*Official* - Final - India v Sri Lanka

[Jono]

If Mathews is out, Gambhir, who I think has the same injury, will almost definitely be out.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

He will definetly think of retiring soon as he finally got the missing trophy for his cabinet and that will give him satisfaction enough and will start to make way for younger players .

Gavaskar said he won't retire until after 50th ODI ton...I am inclined to believe this.

 

[Cevno]

If Mathews is out, Gambhir, who I think has the same injury, will almost definitely be out.

Losing Gambhir would be a big blow in such a crucial match and against spin heavy Srilanka.
Specially if India is chasing.

Kohli has looked a bit out of sorts in the last few matches and specially today on slower wickets starting against the spinners.
Tries to work almost everything to the leg side.

Mathews would be a real big blow to Srilanka too.

 

[Himannv]

Playing India in India makes them favourites but I think the guys are up for it and will give it their all.

Murali's last game, he will bring it.

Come on Sri Lanka, bring home the World Cup!!

 

[Jono]

Yeah. Mathews ruins SL's balance and lower order hitting, and Gambhir hurts India's left-right combinations and quality middle order batting.

Also hurts India's experience too. For all the chat about Yusuf, he actually hasn't played that much international cricket. Enough not to be a rookie of course. But still.

 

[Sanz]

I think India will win ,specially at home but can't see where this will win very easily confidence is coming from.

Srilanka are a pretty strong unit. For me stronger than Pakistan in Indian conditions.

Even though I have picked India to win, to me it will be an even contest and will depend on who is showing up on that day.

SriLanka have clear edge in bowling with Murali, Mendis and Malinga ably backed up by Dilshan, And Angelo(if he plays) and equal in batting.

 

[ankitj]

I am so over with "Gambhir is good player of spin"

So unstable in the crease against spin. Keeps coming down or making room. Makes me nervous all the time. And often enough gets out against spin

 

[Cevno]

I am so over with "Gambhir is good player of spin"

So unstable in the crease against spin. Keeps coming down or making room. Makes me nervous all the time. And often enough gets out against spin

He plays spin more aggresively than others and though as a result he may get out some times ,he generally does well against spin.

He from the get go against Srilanka never had trouble picking either Mendis or Murali.

 

[Furball]

Don't think Tendulkar will retire from ODI's even if we win, he will continue on a bit more like Punter.

He'd all but retired from ODIs before the World Cup. Played a grand total of 2 ODIs between his 200* and the start of the World Cup.

 

[Woodster]

Would have to be a serious injury to keep anyone out of the World Cup final, can see Mathews playing some part. If he does miss out I'm sure it'll upset the balance of the side.

Be interesting if SL go with the three specialist spinners, believe they generally opt for less spinners against the sub-continental sides as they play spin better. It'd be a tough one who to drop, with Mendis the usual candidate having bowled so well in the last couple of games.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I'm fairly certain Sachin will bow out from ODI cricket, win or lose. 100% certain if we win, and 95% certain otherwise.

 

[Jono]

I am so over with "Gambhir is good player of spin"

So unstable in the crease against spin. Keeps coming down or making room. Makes me nervous all the time. And often enough gets out against spin

He looks unstable, but so what? He isn't unstable. Looks can be deceving.

Today he was stupid, yes. But normally he just plays the ball extremely late. That is a good thing.

And please list the times he has gotten out against spin.

 

[ankitj]

He looks unstable, but so what? He isn't unstable. Looks can be deceving.

Today he was stupid, yes. But normally he just plays the ball extremely late. That is a good thing.

And please list the times he has gotten out against spin.

At least 3 in this world cup from memory : Bangladesh, England and Pakistan.

 

[Jono]

Actually you're right, that is more than I thought.

Fair play to you. All lazy shots though, but nevertheless you are right.

 

[ankitj]

He plays spin more aggresively than others and though as a result he may get out some times ,he generally does well against spin.

He from the get go against Srilanka never had trouble picking either Mendis or Murali.

I know he picks spinners well. But he has appeared to be trying so hard to showcase his ability to play spin that he has got out stupidly at times. When your intuition says something will happen (Gambhir will get out to spin) and it happens, it's not plain intuition but guided by subconscious reason. Against the quality of SL's spin, I hope he plays more intelligently.

 

[silentstriker]

Yea, if he wanted the 50 ODI century mark, he'd have played a lot more ODIs. He requested rest from them...so I do think one way or another, the final will be his last ODI innings. I think he cares about the 100 100s (of course) but I don't think he's reaching for 50 ODI centuries really. He's already the greatest ODI batsman ever (IMO), so I don't think there is anything left to prove.

I'm pretty certain he'll be done with ODIs now...a world cup final, in India, in his home city and front of his home fans...you can't top that.

Maybe he'll play Tests for a couple years - maybe bow out when Australia tour India next?

 

[Bahnz]

I'd love Sri Lanka to win. It would be a great end for Murali and it would provide us Kiwi's to say with unequivocal proof that we are the 2nd best team in the world :P. But I just think that India have the answers to most of the questions that Sri Lanka pose and in their home conditions should have too much. The only thing that might work against them is they might be emotionally spent after the Pakistan game. Should be a cracker though.

 

[cnerd123]

India to win this. Century for Sachin in the WC Final at the Wankahede.

Would be absolutely gutting if we don't win.

 

[Flem274*]

Can't figure out who I want to lose the most.

 

[Prad100w]

Can't figure out who I want to lose the most.

Should be SL. Have been knocking your team out in the WC semis all the time