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India look back 20 years for final inspiration
Johannesburg, Mar 23: India and Australia meet in the much-awaited final tie of the World Cup today at Wanderers stadium here.
Johannesburg, Mar 23: India and Australia meet in the much-awaited final tie of the World Cup today at Wanderers stadium here.
India will look back 20 years rather than five weeks for inspiration as they prepare to meet Australia in Sunday's World Cup final.
Kapil Dev's India lifted the 1983 trophy with a shock victory over West Indies and Sourav Ganguly's team will face a challenge of similar proportions against the world champions at The Wanderers.
Woefully out of form arriving in South Africa, India have regrouped impressively to win nine of their 10 games but victory in Sunday remains mission improbable.
That one first-round defeat was by nine wickets against Ricky Ponting's unbeaten side, who routed them for their lowest World Cup total of 125.
India's traditional weakness against pace was harshly exposed by Brett Lee in particular, but Ganguly is determined not to look back at that result at Centurion on February 15.
"We are in the final and playing as well as anybody," he said as he sidestepped questions about Lee. "We will see what happens."
India, however, who will be cheered on by Kapil Dev who has flown in to South Africa with thousand of other supporters, have genuine reasons for optimism.
Sachin Tendulkar, in sublime form, has almost single-handedly carried the team's batting, amassing a record 669 runs from 10 innings after being promoted to open at the World Cup.
His personal duel with Lee and Glenn McGrath will be one to relish.
In 10 innings, Tendulkar had passed 50 seven times, making one century. There was a riveting 98 against Pakistan and 97 against Sri Lanka.
He also batted beautifully for 36 against Australia before Jason Gillespie, now back home with a heel injury, fooled him with a slower ball.
India's campaign, however, has also been marked by the fine efforts of pace trio Javagal Srinath and left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.
The 33-year-old Srinath has returned from retirement to fire his younger team mates. The three have shared 49 wickets, Khan leading with 18 victims. None of the three has gone for more than four runs an over. All three have taken their wickets at under 20 apiece.
Ganguly, reflecting on their contribution, said: "Every team has a bit of weakness. Australia's top-order has been scoring heavily in the last six months. If you can get through them early, you might expose the middle order."
He hoped the pressure might also tell on Australia.
"It is a World Cup final and pressure is always going to be a factor," he said. "They are world champions and they got to defend their title."
India's transformation during the tournament followed some intemperate criticism from their supporters for a subdued start in the World Cup. The homes of some players were even daubed in paint by irate fans, with the customary burning of effigies in the streets.
Those extreme reactions forced Tendulkar to issue an appeal for calm.
Ganguly, however, responded by calling on the team to look inward rather than outward for strength, an approach reflected in the close huddle the team forms with each on-field success.
The skipper had also led by example with three centuries, equalling the record for a single World Cup, including 111 not out on Thursday to guide India to a 91-run victory over Kenya in the semi-finals.
The win helped erase the disappointments of losing semi-finals in 1987 and 1996.
India look certain to stick to their strategy of using only one spinner, even if that has meant leaving out leg spinner Anil Kumble's 308-wicket experience.
Bureau Report
Kapil Dev's India lifted the 1983 trophy with a shock victory over West Indies and Sourav Ganguly's team will face a challenge of similar proportions against the world champions at The Wanderers.
Woefully out of form arriving in South Africa, India have regrouped impressively to win nine of their 10 games but victory in Sunday remains mission improbable.
That one first-round defeat was by nine wickets against Ricky Ponting's unbeaten side, who routed them for their lowest World Cup total of 125.
India's traditional weakness against pace was harshly exposed by Brett Lee in particular, but Ganguly is determined not to look back at that result at Centurion on February 15.
"We are in the final and playing as well as anybody," he said as he sidestepped questions about Lee. "We will see what happens."
India, however, who will be cheered on by Kapil Dev who has flown in to South Africa with thousand of other supporters, have genuine reasons for optimism.
Sachin Tendulkar, in sublime form, has almost single-handedly carried the team's batting, amassing a record 669 runs from 10 innings after being promoted to open at the World Cup.
His personal duel with Lee and Glenn McGrath will be one to relish.
In 10 innings, Tendulkar had passed 50 seven times, making one century. There was a riveting 98 against Pakistan and 97 against Sri Lanka.
He also batted beautifully for 36 against Australia before Jason Gillespie, now back home with a heel injury, fooled him with a slower ball.
India's campaign, however, has also been marked by the fine efforts of pace trio Javagal Srinath and left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.
The 33-year-old Srinath has returned from retirement to fire his younger team mates. The three have shared 49 wickets, Khan leading with 18 victims. None of the three has gone for more than four runs an over. All three have taken their wickets at under 20 apiece.
Ganguly, reflecting on their contribution, said: "Every team has a bit of weakness. Australia's top-order has been scoring heavily in the last six months. If you can get through them early, you might expose the middle order."
He hoped the pressure might also tell on Australia.
"It is a World Cup final and pressure is always going to be a factor," he said. "They are world champions and they got to defend their title."
India's transformation during the tournament followed some intemperate criticism from their supporters for a subdued start in the World Cup. The homes of some players were even daubed in paint by irate fans, with the customary burning of effigies in the streets.
Those extreme reactions forced Tendulkar to issue an appeal for calm.
Ganguly, however, responded by calling on the team to look inward rather than outward for strength, an approach reflected in the close huddle the team forms with each on-field success.
The skipper had also led by example with three centuries, equalling the record for a single World Cup, including 111 not out on Thursday to guide India to a 91-run victory over Kenya in the semi-finals.
The win helped erase the disappointments of losing semi-finals in 1987 and 1996.
India look certain to stick to their strategy of using only one spinner, even if that has meant leaving out leg spinner Anil Kumble's 308-wicket experience.
Bureau Report