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Zaheer was the best
We have played some outstanding cricket over the last 10 months and the most remarkable aspect of it is the fight we have shown under difficult situations.
It was a remarkable win and took some time to sink in. We have played some outstanding cricket over the last 10 months and the most remarkable aspect of it is the fight we have shown under difficult situations.
The NatWest final at Lord's, the Test at Headingley and the game here are examples of the fact that in cricket, no game is over till the last ball is bowled. This is the second time we have qualified for the final of the mini-world Cup. I think it is a tremendous achievement.
Youngsters like Zaheer, Yuvraj, Kaif and Harbhajan are not only exceptionally talented, they are also hungry for success and are great fighters.
It was a good toss to win and I had no hesitation in batting first. This wicket did not have as much bounce and pace as it did earlier in the tournament. But that is understandable, as a lot of cricket has been played here since. We knew it would take spin in the later part of the match and 261 was always going to be a good total on this surface.
Sehwag and Yuvraj played well once again. They are big match players and their contribution was the key to India's win. Yuvraj took two outstanding catches and his fielding is at par with the best in the world — the catches of Smith and Rhodes will make any fielder proud.
Harbhajan bowled the best I have seen in this series, but the best bowler in the match was undoubtedly Zaheer.
On a pitch where Pollock and Donald went for five runs an over, Zaheer went for only three. The over he bowled to Klusener at the end of the innings was one of the best displays of fast bowling that I have seen in such a situation.
Rahul, once again, was brilliant behind the stumps and he put to rest all questions that had been raised after the last match against England. I think it's about time people stop passing judgement in every game, especially when they themselves never made that great a contribution.
We beat South Africa in the semi-final of the last mini-world Cup too, but Wednesday's win will definitely rate as one of the best in the history of Indian cricket.
Kumble bowled better than he did against England. But he is still not at his best. He is a great competitor and I'm sure he will come up with something special in the final.
The other semi-final will be a cracker of a game. Sri Lanka are a formidable side at home and their record at the Premadasa Stadium is amazing.
The Australians too are in top form but they will have to put up a big effort in order to beat Sri Lanka at home. The pitch at the Premadasa has already started taking spin. I will not be surprised if it spins a lot in Sri Lanka's match against Australia. That could be Sri Lanka's best chance to bowl out Australia.
