Sports Desk: The 16th edition of the ongoing Asia Cup with six teams is going to come down today. India and Sri Lanka will meet in the final of this tournament after 13 years. This match will start at 3:30 PM at the A Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. The team that has won the most trophies in this continental tournament so far is India (7), followed by the Lankans (6). Besides, Sri Lanka is also the winning team of the Asia Cup, which was organized last year in the T20 edition.
However, India won the title of the tournament organized in 2018 in ODI format. So it can be said that today’s match will be a fight to take back or retain the crown. India has been flying since the beginning of this season. Although the match against Pakistan was canceled due to rain in the group stage, India defeated Nepal and advanced to the Super Four.
In this episode, Rohit Sharma got a big victory by facing arch-rival Pakistan again. After that, they also won against the co-hosts, Sri Lanka, thereby confirming the final of this season for Team India. However, India lost by six runs against Bangladesh in the last match of this phase. But on this day, India rested five players from the regular team. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has suffered from player injuries since the start of the tournament.
The Lankans embarked on a title defense mission without key players like Dushmanth Chamira and Wanindu Hasaranga. At the beginning of the season, they seemed to be a weak team, but with time, they showed their strength. Bangladesh has been defeated twice in the ongoing tournament, and Afghanistan and Pakistan have been defeated once each.
However, they had to lose by 41 runs against India in the Super Four. This time we will have to enter the final again against that India. So far, India and Sri Lanka have met 11 times in international competition. India has won it five times and Sri Lanka four times. These two countries also faced each other in the 2011 World Cup in India. The team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the trophy. India is slightly ahead in Asia Cup statistics. After 2010, India and Sri Lanka are again facing each other in the final of the Asia Cup. That time, India won by 81 runs against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
Meanwhile, before the final match, new players were added to the squads of both teams yesterday. Mahish Thikshaka, the important spinner for the team, has been dropped from the Sri Lankan squad. He was also in rhythm with the ball in the ongoing Asia Cup. He took eight wickets in five matches.
However, in the last match against Pakistan, Thikshana suffered a hamstring injury to his right leg while fielding. Offbreak bowler Sahan Arachige has been added to the team instead. Apart from this, the Indian squad also faced injury problems. Akshar Patel was hit on the wrist by the fielder during the Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday.
At this time, the area becomes slightly swollen. Washington Sundar has joined the squad as his backup.
