ICC WorldCup STREAM LIVE CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 VIDEO STREAMINGMUMBAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a date with destiny that could catapult him into a different stratosphere in terms of sports stars.Dhoni India, preparing to take on Sri Lanka in the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, is the third captain to lead India in final world after Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly of FIFA. He has the pedigree to the right and, after leading India to victory in the Twenty20 World Championship four years ago.
But this is a different scenario. Dhoni cleverly took a 29 runs victory over rival Pakistan in a high-risk semifinal in Mohali on Wednesday, prompting wild celebrations and raising hopes that can emulate the success of Kapil, 1983. If he is successful, India will also have the distinction of winning all the former World Cup champions on their way to the title.
India beat West Indies in their last league match in Chennai by 80 runs and defeated three-time defending champions Australia by five wickets in Ahmedabad to set the high-profile semifinal with Pakistan. Now only Sri Lanka from the list of former champions to overcome.
The West Indians were champions in 1975 and 1979 before India crashed to run the team in the Caribbean with an unexpected victory in the final at Lord 1983. Australia won in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007, whereas in 1992, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at 96. At the end of 2003, Ganguly led Indian team went in with high expectations but was overtaken in a 125-run defeat to Australia.
Dhoni knows any slip against Sri Lanka could make a crucial difference in the title game. "Sri Lanka is a very good team and we'll have to do our best to beat them," Dhoni said after the victory over Pakistan.
"We've been tested more often in games we've played, so I think it will be a very good ending." Dhoni thinks his team has been shaping well for the big game.
"It was important that peaked at the right time. We have pursued some decent scores and have won batting first. Everyone is giving more than 100 percent in the countryside, so we are ready for the final," Dhoni said. The 29 year old wicketkeeper-batsman old was proud of the way his team had gathered. "The unity of the team, how they are supporting each other and not criticize any player has been great," he said.
"If someone is having a bad time in the field we are making sure that you want and everyone is helping each other. That's what really counts in the team sport." People have stepped up and said "OK I'll be the person who carried out this particular game, but overall everyone has contributed so far apart."
Dhoni won the support of Kapil, who said Thursday that the current pattern should be respected regardless of the outcome in Saturday's final.
"Never doubt Dhoni's credentials as a captain with whatever the outcome of the World Cup final," said Kapil.
"Many people believe that is the end result will weigh but I think otherwise."
Australia's World Cup winning captain Allan Border, however, thought that Dhoni was a big challenge ahead. "I know people here are not going to like, but I think Sri Lanka will be the final as favorites," said Border.