After an intense two weeks of competition, the grand finale of the Asia Cup 2023 is upon us. This ultimate showdown will witness the clash of Asian titans as India and Sri Lanka face off for the ninth time in the tournament’s history. India has emerged victorious in the previous five encounters, while Sri Lanka boasts three wins.
Examining the standout performers thus far, Shubman Gill leads the run charts with an impressive 275 runs to his name. He is followed closely by Kusal Mendis with 253 runs and Sadeera Samarawickrama with 215 runs. On the bowling front, Pathirana is the top wicket-taker with 11 scalps to his credit, followed closely by Wellalage with 10 wickets each.
The much-anticipated match day is just around the corner, with both teams set to enjoy a relaxing day by the beach on September 16th before returning to the field for one last battle on September 17th. While the players unwind, team management will be hard at work, determining the best XI for the final showdown.
Both sides face their unique challenges, with Sri Lanka contending with injury concerns, while India strives to field their strongest lineup. As we eagerly await the commencement of this epic clash, let’s delve into the analysis of the strongest playing XI for the Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Sri Lanka.
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Asia Cup 2023 Final – Official Squad List for India
Batters: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma & Shreyas Iyer
Wicket-keepers: Ishan Kishan & KL Rahul
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja & Washington Sundar
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna & Shardul Thakur
India’s Strongest Predicted Playing 11
Team India implemented a substantial makeover, making five changes in their inconsequential Super 4 match against Bangladesh. With India having secured a spot in the final, it presented an opportune moment to field players who had spent the tournament warming the benches.
Nevertheless, when it comes to the final clash against Sri Lanka, India will be rolling out their formidable XI. The returnees are expected to include the likes of Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Making way for these five will likely be Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, and Prasidh Krishna.
Considering the favorable conditions for spinners on the Colombo pitches, India may opt to exclude Shardul Thakur and opt for Washington Sundar, who has stepped in for the injured Axar Patel. As India is in dire need of an adept off-spinner.
In addition to these adjustments, the focus may once again turn to Shreyas Iyer’s injury. Reports indicate that Iyer has yet to fully recover, which prevented his participation against Bangladesh. Given India’s well-established combination, Iyer may not be rushed and is likely to be rested once more, keeping the upcoming World Cup in mind.
Asia Cup 2023 Final – India‘s Predicted Playing 11 against Sri Lanka
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Ishan Kishan
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
Asia Cup 2023: Strongest Playing 11 and Final Squad List for Sri Lanka
Asia Cup 2023 Final – Official Squad List for Sri Lanka
Batters: Charith Asalanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanaka & Sadeera Samarawickrama
Wicket-keepers: Kusal Perera & Kusal Mendis (vc)
All-rounders: Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva & Dushan Hemantha
Bowlers: Binura Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana & Pramod Madushan
Sri Lanka’s Strongest Predicted Playing 11
When considering the composition of Sri Lanka’s optimal starting eleven for the impending Asia Cup final, a prominent question arises concerning the injury sustained by Maheesh Theekshana during the match against Pakistan. Although the precise severity of his injury remains undisclosed, such injuries typically necessitate several days of recovery. The pivotal decision looms: should Sri Lanka take the gamble of fielding him in the final, thereby potentially jeopardizing his availability for the forthcoming ODI World Cup?
In this critical juncture, the prudent course of action would be for Sri Lanka to exercise caution and not rush Theekshana back into the playing eleven unless he has completely recuperated. Deploying him in the final could pose a risk of exacerbating the injury, which could have implications for his participation in the upcoming World Cup. Therefore, Sri Lanka must prioritize his long-term fitness over the immediate demands of the final match.
Fortunately, Sri Lanka is not devoid of alternatives. In the potential absence of Theekshana, the team can turn to leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha, who presents a formidable option. Dushan possesses the skills of a wrist spinner and adds value as a proficient lower-order batsman, thereby bolstering the team’s batting depth to a total of nine capable contributors. This strategic move ensures that Sri Lanka enters the crucial final match with a balanced and competitive team, even in Theekshana’s possible absence due to injury concerns.
Asia Cup 2023 Final – Sri Lanka‘s Predicted Playing 11 against India
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Dasun Shanaka (c)
- Dunith Wellalage
- Dushan Hemantha
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Pramod Madushan