Asia Cup 23 Final : India favourites but Sri Lanka no pushovers

 



The stage is set for the final of the 2023 Asia Cup. The rain hit event is coming to a close and rains are actually forecasted during the final which is likely to have its share of interruptions .


Both India and Sri Lanka  had their periods of uncertainties, India losing to Bangladesh and  beating Sri Lanka in a low scoring  close contest and Sri Lanka  nearly choking against Pakistan from a strong position .


Man to man India is much stronger than Sri Lanka  but the hosts will get strong crowd support.  Both teams have injury worries with Axar Patel and Theekshana to miss out due to injuries .


India batting looks strong with top 5 amongst the runs . Rohit, Gill, Kohli , Rahul and Ishan had their good moments and even Hardik got an 80 plus . Hardik also has bowled well with pace while Bumrah , Siraj , Kuldeep and Jadeja all looked in good rhytm . India is quietly confident of lifting the Asia Cup as they will surely start as favorites. 


Sri Lanka  had a few nervous moments in batting and they have shown fragile tendencies . Bowling has been their stronger suit with their spinners doing very well . However they are also missing out on 4 of their top bowlers Chameera , Madhushanka , Kumara and Hasaranga but still creditably reached the final . However they will now badly miss Theekshana in the final . One of  their best performer has been young 20 year old Dunith Wellalage who was brilliant vs India taking 5 wickets and scoring 42 not out . The hosts will expect Wellalage to fire again in the final . Sri Lanka will also expect Pathirana to fire as the youngster has looked erratic at times though he has regularly picked wickets . 


 The hosts will expect  their batting stars Kusal Mendis, Samarvinkrama , Nissanka and Dhananjay D Silva to show the solidity required in a big final  and skipper Dasun Shanaka to fire . The Sri Lankan skipper had a very underwhelming Asia cup . 


The hosts may chose a more spinning strip for the final to be played at Colombo and it has been seen that pitches tended to be playing easier under lights .


India are favourites but Sri Lanka will not be any pushovers 


Probable XIs 


India Likely XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar/Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj


Sri Lanka Likely XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madhushan/Dushan Hemantha, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana 

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