Asia Cup 2023 Final: IND vs SL Match Preview, Head-to-Head, Pitch Report, Top Players, Playing XI
The Asia Cup 2023 final is shaping up to be an exciting clash between Sri Lanka and India. With Sri Lanka making it to back-to-back finals, the anticipation is running high. For cricket enthusiasts looking to add more excitement to the final match, our cricket betting website offers a platform to place bets and win big rewards. In this article, cricket fans can find valuable match insights, including pitch conditions, information about top players, and a match preview. It’s a great opportunity to stay informed and make informed bets while enjoying the thrill of one of your favourite games.
Asia Cup 2023 Final: IND vs SL Match Details
The final of the Asia Cup 2023 is all set to take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 3 PM IST, right at the same venue where the thrilling action has been unfolding throughout the tournament. Cricket fans won’t want to miss this exciting showdown.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The pitch for the Asia Cup 2023 final is expected to favour the batsmen but we have seen some low-scoring games on these pitches too. It provides some initial seam movement for the pacers and later assistance for spinners during the second innings. The outfield is good and the batsmen need to play carefully at the initial stages.
Despite cloudy weather, the chances of extended rain interruptions are low. Cricket enthusiasts can anticipate a full match with minimal disruptions, ensuring an exciting and uninterrupted contest.
Ground Records
Head-to-Head Records
The below table shows how both teams have performed against each other so far.
| Total Matches | IND won | SL won | Tie / Draw | No Result |
| 167 | 98 | 57 | 1 | 11 |
India has won more ODIs than Sri Lanka and the margin is also large. This indicates that India dominates Sri Lanka in the ODIs.
Asia Cup 2023 Final: IND vs SL Match Preview
Team India
India’s journey in the Asia Cup 2023 has been marked by strong performances and a desire to build a formidable squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. However, a notable exception was the match against Bangladesh, which was essentially a dead rubber and saw some new faces in the Indian lineup, providing rest to key players.
In this particular match, giving opportunities to young talents like Tilak Varma, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna was a test for them. Bangladesh opted to bat first and managed to post a competitive total. India’s pacers, Shardul and Shami, made early breakthroughs, reducing Bangladesh to 59 for 4. However, Bangladesh’s skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid Hridoy forged a crucial partnership of 100 runs. Shakib played a stellar innings, scoring 80 runs, while Hridoy contributed a valuable half-century. Shardul impressed with 3 wickets for India, and Shami took 2 wickets while maintaining good economy rates. A late cameo by Nasum Ahmed bolstered Bangladesh’s total to 265 for 8.
India’s response got off to a shaky start as skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck. Debutant Tanzid Hasan claimed Rohit’s wicket. The Indian batting order continued to struggle, but Shubman Gill played a brilliant innings, scoring a century before getting out. Axar Patel displayed composure but was dismissed for 42 after playing a loose shot. Mustafizur Rehman was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking 3 wickets, while Tanzim Hasan and Mahedi Hasan secured 2 wickets each. India lost the match by 6 runs.
Team Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s journey in the Asia Cup 2023 has been marked by inconsistency, with their batting unit raising concerns despite a strong bowling lineup. In the Super 4 round, they displayed a cohesive team effort to outclass Bangladesh comprehensively. However, they faced a formidable challenge when they met India in the next match, succumbing to the spin brilliance of Kuldeep Yadav.
However, Sri Lanka regained their momentum with a remarkable victory over Pakistan, who were missing some of their key bowlers. In this match, Pakistan opted to bat first but had a shaky start with Fakhar Zaman’s brief stay at the crease coming to an end. Abdullah Shafique and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam then formed a solid partnership, but Azam got stumped on Dunith Wellalage’s outstanding delivery after playing a crucial innings. Shafique, after scoring his maiden ODI fifty, was dismissed promptly.
Sri Lanka continued to exert pressure on Pakistan, taking wickets at regular intervals and reducing them to 122 for 5. However, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammed Rizwan showed resilience and spent valuable time at the crease, taking Pakistan’s total to 252 for 7.Â
In response, Sri Lanka had a promising start led by Kusal Perera, who set the tone for the chase before getting run out. Kusal Mendis played a significant innings of 91 runs but was dismissed at a crucial juncture. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka steadied the ship for Sri Lanka. In Shaheen’s penultimate over, consecutive wickets fell as Dhanajaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage departed. Sri Lanka needed 6 runs from 2 balls, and they managed to secure a boundary off Charith Asalanka’s bat, followed by a crucial couple to seal victory. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49, and Sri Lanka secured their place in the final.
Top Players to Watch
Team India
Team Sri Lanka
Team Squads
Team India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma
Team Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando
Probable Playing XI
Team India
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Team Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Match Prediction
India appears to be the stronger and more formidable contender in the final. India boasts a solid batting lineup with a top order in exceptional form, complemented by the middle-order prowess of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. The presence of in-form bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammad Siraj adds to their lethal potential, making them a much stronger team.
On the flip side, Sri Lanka faces challenges in the batting department. Despite possessing quality bowlers, their top order has struggled throughout the tournament, heaping pressure on the middle order. The bulk of Sri Lanka’s batting responsibility falls on the shoulders of Asalanka, Mendis, and Samarawickrama, requiring them to step up significantly to compete with the might of India.
Fantasy Playing XI
Based on the stats above, this could be the winning fantasy team.
Conclusion
The final of the Asia Cup 2023 promises to be an exciting clash between two cricketing giants, India and Sri Lanka. Cricket fans can look forward to a thrilling contest between these two teams, and it’s difficult to predict the outcome with certainty. Sri Lanka can equal the number of titles won by India which is 7. Can Sri Lanka pull it off? We will see the results soon. Cricket enthusiasts can enjoy the excitement of the match and, if interested, take part in the betting action to make the game even more engaging.
