World Cup T20: India v Sri Lanka - 3 possible Grand Finale heroes from each side

Manu

India-Sri Lanka duels are becoming a common sight for fans across the cricketing world, and, this Sunday, they'll play yet again in the finals of the World Cup T20 at Dhaka. The match will be a reminiscence of an April night 3 years ago, and Sri Lanka would be looking forward for redemption. Let's take a look at 3 players from each side who will have a major say in the outcome of the final clash.

#6 Mahela Jayawerdene and Kumar Sangakkara

These two players combining as one would be the greatest headache for India. Set to play their last T20 international match tomorrow, both these veterans of the game would be looking forward to leave on a high. With the memories of the 2011 final still fresh, these two Lankan lions would be looking to avenge the defeat. The experience and the skill that they bring to this side is something that can give MS Dhoni sleepless nights. The camaraderie these players share is one of the reasons that has taken the Sri Lankan team to being one of the best in the world at the moment, and the team will be looking forward to give these legends a farewell gift.

#5 Lasith Malinga

With rumours of him being appointed as the next national T20 captain doing the rounds already, after the unceremonious exit of misfiring ex-captain Dinesh Chandimal in the middle of the tournament, Malinga will be looking to crush some toes tomorrow. The Slinger has been successful in a tournament that has been dominated by the spinners all along. Making such headway for a fast bowler in these pitches requires mastery over the shortest format of the game, and Malinga is without doubt one of the smartest T20 bowlers around. The only worry would be that Malinga has had little success against the Indians in their final encounters.

#4 Rangana Herath

Coming into the finals after that incredible spell against New Zealand in a must-win Super 10 match, Herath will be looking to add a few Indian names to his account when he takes the field this Sunday. The fact that the Indians are good players of spin will not stop him from giving them a tough time, and the lankans will be hoping he comes good. Herath hasn't been the man for the grand occasions in limited overs cricket, thus far, but it's his chance at reparation this time around.

#3 MS Dhoni

He has always been the man for big occasions. A lot has been talked about his captaincy in Tests, but the skipper remains the best and only choice right now for the shorter formats. With a lot of experience under his belt, Dhoni is the go-to man in case of an early middle-order collapse. Given the fact that Yuvraj Singh is not in the form of his life, it's up to Dhoni to do damage control in case Kohli has a bad day at the office. Dhoni is a master when it comes to constricting the opposition by using his spinners wisely, but it needs to be seen whether he'll enjoy the same freedom against the Sri Lankans. India and Sri Lanka have ran into each other a lot in the last five years, and each of the teams know inside out on the kind of strategy they employ.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

With a couple of MoM awards to his credit in this tournament, Ashwin has already shown his value for the team. Adam Gilchrist called his carrom ball to Hashim Amla in the semi-finals as the T20 ball-of-the-century. Everything looks good for him to play his part in the finals. What can go wrong for Ashwin, though, is that his opposition is a team that plays spin far better than any other team in the world, and it needs to be seen whether his exploits with the ball will produce the same result as the other teams he faced in the tournament. It might be easy to bamboozle a South African or an Australian on a subcontinent pitch, but it takes some class to spin a web around a Sri Lankan: a lesson Ashwin might have already known by now.

#1 Virat Kohli

He has been the man in form for quite a long time now and seems to be in no mood to end it any time sooner. Kohli's swashbuckling display against Steyn and Co., would have been closely watched by the Lankans, who have always had trouble handling Kohli over the years. The 25-year-old has a certain knack to perform against the Lankans, and it's interesting to note that majority of his centuries have come against them. If the Indian No. 3 gets going, then there's nothing the opposition could do other than to watch it with awe. Since 2012, India have won more than 80 percent of their T20 matches when Virat scores over 40. Apart from the fact that he plays spin well, he can decimate the Sri Lankan wrecker-in-chief Lasith Malinga, as well, which could leave the opposition in a state of disarray.

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Edited by Staff Editor