It has been an amazing recovery by a side that came into the tournament badly brutalised from the tour of New Zealand and faced a violent backlash from fans back home after the loss to Australia. The team has won eight matches in a row, equalling its best-ever winning streak, and is the only side in the tournament that has looked capable of beating Australia.

The Aussies, who are aiming for a record third title, on the other hand, have not lost a single match in the tournament, extending their winning sequence to an unprecedented 16 games.

These two have clearly been the best sides in the event and a title clash between them is just what this controversy-ridden World Cup had asked for after the first-round exits of Pakistan, South Africa, the West Indies and England.

The two teams look equally balanced on paper, both having a deep and star-studded batting line-up, and a fearsome pace bowling attack. Though India are not as brilliant a fielding unit as Australia, they have certainly picked up a great deal in recent times.

A World Cup final has never been a very close affair in the 28-year-old history of the competition but tomorrow’s game promises to break that impression and provide tremendous excitement.