By Sunil Gavaskar
India have stormed into the final of the ICC Champions Trophy winning all the games they have played including the warm up matches.
They have looked by far the best team in the tournament and have played some of the best one-day cricket seen in a long long time.
In all departments of the game, India have dominated the opposition and have seldom put a foot wrong. While the bowling was a bit of a worry at the start of the tournament, it has got better as the tournament has progressed, and India is capable of getting wickets at the top of the order as well as choke the runs. It is the kind of performance that can create awe and fear in the opposition.
England too have been impressive in the manner in which they have come back from hopeless situations to win their games and get to the final.
The last time an ICC fifty overs event was played, it was won by the host India in 2011, so will the same happen in England?
Like India, England also is a complete team and good in all departments of the game. Besides, they have the home advantage and there will be huge support for them in Birmingham.
In James Anderson, they have the best new ball bowler in the world, and if he gets the early breakthroughs for his team then India’s batting will be severely tested. India have so far not played any team with the same kind of new ball attack as England.
South Africa also have a fine pair of opening bowlers, but with Steyn injured and Morkel limping off after a few overs, India’s batting was not tested.
That’s why the early overs against Anderson, Finn and company will be crucial.
The last time India played England in a fifty overs contest in England, they got walloped, so England will try to feed off that and put pressure on India. It is a wonderful chance for India to erase the memories of that forgettable tour of 2011 but it is not going to be easy.
Every team has had an off day in the tournament so far excepting India. A few million prayers will be hoping that Sunday is not that day.