Despite a recent setback against Bangladesh, India has found significant positives in their Asia Cup campaign. KL Rahul has made a triumphant return from injury, excelling with both the bat and gloves. Jasprit Bumrah's performance has been nothing short of exceptional as if he had never been away from the game. Kuldeep Yadav has embraced his role as an attacking wrist spinner, consistently breaking through during the middle overs. Shubman Gill has regained his form and made valuable contributions with the bat in various situations.
Now, with India back at full strength after making five changes against Bangladesh, they face Sri Lanka in Colombo to add another achievement to their list: winning a final. It's a feat that has eluded them in big ICC tournaments for the past decade, underscoring their need to secure victory on the grand stage, be it a semi-final or final.
With the ODI World Cup just three weeks away, there's no better preparation than winning silverware under similar conditions. Admittedly, the Asia Cup has had its imperfections, with arbitrary reserve days, rain interruptions, and cricket standards that occasionally fell short of expectations. Nevertheless, an Asia Cup final is a prestigious multi-nation tournament, and a victory here would instill belief in India's ability to perform on the global stage.
Shubman Gill, who played a brilliant innings of 121 in their narrow loss to Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of winning, saying, "The final holds a lot of importance. Winning is a habit. Every team must peak at the right time and not lose momentum. If we win here, we will carry a lot of confidence into the World Cup."
This is precisely what India needs at this stage. While they have been a dominant force in bilateral contests for many years, it's their performances in knockout matches that leave a lasting legacy. Recent years have seen India falter in this regard, with two final losses and four semi-final exits in white-ball cricket since 2014, despite often being the form team in the group stages.
Questions about a fear of failure creeping into their mindset during crucial games have surfaced. As India gears up for the World Cup, they cannot afford these doubts to linger in the background, which could happen if they stumble against Sri Lanka.
On paper, India appears much stronger than Sri Lanka, who have had to overcome injuries to key bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera to reach the final. Additionally, they received a setback with spinner Maheesh Theekshana's hamstring injury ruling him out.
However, Gill's acknowledgment that "we have to be at our 100% to beat them" is not mere pre-match politeness. Sri Lanka had an impressive 13-match winning streak, dismissing the opposition each time, until their 41-run loss to India in the Super Four stage. This highlights their bowling prowess despite the injury setbacks.
The outcome of Sunday's match is likely to hinge on the pitch conditions. If it's a batting-friendly surface, India's superior batting lineup may give them an advantage. On a slower track, as seen in their recent matches, Sri Lanka could pose a greater challenge. India struggled to chase down totals on such pitches, emphasizing the need to improve in this aspect.
In other news, off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar has joined the Indian team in Colombo as cover for Axar Patel. Axar Patel, the left-arm spinner, experienced forearm swelling after being struck during his quickfire 38-ball 42 against Bangladesh and also reported hamstring stiffness. This development has prompted Washington Sundar's inclusion in the squad. He was initially scheduled to participate in a conditioning camp at the National Cricket Academy for the Asian Games-bound team but is now expected to join the camp after the Asia Cup final. The men's team's Asian Games matches are slated for September 27 to October 7.
