Sri Lanka's former pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas reignited the World Cup final controversy by insisting that India would not have won had he played.
The left arm quick was called up along with off spinner Suraj Randiv as cover for the injured Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan ahead of the April 2 clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Randiv and Muralitharan played while Vaas watched in agony as Mahendra Singh Dhoni whacked a six to lead India to its second World Cup triumph.
"India would not have won had I played that match," Vaas was quoted as saying in Press Trust of India when he was on Mangalore, India to promote the Chaminda Vaas Benefit T20 Cricket Cup 2011 organised by Magnum Intergrafiks (P) Ltd along with Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association.
This may not be an empty boast given that Vaas has been Sri Lanka's main strike bowler along with world record holder Muralitharan.
Vaas also relished the challenged of bowling to Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
"I have great regards for him as a batsman," Vaas said, adding he would have been the ideal foil to Murali had the two played the finals.
"I have good understanding with Murali, and when he kept one end tight, I picked up wickets, and even when vice-versa happened, Sri Lanka won many matches," he said.
The 37-year-old who plays county cricket for Nottinghamshire in England plans to take up coaching once he quits international cricket.