India vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have won the toss (at the second time of asking) and will bat first – a decision that gives them a slight advantage in being able to set India a target. The middle order of Sri Lanka though has not needed to be utilised often during the tournament and it will be interesting if India manage to grab a couple of early wickets.

India have made one change from their semi-final line up with Ashish Nehra failing a fitness test and being replaced by Sree Sreethanth.

Sri Lanka have made four changes in total: Out go Mendis, Herath, Silva along with the injured Matthews, with Randiv, Kulasakera, Kapugedera, Perera coming into the side.

It appears that both sides team selection has focussed on pace, rather than spin, an indication of how this relatively new wicket is expected to play.

Footnote: Two of three games here during the tournament have been won by the team batting first, with the average first-innings score being 234.

Sachin vs Murali

Legends Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan face-off in a mouth-watering duel for the last time when India and Sri Lanka clash in the World Cup final on Saturday.

The contest between the world's leading batsman and highest wicket-taker in their final appearance in cricket's showpiece event will add spice to the big game at the Wankhede stadium.

Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, will leave international cricket after the World Cup with more Test (800) and one-day (534 so far) wickets than any bowler in history.

Tendulkar's batting skills have not diminished even as he celebrates his 38th birthday next month, but he is unlikely to make a record seventh World Cup appearance in 2015.

A World Cup title has eluded the Indian star despite being the sport's most successful batsman with a record 32,785 runs and 99 centuries in Test and one-day cricket.

Muralitharan tasted World Cup glory in his maiden appearance in 1996 when Arjuna Ranatunga's men stunned Australia in the final in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

The ageing superstars have led from the front in this tournament to carry their teams into the final.

Tendulkar's 464 runs in eight matches are just three behind Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan's record tally of 467, while the wily Muralitharan has claimed 15 wickets despite battling injuries.

Muralitharan has soldiered on bravely over the past six weeks despite being afflicted by hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee.

Tendulkar was 10 years old when India won the tournament under Kapil Dev in 1983, while five of his current team-mates -- Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla and Munaf Patel -- were not even born.