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[nahia]

MUMBAI: In a match-up between Sri Lanka's commendable bowling attack and India's intimidating batting order, it is India's bowling and Sri Lanka's batting that will matter.

The team that tick marks all its positives and works well on the negatives will eventually have the best chance to win cricket's most coveted title.

The Wankhede Stadium, in all its new splendour, is looking beautiful alongside the Arabian Sea, decked to host the final of the 2011 World Cup. In a tournament that has sent the sub-continent into frenzy, it is perhaps most fitting that two of Asia's best teams are fighting the mother of all battles.

Statistics can take a walk and so can reputations. There's no case for home or away advantage either. All the talk and glib of favourites and underdogs, matches and mismatches exist no more. It's time for the two teams to play good cricket and the one that emerges better will be crowned champions.

For that to happen, quality control will be the essence.

In India's case, it has to be their bowling which will sum up how far they go into the game and how they will come out of it. Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who has fractured his finger, is ruled out. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hinted on Friday that the team might go ahead with three seamers, which means the maverick S Sreesanth would be in contention.

But don't just trust Dhoni as yet. When India arrived for practice, the bowler who started rolling his arm before anyone else was R Ashwin.

The Wankhede wicket will be a typical sub-continent one, except that the bounce will be better - a factor that sets it apart from most tracks.

Having Sreesanth in the eleven will mean having a rare India bowler who has the ability to land the ball well on seam and maintain a teasing line outside the off-stump. It would be a gamble but if India bowl first and Sreesanth doesn't spray, most things will fall in place for Dhoni.

Likewise, if India bowl second, having Ashwin - even to open the attack - when Sri Lanka chase under lights, will help. The spinner has gelled well with the tracks and conditions in his two matches so far.

A tight line with the new ball, a bit of flight and a little of the carom-ball trick, Ashwin can unleash all that on the batsmen.

At most times, Dhoni has refrained from speaking about elevens on the eve of a match. Friday was no different. What is certain for now is that the only change in the squad that played Pakistan will be either Ashwin or Sreesanth.

The skipper knows he's got Zaheer and Harbhajan to rely on, Yuvraj in excellent form and Munaf doing his bit in crunch situations. It's just about the fifth bowler.

How about Yusuf Pathan? Unlikely because India face a quality spin attack and Yusuf's belligerent cross-bat hitting may not work as much as his part-time off spin.

Sri Lanka flew in Chaminda Vaas and it appeared like the bowler had been summoned for his left-arm swingers so that batsmen could find their feet moving when Zaheer comes running in.

He has been in tremendous form for India, Dhoni's biggest weapon, both with the new and the old. If he can pitch it right again, Dhoni's job will be half done.

Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene, all took turns playing old mate Vaas, hoping to find some help in countering Zaheer and the genuine possibility of the ball reversing.

Dhoni, the captain, and his team must have certainly worked this out. Those praying for his tactics to work will keep their fingers crossed. The World Cup is for the taking.