Gilchrist: I need to keep the good work going

It's odd to think that this is the last stretch of my career and I would prefer not to view these finals from that perspective. I have been happy with the way I have contributed so far and I need to ensure that I keep up the good work in the finals as well.

I would admit that the defeat against Sri Lanka was not ideal preparation, but there were a few positives we took from the game.

We bowled well, our run chase started well and the lower order made a serious attempt to overhaul the target and came to within just 15 runs of winning the game.

Moreover, conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground are quite different from those in Melbourne and if we get a track like the one we got last Sunday, we will get another high-scoring game.

For the Indians, too, the bowling has been doing a lot better than the batting. Sachin Tendulkar has not been as effective as he was in the Tests. He must be feeling a little more confident after the 60-odd he got in Hobart in India's last league game, and would also be keen to score his first ODI century in Australia.

The one huge plus for the Indians has been the good form of Gautam Gambhir. The youngster has been in on the periphery of the Indian team for quite some time now, and this series must have cemented his place in the side.

Flashes of brilliance

Rohit Sharma has shown some flashes of what he is capable of while Robin Uthappa showed us some glimpses of the impressive stroke play we had seen in India last year.

However, it has been up to Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bail the team out in virtually every game, and the latter would be hoping that the top order does well in the finals.

For our part, we have always enjoyed the finals of any tournament, be it a single game or a best of three. Our record in final games has been exceptional for over a decade now, and that's a record we are very proud of.

The crucial last hurdle

The Indians, on the other hand, have stumbled on the last lap on many occasions. I know that most of the players in this Indian team are in their first final, but some of the guys would remember past disappointments.

The toss will be crucial tomorrow, with both teams wanting to bat first. Both sides have had problems chasing, but the SCG track will play well from start to finish, just like it did last week.

This will be my last game at this ground and while I will take things as they come, a good performance that helps the team win would be what I hope for tomorrow.