Sachin Tendulkar
Alas! The day has come – April 2, 2011 the day for which millions waited for, the day most anticipated. The World Cup 2011 is going to culminate with the finals between the host nations, India and Sri Lanka. We have Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.
What do they have? They have Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga (the Slinga Guy).
India completely lies on the openers to feed the board with runs, whereas the Lankans have the two tornados to pull out the wickets with minimum run economy.
India’s victory will be the second one to be won at the home grounds, first being Sri Lanka. Murali’s favorite pick would be Sachin’s, there is no misapprehension about that, of seventy odd wickets taken by Murali in 62 matches against India, and five are of Sachin. The two veterans on both the teams play their last World Cup match, their smiles and gestures should be watched.
Sachin’s early wicket would doom the dream of winning World Cup, yet this is not happening because this is the most important match in his career. He is playing at his hometown; the place where he practiced during his boyhood, a century in this match will be his 100th century! Most of all this will be the last WC match Sachin would be playing for him and for the country.
The Slinga Boy has no great records against the Indian strikers yet, he is all capable of making the batsmen get on their pulses and go nervous.
India is backed by lustrous, sound, wild home crowd and it cannot just afford to lose this World Cup. For Sachin, for the fans, the cup has to be brought home this night.
This will be third time India is appearing in the finals, and hopefully the second time clinching the Cup! This legendary victory would be a lash to millions who mocked cricket and the team when it sulked badly at the 2007 World Cup.
Time getting closer to 14:30, pulsing hard, variety of feelings gushing, all I would like to see is India getting the cup (this time, I support for the Home for a change), see Sachin’s 100th century, then later perhaps Murali pulling out Sachin’s wicket (he is one of the favorites too).
Tags: Cricket, India, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sachin Tendulkar, Sri Lanka, World Cup
