BIRMINGHAM // India's form in all departments of the game have raised expectations for MS Dhoni's side to do well one more time in England's cold conditions, a place the world champions once struggled.
Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have piled up 500 runs between them in the four successive victories, a contrast to their troubles two years ago when James Anderson's swing ensured a tour whitewash.
Less than two months later, however, they beat England 5-0 in a one-day series in India and have since beaten them again at the start of this year. It is form which leaves room for cautious optimism for both teams today.
"England are a very good team, especially the bowlers," said Dhoni. "Our top order have done well and played some of the best bowlers in world cricket so far in the tournament. So I think they are quite well-prepared for the English bowlers."
India's other strength has been more of a surprise. Seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma have excelled.
Kumar, in particular, will be pleased the final is being played at Edgbaston where he has found the ball swinging a lot more than at the other two venues - Cardiff and The Oval.
"I enjoyed playing here because the ball swung and seamed a lot," Kumar said after the win over Pakistan where his two for 19 from eight overs earned him the man-of-the-match award. "It's good when you pitch the ball up and it swings. That helps to take initial wickets and put the opposition under pressure."
His wickets and economy rate of 3.68 runs per over have been instrumental in piling on the pressure where Sharma and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja have thrived as top-wicket-takers.
Dhoni is also hoping the spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja, can have an impact, too.
"I think it's very important that they hunt in pairs," he said. "When Jadeja puts the pressure on, Ashwin gets the wicket; when Ashwin puts the pressure, Jadeja gets the wicket. Both of them are crucial for each other's success and for the success of the team."
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Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
What are NFTs?
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This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
