Portraits: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Just how big a name has Mahendra Singh Dhoni become.

For his opponents, he is certainly more threatening than Mogambo, Gabbar Singh and Shakaal put together.

No one has seen where Dhoni was from a few moments after he hit the six to bring home the World Cup till the time he was called on by Ravi Shastri for an interview. And then he went missing again. No one saw him lift the cup later, either

That makes him invisibler than Mr. India and more secretive than James Bond.

India is now Dhoni

At 30 off 29 balls, Yuvraj Singh swung and missed off Malinga. The familiar feeling of an impending implosion began taking possession of my being. Two more dot balls followed and I closed my eyes hoping that madness would not consume Yuvraj. Over the next two balls, Yuvraj took 3 calm runs. I breathed a sigh of relief. India were going to be champions. There would be no heartbreak. India knocked off the runs without a flourish until the very last shot. No mountain too high, no river too deep and no adversity too hard. India has become Dhoni. Calm, collected and cool.

That's the way...Mahi Way

Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have just eclipsed Arvinda D'Silva's 107* in the 1996 finals; the only century till date in a successful run chase in a World Cup finals. Arvinda's century too like Dhoni's 91 not out, came on the heels of 2 quick wickets but when those 2 wickets are Sehwag and Sachin; the pressure you have to absorb is that much more.

India are World Champions again and it was almost scary the way they scripted the most tense but strangely serene run chase I am ever likely to see. With each run that brought us closer, I asked my self what a win would do to the legend of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I am not sure what the answer is, but perhaps we are seeing the beginnings of a cricketer that will eventually be bigger and meaner than Sachin Tendulkar. He will never have Sachin's skills. Thank God for that.

Sri Lanka seemed to have been defeated by Dhoni much before India finally beat them with a six of the last ball. After having started almost all matches with the Sehwag way, India ended a successful World Cup campaign; the Mahi way.

See Also...

• Our unsolicited and half baked, opinions on Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Portraits: Muttiah Muralitharan

In a grand total of 61 Test wins for Sri Lanka, Murali has featured in 54 of them and accounted for 41% of the wickets. Later today he would be itching to go out on a high with another world cup.

Even if both his knees are struck with age related arthritis, the guy will turn up for the finals and bowl.

He usually scripts his own farewells

See Also

• World Cup Finals - India v Sri Lanka: Does India have the legs for another scrap?
• Portraits @ Opinions

World Cup Finals - India v Sri Lanka: Does India have the legs for another scrap?

When asked if an all Asian World Cup finals, suggests a power shift in world cricket, Mahela Jayawardene said,

"We mustn't forget that this is a World Cup on the subcontinent, and obviously home conditions suit us. In fact, it would have been disappointing if Asian teams hadn't made it to the final. The World Cup will be played on a different continent the next time, and we can say the balance of power has truly shifted if two teams from the subcontinent make the final then."

A smart answer from a man who plays for a smart team led by an even smarter and sophisticated Kumar Sangakkara. India's opponents in the finals are a team perfectly capable of beating them comfortably

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