It's the hottest ticket in Mumbai's rich history - and this fan pulls out all the stops to get behind his team at the revamped Wankhede Stadium as India take on fellow co-hosts Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup final
The final build-up is dominated by two of the greatest players ever to have picked up leather and willow - Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan and India's Sachin Tendulkar, currently on 99 international one-day centuries
But even before a batsman takes guard, controversy strikes when the toss is re-taken because match referee Jeff Crowe does not hear the call when India captain Mahendra Dhoni flips the coin because of crowd noise
Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara wins the re-taken toss and elects to bat, but his expansive openers are constricted by a superb opening new-ball spell by left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who dismisses Upal Tharanga
But after a stunted start at 17-1 in the seventh over, captain Sangakkara and the capricious Tillakaratne Dilshan start to find the boundary ropes on both sides of the wicket as Sri Lanka reach the 15-over mark at 58-1
But Dilshan's innings is brought to an agonising end when his bails are dislodged attempting to sweep a leg-side delivery from Harbhajan Singh for 33, a wicket which sends the Wankhede Stadium into ear-splitting raptures
Sangakkara and ex-captain and best friend Mahela Jayawardene accelerate the run-rate with a 62-run third-wicket partnership until the current skipper falls two runs short of 50 caught behind off Yuvraj Singh at 122-3
But the typically unflappable Jayawardene maintains a good scoring rate, angling, nurdling and guiding delicate strokes around the ground as he notches his 57th one-day half century from just 49 deliveries
But once again Sri Lanka's momentum stalls when they lose Thilan Samaraweera when Yuvraj Singh overturns a not out lbw decision in the 38th over, while Chamara Kapugedera is duped by a superb Zaheer slower delivery
But the serene Jayawardene turns savage when the batting powerplay is called in the 46th over, slamming a monstrous four over mid-off to bring up a breath-taking century from only 84 deliveries as India are torn apart
The captive domestic audience can't quite comprehend what they are seeing as Thisara Perera thumps 22 from just nine deliveries as Sri Lanka finish their innings on 274-6, setting India a daunting victory target
India's riposte begins in the worst possible way when Lasith Malinga traps Virender Sehwag plumb in front with the second ball of the ininngs - a review can't save the dashing opener as silence descends around the stadium
Sachin Tendulkar unravels a series of mellifluous strokes before edging Malinga behind for 18, ending his prospects of a fairytale 100th international century to leave India in peril at 31-2 in the seventh over
With a huge responsibility resting on his shoulders, Gautam Gambhir steps up to notch a confident half century, although he has to launch himself at full length to survive a close run-out opportunity in the 19th over
However, India's acceleration is stalled by a spectacular one-handed catch by Tillakaratne Dilshan off his own bowling to dismiss Virat Kohli for 35 in the 22nd over, ramping up the tension around the ground
Mahendra Singh Dhoni promotes himself up the order ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh to maintain the left-hand/right-hand combination and his flamboyant strokeplay takes a resurgent India beyond the 200 mark
The mounting pressure begins to affect Sangakkara, whose second-string bowlers cannot provide adequate support for Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan against the fourth-wicket duo
Gautam Gambhir is three runs away from notching the second century of the match when a rash charge down the track sees his furniture comphrensively rearranged by Thisara Perera with India 51 runs short of victory
But, alongside Yuvraj, Dhoni guides India across the finishing line in the most emphatic fashion possible - thumping a six over long-on with 10 balls to spare to kick-start the biggest party ever staged in India
Tendulkar is hoisted on to his team-mates' shoulders and carried on a lap of honour around his home stadium, the Little Master finally enjoying World Cup success at the sixth time of asking
After Yuvraj Singh is named player of the tournament, Dhoni finally gets his hands on the World Cup trophy as the Indians inside the Wankhede Stadium begin celebrations that will last long into the night
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