Remember how, before the match (how long ago that now seems), the cricket world thought India's batsmen would put the match beyond Pakistan if they scored 300? Ha!
"What we've produced after that doesn't come as any surprise, because that's how we trained, and that's what we worked at", Arthur told reporters at The Oval yesterday.
"It was very disappointing to see that go wrong in the Indian game, but ... we've closed the chapter on that". Whatever the result, we have to go forward and play more games after.
The Pakistan coach believes that if they can do that, they have got a real chance of getting to India's underbelly. It is even considered bigger than the Ashes series between Australia and England.
The neighbouring countries have moved on from years of political conflicts but emotions will run high as millions of supporters around the world watch the first major cricket final between the teams since the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup. "It is bigger than the Ashes - and expectation is high from both nations, insane about cricket".
Pakistan, meanwhile, have brought back Mohammed Amir, who could not feature in Pakistan's playing XI in the semifinal win against hosts England.
These murals placed at the Lords also carry a caricatural story of Pakistan and India's road to the final.
While his deputy, Rumman Raees, stood up with two wickets on debut, the senior left-armer will slot back in for what is expected to be a run and sun-soaked Oval pitch at the expense of Raees unless the 18-year-old leg-spinner, Shadab Khan, makes way.
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Turning to the coin, India won the toss and Virat Kohli opted to bowl first.
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Kohli have dominated the bowling of nearly all the teams.
Fakhar was given a second life when he was caught behind off a no-ball by Bumrah earlier in the inning. Kohli also boasts the tournament's best batting average - a scarcely believable 253 - since the only time he has gotten out in the entire tournament has been when he was dismissed on zero against Sri Lanka.
The harum-scarum left-hander had already survived with just a single to his name when he pushed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to cover and would have been run out had Kedar Jadhav managed a direct hit.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who missed the first couple matches, too proved expensive.
The Indian captain said that game would not have any relevance and praised the Pakistan team for reaching the final. The players have been outstanding, the way they've prepared and the way they dragged themselves off the canvas after the beating [by India] at Edgbaston, was incredible.
Kohli, however, added: "At the same time, neither are we too intimidated nor are we too arrogant about what we are doing".





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