Finally...

The big day is here... India take on Sri Lanka in the finals of the 2011 World Cup. Each has won the cup once, and will look to regain the glory, though India seem firm favourites with the gods, the bookies, the coincidences and the what nots. Sachin and Murali both play their last match, and probably Zaheer too. With a 100 today, Sachin can get 100 100s, the Man of Match, the Man of Series, The Cup, and maybe a Bharat Ratna! What a way to retire!

Mumbai is decked up, and fortified.. with the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the RAF, Force One, NSG, Coast Guard and the Police on alert to repulse any stupid attacks. Three rings of defences around the stadium, amphibious crafts patrolling the sea.

I was in Cuffee Parade yesterday, passing by a few meters from Wankhede, and the Taj where the team is staying. Interesting feeling it is - visiting a spot where history will be made, before it is made :)

So what will Dhoni do today? Again, in my opinion, bat first and put up a good score, and put the Lankans under pressure in a high voltage chase with disciplined bowling and fielding. But here's the deal. Lanka has an excellent opening pair in great form, and Sangakkara can do great too. If they get off to a good start, India might be in trouble. This team has done well chasing under pressure, so it might as well be a good idea to put in the Lankans to bat, make it their problem to put up a good total, get the openers out cheaply - they have chased well, but setting up a target is another matter altogether - and then expose their weak and untested middle order, which is even further weakened by Angelo Matthews' injury. Wankhede has got a new pitch, the Lankans have played on it, the Indians haven't. But going by the past experiences, it's likely to be a turner, and Dhoni should play Ashwin instead of the injured Nehra. In any case, 3 seamers will be a mistake at Wankhede, and there might even be a case for playing Piyush, Harbhajan AND Ashwin, with Zaheer the only seamer, and the "part timer" Yuvi chipping in with another match winning 10 overs. Crazy? Maybe, but that's what shocks the opposition and destroys plans!

Ok, I need to go now, and get my India colors prepped up...

Go Indiayaaaah Go!