For all those who were quite confident about an India-Pakistan final in this Asia Cup, Sri Lanka have thrown a spanner in their works.
India did beat the tournament co-hosts earlier in the Super 4s clash, but make no mistake, they need to be on their toes in Sunday’s final at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as this Sri Lanka is not quite the punching bag the Indians tend to come across in bilaterals.
Both teams, however, will keep an eye on the overhead conditions as well as there’s a forecast of rain in Colombo on Sunday evening.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and the rest of the Indian team management may disagree, but the pressure could be more on India purely because they haven’t won a multi-team trophy for five years.
The 2018 edition of the Asia Cup was the last trophy India had won with Rohit at the helm as then captain Virat Kohli had been rested following a long England tour.
In the context of the final, not much needs to be read into India’s six-run loss to Bangladesh on Friday, although one did expect the reserves to put on a better show.
What bodes well for India going into the final is opener Shubman Gill’s form. Of course, Bangladesh don’t have the strongest of bowling attacks, but getting three figures batting second on the slow Premadasa wicket isn’t the easiest thing either.
Gill’s tempo at the top along with how Rohit fares will be crucial for India and should make matters easier for the likes of Kohli and KL Rahul. But having said that, it again remains to be seen how the batsmen tackle the Islanders’ spin attack.
Dasun Shanaka and Co. will be hampered to an extent by the absence of off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who has been ruled out of the final due to a hamstring tear. But the Indian batters will have to clear the Dunith Wellalage test.
The left-arm spinner’s five-for was massive in restricting India to 213 even after they were 80 without loss in 11 overs in the Super 4s clash between the two teams last Tuesday.
The drift and the sharp turn the youngster obtained and the angle he created had completely foxed the aces of India’s batting line-up. With the bat too, the left-hander had given India a real scare, only to be let down by some of his teammates’ injudicious shot selection.
Irrespective of whether the ball turns more or not, the slow, sluggish pitch will certainly ensure the spinners remain a factor. Given Kuldeep Yadav’s performance of late, it’s a huge plus for India, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja too has done a decent job with the ball so far.
Now, with Axar Patel set to miss the final due to soreness in left forearm and hamstring stiffness, it’s up to the team management on whether to bring in his cover — off-spinner Washington Sundar — in the XI or include seamer all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who has been amongst wickets in this competition.
Tilak Varma, whose ODI debut on Friday against Bangladesh didn’t go too well, could also be a surprise selection. That, if Shardul comes in place of Axar.
Sundar joins as ‘cover’
Washington Sundar joined the Indian team in Colombo on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka as cover for Axar Patel.
Axar is learnt to have swelling in his left forearm after being struck by a throw from the deep while batting against Bangladesh.
A BCCI release stated he has been ruled out of the final “due to a left quadriceps strain”.
He underwent a scan and the report is awaited. Sources, however, told The Telegraph that the move is precautionary and Axar is expected to be available for the World Cup.
Sundar had been training with the Asian Games squad at the NCA in Bangalore.
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