Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bat first in Asia Cup final against India at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday.
Wiining the toss Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka said, “We'll bat first. Seems like a good wicket, there will be some turn in the afternoon.”
“Last year, we weren't able to get these crowds but this time we are really fortunate. I'm very pleased with the youngsters - Wellalage, Pathirana, Samarawickrama. It is a good team and the results are there, this is a good boost for the WC. One change - Theekshana out, Hemantha in.”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma said, “Would have batted first too, looks like a dry pitch. We are confident of chasing down whatever Sri Lanka put on the board. This is a good chance to go aggressive with the ball and see what the surface has to offer.”
“We came really close last game, anything about 240 on this surface is good. Our job today is to do well with the ball, and then see what we can do with the bat. The crowd has been brilliant, good support for both teams but probably a bit more for Sri Lanka. Hopefully, they get to witness a good final. Everyone's back after the rest in the last game, Axar is injured so Washington Sundar comes in for him.”
India began with a washed-out match in Pallekele against Pakistan, whose fast bowlers rattled their top order and bowled them out for 266 in the only innings possible due to rain.
Big guns Virat Kohli and returning batsman KL Rahul hit back with centuries in their next outing against Babar Azam's team to rack up 356-2 and crush Pakistan by 228 runs. India then prevented a gutsy Sri Lankan chase to book their place in the final, but Gill said their opponents were still a threat.
"We will have to pull up our socks and be at our 100 percent to beat them," he said.
Sri Lanka, who won the previous edition of the Asia Cup played in the T20 format, came in as underdogs and snuck into the Super Fours with a dramatic win over Afghanistan.
They soon got into their groove on home soil and, despite going down to India, edged out Pakistan in a knockout match for their 11th Asia Cup final.
"We came without our key players, but still we managed to make the finals," skipper Dasun Shanaka said.
Injuries sidelined Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga, but others stood up at crucial junctures.
Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka both hit match-winning knocks to take the team over the line in a rain-shortened match and push a much-favored Pakistan out of the tournament.
Up-and-coming fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage have impressed and led the tournament's bowling chart with 11 and 10 wickets respectively.
Wellalage rattled India's batting with five wickets including the prized scalps of Kohli and Rohit in their Super Four match.
Twice before in the Asia Cup Sri Lanka have lost to India in the Super Four stage only to beat them in the finals, in 2004 and 2008.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul(w), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
