'I hope it's India vs Sri Lanka again in the ODI World Cup final': SL star cricketer's wish
NEW DELHI: "Dhoni, finishes it off in style, India lifts the World Cup after 28 years" - Ravi Shastri's ardent commentary box remarks still ring in the ears of every Indian cricket fan.
MS Dhoni's stunning six off Nuwan Kulasekara of Sri Lanka over mid-on sealed the deal for Team India, who won the title for the first time since 1983. On April 2, 2011, Dhoni, affectionately known as 'Mahi,' offered Indians something extremely special to celebrate.
After 12 years, India will host the World Cup again (this time as the sole host), and fans are expecting a repeat of the team's 2011 exploits, when Dhoni's match-winning six sent billions into a frenzy as the Men in Blue lifted the coveted cup in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium.
For the first time, India, which co-hosted the 2011 event with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, will be the sole host of the 2018 mega edition.
Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella hopes that the 2019 tournament's final will be another India-Sri Lanka clash.
The sparkling event will begin on October 5th, with defending champions England taking against New Zealand. Interestingly, India is slated to play Sri Lanka in the league stage on November 2 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, the same venue where the Men in Blue won the trophy by defeating the Lankans in 2011.
"I'm hoping for another India-Sri Lanka final this time." Whoever follows the process well, understands the fundamentals, and plays good cricket on that specific day will win.
"We want to concentrate on ourselves rather than the opposition," Dickwella, who has 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20Is for Sri Lanka, told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
"We must concentrate on our strengths." "We need to believe in ourselves and play good cricket," the 30-year-old wicket-keeper batsman added.
Ahead of the World Cup, India and Sri Lanka will compete in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka entered the Asia Cup 2022, which was played in the T20 format, as 'underdogs' and won the title in style. In the summit clash in Dubai, they defeated Pakistan by 23 runs.
However, against India, the Lankans will be the underdogs.
Dickwella believes that "being underdogs is preferable to being favourites."
"We must follow the proper procedure, understand the fundamentals, and complete our homework." We have completed the necessary training and assignments. That's exactly what Sri Lanka did in the previous Asia Cup. We followed the procedure and performed admirably.
That is what propelled Sri Lanka advanced in the previous tournament. Being underdogs is preferable to being favourites," the Sri Lankan added to TimesofIndia.com.