Here we are – the final of the Asia Cup! With only a few days to go for the start of the main event, the World T20 Cup to be held in India, the Indian team wants to desperately win tomorrow’s match. It’s not going to be easy though, as Bangladesh are the most improved side in world cricket and are getting better with every match.
Bangladesh have already beaten Pakistan, and looked a much better side as the tournament went on. The loss to India in the first match is a thing of the past and will have no bearing at all on Sunday’s final. The Mirpur crowd will be solidly behind Bangladesh and are expected to create a din with the fall of every Indian wicket and cheer their boys to the rafters.
India certainly won’t have it easy tomorrow. Anybody can win and the Asia Cup is pretty much up for grabs. Both India and Bangladesh looked the best teams in the Asia Cup, and it is clear that both teams are aware of their strengths and play to them.
India have had a perfect tournament so far. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been sensational, picking up runs at will. Yuvraj Singh has found form and has reestablished himself as an integral member of the Indian team.
Shikhar Dhawan, Captain MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina haven’t done much, neither has Ravindra Jadeja, but they will certainly get their chance to shine in tomorrow’s game.
The best players for India have been their seamers – Ashish Nehra, the 36-year old how is making his umpteenth comeback for India, young Jaspreet Bumrah, who is showing that there is more to him than just a strange bowling action and Hardik Pandya – is he the fast bowling all-rounder that India have always dreamed of?
Pandya’s performance has been heartening. He has functioned as a very effective third seamer and in the limited opportunities that he has got to bat, he has done creditably well. If he carries on like this, he will be a real superstar in Indian cricket, sooner than later.
There is Ashwin, of course, who has by now established himself as the best spinner in T20 cricket. Jadeja has been accurate as usual with the ball and there is another promising all-rounder waiting in the wings, Pawan Negi. Clearly India are a powerful T20 outfit and start as strong favorites not just for tomorrow’s match, but the forthcoming World T20 Cup as well.
What about Bangladesh? Bangladeshi seamers, Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain have been decent and veterans Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza have offered great support.
They have a decent top 3 in Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman who are in a very good form and in Mahmudullah Bangladesh has an excellent finisher. However, the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib haven’t really done much with the bat and their form will be a major worry for Bangladesh, going into the final.
The Teams
Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Nasir Hossain/Mohammad Mithun, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Al-Amin Hossain, 10 Arafat Sunny/Abu Hider, 11 Taskin Ahmed
India: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Ashish Nehra, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Match Conditions
The Mirpur track has assisted the fast bowlers in the early stages of the Asia Cup, but for the final we expect all the grass to be removed. It’s going to be a typical subcontinenal track, slow, low and with a plenty of runs for the batsmen. The fast bowlers will have the bend their back to extract something out of the pitch. No rains have been forecast, fortunately, so we should have a great night of cricket.
Watch India take on Bangladesh in the final of the Asia Cup at 7:00 am Sunday, live on Star Sports!
[table id=16 responsive=”tablet” /]
