Coming off scores of five and zero in his last two outings, team will be hoping skipper Suryakumar gets big runs in today’s dead rubber vs SL ahead of final
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav walks back after being dismissed for five against Bangladesh in Dubai on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
Dead rubbers don’t come around in tournament play all too often, but that’s exactly what stares India and Sri Lanka in the face in the T20 Asia Cup. The former have taken their expected place in Sunday’s final, the latter are out of the hunt after successive defeats in the Super 4s stage. As such, not a lot hinges on Friday night’s outcome at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, though despite their status as finalists, India have plenty of creases to iron out.
Skipper under pressure
Primary among them are skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s form and a catching malaise that has spread rapidly through the ranks since the start of the Super 4s. Suryakumar, once the No. 1 T20I batter in the world but now in the sixth position, hasn’t had a grand time of it since succeeding Rohit Sharma in the hot seat last July, with just two half-centuries and an average of 19.81 in 18 innings. The days when he would walk out and immediately take a game by the scruff of its neck aren’t anywhere near as regular as they once used to be.
Coming off scores of five and zero in his last two outings, the 35-year-old will be mindful of the need to run into form before the September 28 title clash. India have relied on the brilliance of Abhishek Sharma and his chemistry with fellow opener Shubman Gill to stack up a 5-0 record in this tournament, but for them to convince themselves that they aren’t over-reliant on the destructive left-hander, they need runs from other quarters, not
least the skipper himself.
The other problem area that needs immediate attention is their high catching. Having started the Asia Cup in excellent style with nearly every catch gobbled up in their first few games, India have spiralled in the opposite direction since the start of the second phase. They have shelled nine chances against Pakistan and Bangladesh combined. Neither side made the most it with Pakistan surrendering by six wickets and Bangladesh succumbing to a 41-run rout, but that should come as no consolation to a side that prides itself on controlling its catching, at the very least.
Bangladesh put on a masterclass in ground fielding on Wednesday and India will do well to imbibe their desperation and ambition. Tardiness in the field doesn’t sit well on a team that has strode the T20 arena like a colossus; India’s job hasn’t been made easy by the Ring of Fire that the DICS floodlights resemble, but with every player in the squad having played enough games at this venue at either the international level or in the IPL, the lights can’t be held as an excuse for straightforward catches going down embarrassingly.
SL playing for pride
Charith Asalanka’s side promised much after besting Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Group B action, but haven’t found the batting gears in the Super 4s, which is why they will be on an early flight home. One last sting in the tail will be their target, a big ask but certainly not an impossible one.
87
No. of runs scored by Suryakumar Yadav in 10 T20Is this year @ 12.42
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
