come if the sentence is not complete. We know our strengths, weaknesses, and what we need to do on the field. It is a big game for all of us,” he said adding that it's important how a team prepare for this kind of battle.
India won their previous games quite comfortably, though many believe that their vaunted batting line-up is yet to click at their best, and Dhoni also said that there is plenty to come from his side.
“If you just talk about potential as to what we can do, there is plenty to come. We have done quite well in the tournament, won games with runs in the pocket and quite a few wickets left when we chased. If we do everything to the best we can, it will be a very interesting game,” said the keeper-batsman, adding: “Irrespective of what the result is, I am very proud of the team.”
“We gained momentum slowly and it was important because we were too focused from the start and to keep the momentum for 35-40 days becomes really difficult. We peaked at the right time. The format gave us those extra moments where we could relax a little,” he explained when asked about the long duration of the tournament.
Sri Lanka has variety in their bowling attack which can test the strong Indian batting line-up in the final, but Dhoni rated the Pakistan attack highly.
“Pakistan has a more balanced bowling attack irrespective of what the wicket is. If you see the Mumbai track, there is a little pace and bounce for the bowlers. Third seamer can have an impact on the game. With spinners, if you have three spinners you can't manoeuvre. Ashwin has done very well, we have confidence in him but not sure of bowling combination right now,” observed Dhoni.
Dhoni hinted that they might play with three spinners although left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra is most likely ruled out due to a fracture on his middle finger on the right hand, and the Indian skipper suggested that right-arm pace bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth was likely to replace Nehra in the team as India expected the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium to help seam bowlers.
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