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India and Sri Lanka who sent New Zealander’s home after beating them quite comprehensively in the round robin league games now face against each other to decide the winner of Compaq Cup Final. Indian team will be quite keen to take the revenge against Lankan’s lions after what had happened against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

It will be really important for MSD to call right when Sri Lanka Captain flip the coin on the eve of the final of Compaq Cup. The team batting first has so much advantage on R.Premdasa wickets that match is almost decided after the first inning is over.

Indian captain already indicated in the previous two games either they restrict the team batting first below 200 or they should bat first to put pressure on the team batting second. Team batting first has always an additional advantage at R.Premdasa stadium.

It has been a big comedown for India. Their ascension to number one in the rankings was greeted by fireworks let off by an enthusiastic small band of followers. Their defeat and losing the ranking in a matter of 24 hours demise was also greeted by fireworks, let off it is suspected by gleeful Sri Lankan supporters they could celebrate something extra. After all, their own team’s ranking is still a lowly seventh.

Indian team who capitalized the number one spot is now sitting at number three after losing very badly against Sri Lanka. Now South Africa is sitting at number one with Australia at Number two position while Indian is at number three position. Both India and Australia have 125 points each but the latter are ahead when points were calculated up to decimals, according to the ICC website.

M.Muralitharan who missed the previous two games is likely to sit out in the final also due to groin injury. This will give some relief to the Indian camp.

Watch out for

Sanath Jayasura: The age has not affected this man as we have seen in the last game. The brisk score of 98 runs of 78 balls in the last game helped his team to achieve 307 runs score in 50n overs. He is one of the dangerous players in modern era. He can turn the game on his wheel. In case India need reminding Sanath Jayasurya has scored 692 runs in final against India at an average of 57.66. In Asia cup also with the help of Sanath Jayasura helped his team to post a comparative total and that gave Sri Lanka Asia Cup.

S.Tendulkar: A man who performed his best on a given day doesn’t need any appreciation form anyone. His average suggests all. So far in the series he looks in prime form but didn’t capitalize on the start he got but for his team he needs to produce innings of his life if his team wants to get hand over Compaq Cup.

Pitch & Condition

R.Premdasa Stadium is as usual has always provided assistant for the team bowling second and the same will applied for the game against India that means team winning the toss is likely to bat first on the wicket. Team batting first would like to post 250 runs on the board to put pressure on the team batting first. M.S.Dhoni so far lost both the tosses but this is final and India must win the toss and bat first to get advantage on the wicket.

Teams

With A.Mathews taking six wickets against Indians in the 3^rd game, India is likely to go with A.Nayar in the final if they will bat first that means Yusuf Pathan will get rested. So far Dinesh Karthik has performed really badly in the series so Dhoni and his think tank is likely to include Virat Kohli as an opener.

Sri Lanka on other hand is likely to go with same playing XI.

Likely Playing XI for both Teams (Match is Schedule to begin at 14:30 PM India Time)

India Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yuvraj Singh, S Raina, Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, R.P.Singh, Ashish Nehra.

Sri Lanka Squad: Sanath Jayasurya, T.Dilshan, Kumar Sangakara (Captain & WK), Mahela Jayawardne, C.Kapugedara, S.Kadamby, Angelo Mathews, T.Thusara, N.Kulasekara, A.Mendis, L.Malinga.

Stats & Trivia

Sri Lanka haven’t lost a single final against India in the last seven games. Sri Lanka manages to won five while other two were rained out.

M.Muralitharan has an excellent economy rate of 3.94 in finals against India. In eight matches he has taken ten wickets at an average of 28.00.