Ganguly hopes for India's best in final

Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly admits his side has not yet played to its potential but the Asia Cup final on Sunday could be a different day.

Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly admits his side has not yet played to its potential but the Asia Cup final on Sunday could be a different day.

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"We have not yet performed to our best. We have been below our potential. It all could change tomorrow," Ganguly said on the eve of the final against Sri Lanka.

The skipper termed his side's batting as key in his quest for beginning the season with a title win. "Our batting is the key and now at its full strength with the return of VVS Laxman. We have not been at our best but then at the start of the season it could take some time to get going."

Ganguly was asked if he thought his side's batting was not performing at its best and not getting those 300-plus totals it used to get regularly in the past.

"You don't start your innings thinking of getting those 300-plus totals. You build your innings and when you find wickets in hand in the last 10 overs, you tend to open out and make big strokes.

"Three of us, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and I had good last game against Sri Lanka. Tomorrow it could be all of us who could be among the runs."

Ganguly hinted his side could go into tomorrow's game with three left-arm medium-pacers and a spinner against the hosts.

"If the wicket is dry, you play two spinners. If it is not, we could go into the game with three left-arm seamers," he said.

Ganguly did not think the toss would be a big enough factor in the day-night match at the Premadasa track which tends to get slower as the day goes by.

"There have been two days break since the last game was played and I am sure the ground staff would do their best to make it a good one-day wicket. I dont think it would be such a factor on Sunday."

The elegant left-hander was not too worried about Sanath Jayasuriya, the powerful left-hander who smashed 130 against India in their final Super League game.

"We have seen he can open up against the new ball. Twice he nicked Zaheer through slips. I might have made a mistake in removing slips against him in the last game," he said.

Neither the return of Muthiah Muralitharan was an issue with the Indian captain. "Frankly, who is going to represent them is not our concern. I am more concerned about my team".

Rival skipper Marvan Atapattu declared his intention to bat first if he was to call correctly at the toss. "We would prefer to bat first because batting second under lights when it seams and swings is difficult."

Atapattu also did not want to comment on which team had more depth in batting. "We are two good sides. There is not much to choose between us. They are also playing well at the moment. I expect the final to be a close contest," he said.

"Any team which makes lesser number of mistakes tomorrow is likely to triumph," he said.

Atapattu said his side had done marvelously well in the tournament and they would now want to finish it off on a high note.

"We have given a pleasing performance in this tournament and would like to finish off on a winning note."

He expected star batsman Sanath Jayasuriya to give a flying start since the left-hander has always done well against the Indians.

"Sanath has a good track record against the Indians and we would be hoping he does us another good turn tomorrow."

Atapattu had a word of caution about the Indians who he thought were beginning to get their act together.

"They didn't start well but are beginning to get themselves back into a fighting unit. They would be no pushovers in the finals."

The stylish Sri Lankan batsman said his side would be at its full strength and both Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, returning to the side after missing the last round-robin game against India, were big match players.

"Both Vaas and Murali perform well on the big stage. I hope they do the same tomorrow."