The world’s biggest cricket stadium is now the setting for India’s global domination moment. If this World Cup’s most imperious team takes down five-time World Champions Australia, it will be the perfect finish for the hosts. Indian cricket has administrative and financial muscle but the coveted ICC trophy has eluded them for more than a decade. Ahmadabad could see India ticking the final big box.

The high-stakes moment has drawn a stellar cast in the viewing gallery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present along with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Jets from the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatics team will be flipping over the arena just after the toss. Nearly every break in play will be filled with entertainment.

Singers and dancers will perform in the innings break, and a laser show on the roof of the stadium is also listed. 

A parade of champions – captains of triumphant World Cup teams from over the years barring Imran Khan– will be felicitated just after the air show. 

It remains to be seen whether it will be Rohit Sharma or Pat Cummins who will be a part of a similar parade of champions in the next ODI World Cup. History is calling and both captains seem to be all ears. 

Considering their form and the brand of cricket they have played, if not for Australia being their opponents, India would have been unquestionable favourites for the final. But even in the most parochial and gung-ho of Indian fans, there would be a lurking fear about the possibility of Australia silencing the over 1 lakh-capacity crowd.

Rohit possesses the unique ability to strip any occasion of its gravitas and has an air of nonchalant lightness about him, and says he would like to continue in the same vein. “Nice and balanced” was a phrase he repeatedly used in the media interaction on match eve. “Not too up, not too down, nice and balanced. 

"It will be a nice thing to win the World Cup because we have worked real hard but we don’t want to get excited and put pressure on ourselves.” India coach Rahul Dravid hasn’t experienced a World Cup triumph, led a disastrous campaign in 2007, but this is a redemption of sorts for him. Calmly, astutely, almost invisibly, he has done the hard work, backing Rohit and keeping the team in great emotional space. “Massive role,” Rohit said about Dravid.

 “It’s one thing for me to think about the brand of cricket but if the coach doesn’t agree. The way Rahul bhai played cricket and the way I play is totally contrasting, but he has backed me and the players. I am very happy with the messaging from me and Rahul bhai to the team and how they have responded .We have played 99.99 per cent of the brand of cricket we wanted to play in this World Cup.”