The d-day has arrived and as had been scripted by many an Indian fan before the start of the tournament, the Indians have reached the final of the ICC World Cup 2011. India take on Sri Lanka in the final of the tournament and that is after they had beaten the Pakistanis in the semi final of the tournament.
So why do we think that the Indians will go on to lift the trophy in the 2011 World Cup?
- The opposition is Sri Lanka and they have played the Lankans over and over again in the past. The Indians’ Achilles Heel is usually associated with the fact that they can be surprised with something new. However, given that the last three years have seen umpteen number of games between the two sides, the element of surprise is all but gone.
- MS Dhoni. He is one of the calmest personalities to have taken the cricket field in Indian cricket. Whether it was the quarter-final against the Australians, the semi-finals against Pakistan or any other game in the past, his ability to maintain that demeanour of his is worth the watch and that will mean that he will have the ability to take India out of any situation in the game.
- The batting line-up is much stronger than Sri Lanka’s. Despite the Lankans having had a good start at the top of the innings it is not as if the side has had a start against the sides like Australia, Pakistan and any other stronger side. Against India, they may find it difficult. On the other hand, the Indian batsmen have been doing well at the top of the innings against the bowling of all kind and that will make it easier for them to face up to the likes of Muralitharan and company.
- Indian conditions. Sri Lanka may have won all their games at home easily but their record in Indian conditions is poor, to say the least. Of the 39 games that they have played in India, Sri Lanka has won only 11 matches in the 50-over format and in the longer format – Tests – they have yet to win a single game so far. Expecting then, to win an important final like will be expecting a bit too much from the Sri Lankan team.
