Gilchrist In Awe Of Yuvraj

Adam Gilchrist has every sympathy for Pakistan later today as they attempt to restrict the power hitting of Yuvraj Singh and beat India in the ICC World Twenty20 final.

Australia's stand-in skipper, who filled in for hamstring victim Ricky Ponting during Saturday's semi-final against India, believed they had the plans to stop the man who hit six sixes in an over in his previous match against England.

But despite meticulous research and planning, Yuvraj hit a stunning 70 off 30 balls including five sixes - one of them the biggest of the tournament, measuring 119 metres - to set up today's fiercely-contested final against Pakistan.

Both sides will enter the final equally confident, but Gilchrist believes Pakistan may have the bigger dilemma as they seek a formula to stop Yuvraj.

"He's in a great mindset, he's confident and he's seeing the ball well and just trusting himself," enthused Gilchrist. "He sliced a couple against us, one in particular out to deep point that just cleared the hands.

"Those little things we hoped would go our way but the next ball he hit 20 rows back so he's playing with great confidence. I think that's the exciting thing about this game - crowds are going to love players like him walking out and playing without fear.

"We spoke about it beforehand and tried to bowl it in the right areas to him but he hits a short ball for six and then you pitch that up and he hits that one for six."

Pakistan have already admitted their pre-match tactical meeting would be dominated by thoughts of stopping Yuvraj with captain Shoaib Malik revealing: "We'll have a meeting and decide where we're going to bowl to him.

"We must try and stop him because he's playing superbly at the moment, but hopefully we'll find some kind of plan which will work.

"At the moment he's playing brilliantly - I don't think I've ever seen him play as well as he is now. He's in very good form and we'll sit and discuss how we're going to stop him."

India captain Mahendra Dhoni, a very clean hitter of the ball himself, believes Yuvraj's current form is as good as he has seen him play.

"I've not seen anyone hit the ball as sweetly as him - whatever shot he plays it goes over the rope," enthused Dhoni.

"I think he's in really good form and that's because of his determination and his will to do well on this stage.

"He didn't start well in the tournament and after that he has become the main batsman of the team. He has the experience of more than 180 one-day matches and that really helps."

Pakistan are expected to name the same line-up that romped past New Zealand in the semi-final while India will give late fitness tests to both Yuvraj and explosive opener Virender Sehwag.

Yuvraj is still struggling with the tendinitis in his elbow, which forced him to miss the victory over South Africa last Thursday, but is expected to feature while Sehwag struggled with groin problems during the semi-final against Australia.