INDIANS TARGET BIG WIN AHEAD OF FINAL
After having overcome the early hiccups against minnows Hong Kong, India have been in spectacular form in the Asia Cup, putting bitter rivals Pakistan to the sword twice and beating Bangladesh in stunning fashion.
With their place in the final already secured, India might be tempted to make changes to the squad that beat Pakistan by nine wickets in their Super Four game when they play the already-eliminated Afghanistan on Tuesday.
The Afghans may have lost two last-over thrillers against Pakistan and Bangladesh in Super Four, but they have certainly won the hearts of the entire cricket world with their fearless brand of cricket.
Their batsmen have shown the ability to absorb pressure against the big teams and their bowlers twice restricted rivals to modest scores. Now they will be eager to leave the stage with one last hurrah against the star-studded Indian team.
Rohit Sharma’s men, on the other hand, will look to go into Friday final with another big win.
Their big names have contributed to the team’s progress in the tournament, but it’s captain Rohit and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan who deserve praise for their ruthless display with the bat.
It’s incredible how the change in the game’s format could change a player’s rhythm in cricket.
Dhawan’s issues against the moving ball were brutally exposed by England pacers in India’s 4-1 defeat in the recent Test series. But here in the one-day format, the lefthander is back to his brilliant best with two magnificent hundreds against Hong Kong and Pakistan.
The Delhi player’s timing and the ability to pick gaps have been breathtaking, while Rohit continues to demoralise rival bowlers with his delightful touch.
Few players in the history of the game have made batting look easier than Rohit and his glorious form here has certainly made a certain Ravi Shastri very happy.
But it’s not just his batting form that has made heads turn in the Asia Cup. His tactical acumen as captain in the absence of Virat Kohli has earned praise from one of the legends of the game — Sunil Gavaskar.
“The first time he led Mumbai Indians to an IPL win, that was his first season as a captain and he impressed straight away with his knowledge of what to do next more than what to plan,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council’s official website.
“Every time he has got an opportunity to captain India, he has shown his acumen,” Gavaskar added. “He has shown how patient he can be, and then as a batsman, the added responsibility only makes him better.”
If India, the overwhelming favourites to add to their six Asia Cup titles, can go on to beat Afghanistan and then win Friday’s final, Rohit might become the biggest threat to Kohli’s captaincy in limited overs cricket.