CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Defending champions Sri Lanka won the toss and did not have any hesitation in electing to bat first in the 2023 Asia Cup 50-Overs Cricket Tournament final against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Sri Lanka made two changes to their side as fast bowler Kasun Rajitha makes a comeback to the side, while young Dushan Hemantha comes in for the injured spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Meanwhile, India have made as many as six changes to their side with all their regular players making a comeback after their last outing of the tournament against Bangladesh on Friday.
“It seems like a good wicket and there will be some turn in the afternoon. Last year, we were not able to get these crowds but this time we are fortunate,” Sri Lanka Skipper Dasun Shanaka said soon after the toss.
“I am very pleased with the youngsters – Dunith Wellalage, Sachith Pathirana, Sadeera Samarawickrama. It is a good team, and the results are there, this is a good boost for the World Cup,” Shanaka added.
Meanwhile, India Captain Rohit Sharma said that he would have preferred to bat first as the surface looks very dry and good for batting.
“It 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,” Rohit said after the toss.
“We came close to winning the 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 Patel is injured and so Washington Sundar comes in for him,” Rohit added.
The teams:
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K. L. Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana.
Umpires:
Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afghanistan) and Richard Illingworth (England).
Television Umpire: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand).
Reserve Umpire: Jayaraman Madanagopal (India).
Match Referee: David Boon (Australia).
