India turns to Tendulkar for final inspiration

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI has hailed star batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s dedication to his craft as India aim to secure World Cup glory on home soil today.

Tendulkar is chasing the 100th hundred of a stunning 21-year career at international level, and though he fell just short of it with a charmed 85 against Pakistan in the semi-final, he could now reach the landmark in the sport’s showpiece match, in his home city, against Sri Lanka.

India captain Dhoni hailed the unique qualities that have enabled Tendulkar to stay at the very top since 1989.

“He has a love and passion for cricket,” the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

“Every time he turns up for a practice session or a game, he is 100% there; he never turns up just for the sake of it.

“He gets there with a purpose in mind and until that gets resolved, he is one person who won’t leave the field.

“More often than not, with the kind of talent he has got, you can be sure that in two hours it gets rectified. He is an amazing person to have around, and the attitude has not changed for the last 21 years.

“There is no point thinking about what milestone you’re supposed to achieve — he has achieved a lot and he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, it’s just about himself.

“He will just prepare well, have a good night’s sleep and turn up on the field and be at his best.”

Dhoni, who will be without injured paceman Ashish Nehra against Sri Lanka, has been impressed with how his side have paced their progress through the tournament and wants them to maintain what he believes is their “peak” level, reached during victories over Australia and Pakistan in the knockout stages.

“We have peaked at the right time and we continue that peak. The format gave us those extra moments where we could say ‘okay, we’ll start lightly and as it progresses we will grow with the tournament’.”

Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir is expected to be available despite being forced off the field with a hamstring problem against Pakistan. Today’s opponents Sri Lanka will be hoping their star man can steal the headlines from Tendulkar tonight.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara has called on his team-mates to rise to the occasion and give legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan the perfect send-off.

Injury-permitting, Murali is set to play in his final international in the showpiece match at the Wankhede Stadium and Sangakkara is desperate to help bring the curtain down on his career in triumphant fashion with victory over favourites India.

Muralitharan, who has taken 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets in a glittering career, is playing through a variety of injuries but, such is the 38-year-old’s importance to the side, he is expected to feature in Mumbai.

Sangakkara said: “Murali’s presence is always important. He’s a big-match player, he has been amazing for us. If he is fit tomorrow, he will take the field for us.

“It’s hard to shut Murali up, he is always upbeat, always talking and laughing with the other players in the dressing room and today has been no different.

“It’s great to have him in the side and it would be great to hopefully have him on the field tomorrow and to have him play this World Cup final with us because there is no other way we can have it.

“Whatever happens we want to play for him, and play for each other and do the best that we can do.”

Sri Lanka have drafted in Suraj Randiv in place of all-rounder Angelo Mathews. Mathews suffered a thigh strain in the semi-final win over New Zealand.