India v Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2014 Final: Three Key Battles

India face Sri Lanka as players from both camps vie for glory in the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup. IBTimes UK takes a look at three key battles between the two sides ahead of the game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, on Sunday.

Virat Kohli v Mahela Jayawardene

Virat Kohli has chipped in with consistent performances for India throughout the tournament in Bangladesh so far. He is the leading scorer having smashed 242 runs in five matches which include three half-centuries.

The 25-year-old knocked 72 runs from 44 balls in the semi-final against South Africa to guide India into their second final in the history of the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will hope to rely on Mahela Jayawardene to come up with a satisfying performance on the pitch. Although the experienced right-handed batsman endured a disappointing outing in the last two matches, he has the potential to send the ball racing beyond the boundary ropes.

The 36-year-old is Sri Lanka's highest scorer in the tournament with 134 runs, out of which 89 were scored during the defeat against England in the Super-10 stage.

Both top order batsmen enter the field after the first wicket is down, and whoever outshines the other will certainly be aiming to lift the prize at the end of the battle.

Ravichandran Ashwin v Rangana Herath

Batsmen from either camp must brace themselves for an attack of the spinners as India's leading wicket-taker and Sri Lanka's second highest wicket-taker in the tournament are set to unleash their ball turning tactics.

Ravichandran Ashwin has amassed two Man of the Match accolades in five matches and missed out on a third against South Africa because of Kohli.

The 27-year-old is just two wickets short of South Africa's Imran Tahir who leads the charts with 12 wickets. Ashwin's "Carrom Ball" is certainly a threat to the Lankan batsman especially when a batsman like Hashim Amla was bowled out by the turn of the ball.

Rangana Herath has only played two matches in the tournament but made a huge leap to become the Lankan's second highest wicket-taker with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand, two shy of compatriot Nuwan Kulasekara.

The 36-year-old only conceded three runs and bowled two maiden overs against the Black Caps to clinch the Man of the Match award last Monday.

However, Herath had an average game against West Indies in the semi-final conceding 27 runs in four overs without taking a single wicket. He will be hoping to add some more scalps to his name and must outwit the likes of Kohli, MS Dhoni or Ravindra Jadeja.

Amit Mishra v Lasith Malinga

In a battle to determine the prowess of spin bowling and the devastation of pace, Amit Mishra holds a superior hand against Lasith Malinga.

The leg-spinner has taken one wicket less than Ashwin, and like his compatriot has won two Man of the Match awards for his trickery with the ball. The only dismal game Mishra had was against South Africa in the semi-final where he gave away 36 runs from three overs.

However, the 31-year-old is not likely to be fazed by his performance in the previous game and can be expected to attack with the same intent so that he can be a part of the winning side.

Malinga, who takes the field as the Sri Lankan captain in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal has only five wickets to his name. He ended his barren run in two previous matches by taking two wickets and conceding only five runs in Sri Lanka's clash against the West Indies.

The 30-year-old will be keen on inspiring his team by dismissing the immensely strong middle order of their opposition, and thus derailing India's hopes of winning the T20 World Cup for the second time.