Both Sri Lanka and India gear up for a thrilling showdown in the Asia Cup final match today. This blockbuster clash is set to determine Asia’s best cricket team, with the defending champions Sri Lanka facing off against the formidable Indian side at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Sri Lanka, the reigning champions, have secured their spot in the final after overcoming various challenges and closely contested matches in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. The Lankans are determined not to relinquish their status as Asia’s best cricketing nation to their subcontinental rivals.
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A victory in the highly anticipated final on Sunday would undoubtedly boost Sri Lanka’s confidence for the upcoming World Cup, especially given the familiarity of subcontinental playing conditions. While Sri Lanka came close to handing India their first defeat in the Asia Cup 2023 during the Super Four stage, the visitors’ formidable bowling attack ultimately secured a hard-fought win.
One setback for the Lankan Lions is the absence of their star spinner, Maheesh Theekshana, who has been instrumental in their journey to the final. The mystery spinner, who has been among the leading wicket-takers in the tournament, was ruled out of the final due to a hamstring injury sustained during their intense Super Four clash against Pakistan.
In a tournament where Pakistan’s pace trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Nasim Shah have dominated the wickets column, Theekshana made his mark by claiming an impressive 9 wickets in just 5 matches, all while maintaining an economy rate of 5.15.
On the other side of the pitch, India has been in fine form throughout the tournament, with the exception of a narrow defeat in an inconsequential Super Four match against Bangladesh. However, they suffered a blow when all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out due to a left quadriceps strain sustained in the Super Four clash with Bangladesh. Washington Sundar was called in as his replacement for the final, presenting him with an opportunity to stake his claim for a spot in the World Cup squad.
While Shardul Thakur has been cold with the bat in the tournament, he has been in excellent wicket-taking form, notably ending with figures of 3-65 against Bangladesh. The decision to include Sundar in the final lineup could provide India with a left-handed batting option, adding variety to a predominantly right-handed batting lineup.
As the Asian cricket giants prepare to clash, Sri Lanka’s skipper, Dasun Shanaka, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the final. “Of course, we are ready [for the Asia Cup 2023 final],” Shanaka declared in a pre-match press conference. “According to the pitch stats, we are picking a good side, especially bowling against India, we need to take more wickets upfront. That opens the game for us. That’s a key area in the game,” he added.
Shubman Gill, who recently scored a century despite India’s loss to Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of lifting the Asia Cup trophy as a stepping stone to the World Cup. “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,” Gill stated.
Match Scorecard: IND vs SL Asia Cup Final Match Live Score
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