A victory against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final on Sunday is important because it will give the team a lot of momentum ahead of the World Cup, feels opener Shubman Gill.

“Winning the (Asia Cup) final is very important for us because we need to create a winning habit. Peaking at the right time and gaining momentum at the right time is important,” he said during a news conference.

“It is also important to maintain that momentum because losing in one or two matches can add pressure. Winning here will give us a lot of momentum and confidence going into the World Cup.”

Gill scored a hundred against Bangladesh on Friday though it wasn’t enough to give India a victory in their concluding Super Fours fixture. But Gill said they have not lost any momentum ahead of the summit clash.

“I don’t think we have lost any momentum. I think we gave away extra 10-15 runs to their (Bangladesh) lower-order batters, but that apart we played some good cricket.

“But these things happen on such kinds of wickets. Hopefully, we can execute these lessons in the final (of Asia Cup) and in the World Cup.”

Gill said Sri Lanka have been playing good cricket, and India needed to produce their A game in the final.

“I think they have great momentum with them. The way they won the last match (against Pakistan) was great to see.

“We will have to pull up our socks, and we have to be at our 100 per cent to beat them,” he said.

Gill said playing on slow-turning pitches in the Asia Cup will help India.

“It is a great practice for batsmen and bowlers because these are the kind of pitches that we generally play in India.

“Playing on these wickets against good teams against good oppositions under pressure will definitely help us in the World Cup,” he said.

“We had a camp in Bangalore and practised on similar surfaces... It is not easy for batsmen coming in to rotate the strike and minimise dot balls. That’s what as a batting unit and bowling group we are looking to overcome.”

Written with PTI inputs