Asia Cup final: Defending Champion Sri Lanka to take on India

Two teams from the sub-continent India and Sri Lanka will face-up to lift the title of Asia’s best on Sunday afternoon.

When: Sunday, September 17, 2023, 15:00 Local Time
Where: India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023 Final, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Weather Forecast: Thundershowers are expected on Sunday. Even as there is a reserve day, expect reduced overs and numerous rain breaks.

The final between India and Sri Lanka will be a mega show as both the teams put in some extraordinary efforts on the way to the final.

Defending champion Sri Lanka led by Dasun Shanaka will put an exciting fight in front of Rohit Sharma led Indian team.

During super four stage Lankan spinners have asked really tough questions to the star studded batting line up of Indian team. Keeping the forth coming world cup in eye and trophy less journey since five long years, the pressure will be on men in
blue.

While hamstring injury of Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana has rulled out him from the final match of the tournament. In the ongoing tournament Pakistani pace trio Saheen, Rauf and Nasim has topped the wicket taker list but Theekshana has bagged 9 odd wickets in 5 matches.
In the last match of super four stage Indian team has gone through a narrow defeated against Bnagladesh while testing its bench strength. Indian team also sustained an injury concern in the form of all-rounder Axar Patel during the last match against Bangladesh. In his place Wasighnton Sundar has been called for the final, But it will be exciting watch whether he makes his way into the final squad or not.
“We had the discussion going before the batting. The coaching staff and I spoke about the mistakes that were made in the India game, wickets were given away in the first 10 overs. Today, we did not want to make that mistake. Kusal and Sadeera (Samarawickrama) are the best players of spin at the moment. Charith (Asalanka) was great, it’s a character of a great player. It’s a special feeling to play back-to-back finals” – Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain, after the close win against Pakistan.

“Gill’s hundred was brilliant. He backs his game, he knows exactly how he wants to play. Pretty clear on what he wants to do for the team. Look at his form over the last year. Pretty solid against the new ball. Works really hard; there’s no optional practice for Gill” – Rohit Sharma, Indian captain after the loss against Bangladesh

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

Likely Sri Lankan 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