After a four-year break the Asia Cup reaches its climax with today's final featuring Sri Lanka, who are currently riding on the crest of a cricketing wave, and India, who have been unconvincing in this tournament apart from a nerve-wracking win against Sri Lanka, which was enough to see the Pakistan team knocked out.
Both sides will know that yesterday's form is history and that whoever plays well on the night will come away with the spoils. India will hope that they are peaking at the right time and Sri Lanka will want to keep their current run of form together.
During the tournament these two sides have met twice and the score is 1-1. Both games were close. My view is that this will be a titanic struggle. I believe the return of V V S Laxman will be a key factor and that Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar will combine as the fifth bowler and Laxman will provide the extra runs that India will need. Assuming that Laxman is fit, of course. It was interesting that there was rumour during the tournament that his knee injury was so serious that he could return home. Now I believe he could well be the difference in this final.
Sri Lanka will, of course, have their two main bowlers back. In Muthiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, they have two potential match-winners. I was interested too in our last game against Bangladesh, where the humidity levels were as high as I experienced throughout the tournament and the amount of grass on the pitch was similar to that of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka game, that both these factors enhanced the sideways and up and down movement when batting second under lights. So the toss might well be a factor.
Sanath Jayasuriya too cannot be discounted in the mix and if India stick to the same attack of Irfan Pathan and L Balaji, then I think Jayasuriya will be pretty tough on Balaji.
I believe that India should open with Ashish Nehra and Pathan and have Zaheer Khan as first change, Kumble as the number one spinner, and Tendulkar and Sehwag to combine. In fact, I was really impressed by Sachin's tactics against us in the death overs coming round the wicket bowling leg spin. It was a clever line and difficult to get away. I am sure it prevented Pakistan from scoring 20 extra runs.
At night it is not unusual for the conditions to have an impact on the result and the side batting first, I believe, has an advantage. In this game I hope that advantage is minimal. India's awesome batting lineup should score too many for Sri Lanka to cope with, but their rhythm is not as good as it can be. So the game could go into the death easily with both sides having to hold their nerve.
I am going to plumb for Sri Lanka. Why? Because they have been playing the tougher cricket recently and although they may be tired they seem to really want this trophy.
So far, I have failed to mention two other players, Tendulkar and the tall Sri Lankan quickie Nuwan Zoysa, who has bowled well throughout the tournament. I hope Zoysa manages to stay fit throughout the match. Sachin, of course, has not really turned in a match-winning batting performance and is due. Will he be the man of the moment?
So many questions, all to be answered in tomorrow's final. Definitely worth waiting for and no doubt an emotional occasion!
Now, the million dollar question: if both teams are at full strength and based on current form I believe Sri Lanka can win who would be so foolish as to write off India? It is a good thing I am not a betting man. Whatever the outcome, I do hope the game will be a fitting finale for an excellent tournament (bonus points apart!).
The tournament organisers must take great credit for a job well done. The ground staff have been under pressure to produce excellent surfaces and have done so. The Asia Cup was a success and may the best team on the night pick up the trophy.
Previous column: Losing side should not get bonus point
Dean Jones's column: Sri Lanka has the edge in close tie
