Rejuvenated India Eye Another ODI Title

Port of Spain: Bolstered by their dramatic comeback in the tournament, a rejuvenated India will be gunning for yet another title triumph when they clash with an equally determined Sri Lanka in the final of the tri-series on Thursday.

The reigning Champions Trophy winners may also get a further boost with the possibility of their regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni returning to the playing XI after being laid low by a hamstring injury. A decision will be taken about Dhoni's availability before the toss.

Their campaign in tatters after back-to-back defeats in the first round of the tournament, the Indians fought back with two bonus-point wins to cruise into the final at the expense of hosts West Indies.

Despite the absence of Dhoni, who was ruled out after the loss to West Indies in their series opener, stand-in skipper Virat Kohli successfully braved a difficult phase with the 'Men in Blue' rising to the occasion.

India entered the final as table-toppers having posted two wins from four matches -- same as the other two teams -- but they had the advantage of enjoying a better net run-rate and two bonus points.

The Indian team composition for Thursday's game at the Queen's Park Oval will more or less be the same. If Dhoni is declared fit, Murali Vijay will make way for his skipper.

The Sri Lankans will once again look to old guards Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara for success against a team that has been their nemesis in a few tournament finals, including the 2011 World Cup.

Both Jayawardene and Sangakkara have had their share of success against India in the past and it will be crucial from the islanders' point of view that the two veterans click for the team.

But it won't be easy for the Sri Lankans as they had just suffered a defeat to India, a result that paved the way for their South Asian neighbour's convincing entry into the title clash ahead of the hosts.

Teams from:

India: Virat Kohli (Capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Vinay Kumar, Ambati Rayudu and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (if fit).

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Kusal Perera (wk), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Shaminda Eranga.

Stats & trivia

• India have won four consecutive ODIs on this venue between June 6, 2011 and July 9, 2013 - three vs West Indies and one vs Sri Lanka.
• For Rohit, the Caribbean islands are proving to be a happy hunting ground as he has already amassed 431 runs at an average of 53.87 in 13 matches with four fifties.
• The leading wicket-taker in the series with eight scalps from three games, Kumar's performance in the last game is the best by an Indian bowler in the West Indies in ODIs.
• Stats and trivia
• India and Sri Lanka have played 41 ODIs between each other over the past five years - India have won 25 of those, while Sri Lanka have prevailed in 14
• Ravindra Jadeja (29) highest wicket-taker in ODIs with Kiwis Mitchell McClenaghan in 2013.

Match facts
Thursday July 11, 2013
Start time 0930 local (1330 GMT, 7pm IST & SLST)