Reverse Swing

Congratulation to India, they have proved that they are one of the two best teams and can go on to lift the crown.
It was a professional and clinical run chase and right from the first ball India looked very positive in the chase. From openers to Virat Kohli and to MS Dhoni all had an envious body language as they were hell bent on winning this semifinal.
I am a great admirer of Kohli. He has shown the world and all the young batsmen how to bat. He makes batting so easy, full of command, at ease, knowing where the fielders are, knowing what the target is and, above all, knowing what his team expects of him. These are great qualities and to have him at number three is a big blessing for India. I have been commentating on his batting in all three formats and hope every young batsman learn from Virat.
I am sure not many can disagree that India is now reaping the rewards of the Indian Premier League. All the Indian players have matured from playing in the IPL and although they don't play much Twenty20 Internationals, but their IPL matches have matured them in all aspects of T20 cricket.
I am disappointed for South Africa but they were up against a professional Indian side. What I noticed from the commentary box was the drooping shoulders of the South African captain Faf du Plessis in the 15th over. When a captain loses hope, the team buckles down and that's what happened to South Africa. I think they also erred in selection. Why they did not play the second spinner Aaron Phangiso in the team. True, they must have thought that Indian batsmen play the spinners well but on this pitch which has helped spinners they should have been well off with a second spinner at the expense of a seamer.
That was proved by Ravichandran Ashwin. His spell helped India halt South African progress and he had the danger man AB de Villiers sooner than we all had expected and took three wickets in his four overs.
For me it will be a good contest between India and a dangerous Sri Lanka. India can win a triple crown to add to their 2011 World Cup and Champions Trophy and for Sri Lanka it could be first time lucky after losing the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals and 2009 and 2012 World Twenty20 finals.
Keep your fingers crossed for an enthralling finale.

The writer is a former Pakistan cricket captain and one of the finest swing bowlers and currently a TV commentator and presenter