‘I hope it’s India vs Sri Lanka again in the ODI World Cup final’: SL star cricketer’s wish | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: “Dhoni, finishes it off in style, India lifts the World Cup after 28 years” – Ravi Shastri’s fervent lines from the commentary box still reverberate in every Indian cricket fan’s ears. MS Dhoni‘s majestic six off Sri Lanka‘s Nuwan Kulasekara over mid-on sealed the deal for Team India who won the title for the first time since 1983. Dhoni, fondly known as ‘Mahi’, gave Indians something very special to celebrate on April 2, 2011.

After 12 years, India will be hosting the World Cup once again (this time as sole hosts) and needless to say the fans are expecting an encore 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 jam-packed Wankhede Stadium.
India, who co-hosted the 2011 edition alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, will be the sole host of the upcoming mega edition for the first time.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kumar Sangakara with the ODI World Cup trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. (TOI Photo)
Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella hopes the final of the upcoming tournament later this year will be another India vs Sri Lanka encounter.
The glittering tournament will kick off on October 5 with defending champions England taking on New Zealand in the opener. Interestingly India are scheduled to play Sri Lanka in the league stage on November 2 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the same venue where the Men in Blue won the title in 2011 by beating the Lankans.
“I hope for another India vs Sri Lanka final this time too. Whoever will follow the process right, basics right, and play good cricket on that particular day, will win. We want to focus on ourselves, not the opposition,” Dickwella, who has played 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20Is for Sri Lanka, told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.

Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrate India’s victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. (TOI Photo)
“We have to focus on our strength. We need to back ourselves and play good cricket,” the 30 year old wicket-keeper batter further said.
Ahead of the World Cup, India and Sri Lanka will be locking horns in the Asia Cup as well.
Sri Lanka entered the Asia Cup last year in 2022, which was played in the T20 format, as ‘underdogs’ and surpassed everyone’s expectations by winning the title in style. They defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the summit clash in Dubai.

Indian players celebrate after winning the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. (TOI Photo)
Against India though, the Lankans will go in as the underdogs.
Dickwella says – ‘being underdogs is better than being favourites’.
“We have to follow the right process, know the basics, and do the homework. We have the proper training and homework done. That’s what Sri Lanka did in the last Asia Cup. We followed the process and did well. That’s what drove Sri Lanka forward in the last edition. Being underdogs is better than being favourites,” the Sri Lankan further told TimesofIndia.com.