Dubai: India will be aiming to reassert their continental supremacy while an injury-hit Bangladesh will hope to shrug off stage fright when the two sides square off in the grand finale of the Asia Cup here, Friday.
A passionate Bangladesh turned out to be the party-poopers Wednesday as they wrecked the prospects of an India-Pakistan summit clash with a gutsy performance despite losing key players to injury.
On paper, India will remain overwhelming favourites to win the tournament for a record seventh time while Bangladesh will be hoping to be third-time lucky in a summit clash.
Final of any tournament is a one-off game in complete isolation from how a team has performed in the tournament. Even the most consistent teams have slipped on the proverbial banana peel when it has mattered the most.
Add to this the fact that the Indo-Bangla cricketing rivalry has grown in intensity. But what is definitely a dampener for Bangladesh heading into the final is the injury woes that the side is facing. Star opener Tamim Iqbal is already out with a fractured hand and Bangladesh will also not have premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the line-up owing to a finger injury.
For India, it will be a different test though. A victory in the Asia Cup without their skipper and best batsman Virat Kohli will be a big statement going into next year’s World Cup.
Not to forget, the Asia Cup trophy will be a healing touch after 1-4 Test series defeat in England. An Asia Cup triumph can partially divert attention from the England debacle.
After resting five regulars during a wake-up call from Afghanistan in their tied Super Four encounter, the order is expected to be restored in the summit clash.
The crack opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy Shikhar Dhawan will be back at the top of the order while Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal will bolster the bowling.
A lot will depend on the start provided by Rohit (269 runs) and Shikhar (327 runs) as the middle order has looked shaky at times. Ambati Rayudu has looked set in all the games but has not finished off well while Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni have struggled in middle overs.
The only match where the Indian middle order was tested was the Afghanistan game where they came a cropper despite a century opening stand by the makeshift pair of KL Rahul and Rayudu.
The Bangladesh bowling attack with Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, is one of the most potent in 50 overs cricket. However, not having Shakib in the line-up could prove to be a major setback for the side. In batting, the team will bank heavily on the ever-dependable Mushfiqur Rahim, along with the very stylish Mahmudullah.