No negative thoughts, Dravid had advised

India won the World Cup in 1983, upsetting then defending champion West Indies in the final, and reached the final in the last edition at South Africa in 2003.

Dravid8217;s team came to the Caribbean among the favorites for the title. But so did Sri Lanka, and the Mahela Jayawardene8217;s Sri Lankans.

Then came the Bangladesh loss backlash.

India had won eight of the 10 head-to-heads with Sri Lanka prior to this match. That India had beaten them at the last two World Cups was also a part of hope.

Then Dravid was practical. 8220;Past history is not relevant, it8217;s about performing in a given day,8221; he had said. And Sachin Tendulkar out for zero was still the big draw. 8220;We have to rectify the mistakes of the off-day against Bangladesh.

8220;We always knew Sri Lanka will be strong 8230; We8217;ve just added some additional pressure on ourselves by making this a must-win game.8221;

The rest is, of course, history.