Focus on India's Bench in Super Fours Last Match

Asia Cup 2025: Focus on India's Bench in Super Fours Last Match

Asia Cup 2025: The Asia Cup has reached its decisive phase in the Super Four, and while India has already booked its spot in the final, Sri Lanka is out of contention. Now it's time for the test bench strength before the final against Pakistan.

The last time India played Sri Lanka in international cricket, Sri Lanka put up a strong fight at home and won the ODI series convincingly. This time, though, they meet in the Asia Cup in a match that doesn’t affect the tournament outcome India is already in the final, and Sri Lanka is out of the race.

India has been mixing things up with their batting order, keeping fans guessing. In their last dead rubber against Oman, Sanju Samson was sent in at No. 3, while Suryakumar Yadav didn’t bat at all despite India losing eight wickets. In the next match, Samson didn’t get to bat even though six wickets fell. Clearly, coach Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar have a plan, but outsiders haven’t figured it out yet. What they’ll try next is anyone’s guess.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has struggled with the format. Apart from India, the other teams in the Super Fours have been quite evenly matched. Sri Lanka lost both tosses and couldn’t put up winning scores. To beat India, they’ll need more than just luck.

Two players to watch out for are Abhishek Sharma and Wanindu Hasaranga. Abhishek has been in top form, scoring 248 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of over 200. He’s come close to scoring a century twice, and India won’t want to rest him now. Hasaranga has been economical with the ball, giving away less than a run per ball. He’ll enjoy bowling on the slow Dubai pitch, especially after the power play.

As for team changes, India might experiment again like they did against Oman. Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma are the only players who haven’t played yet, and they might get a chance. If Jitesh plays, it doesn’t mean Sanju Samson will be dropped he still needs time at the crease before the final.

India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh/Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c.), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne/ Kamil Mishara, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara.

Stats and trivia

- India and Sri Lanka have met once before in Dubai during the 2022 Asia Cup Super Fours, where Sri Lanka won by six wickets after choosing to bowl first.

- In today’s match, Hardik Pandya is just three wickets away from becoming the second Indian bowler after Arshdeep Singh to reach 100 T20I wickets.