While cricket fans have criticized India head coach Rahul Dravid for frequent changes to the lineup leading up to the World Cup, Friday will be the day they would want him to change things up a bit.
With India having already booked their place in the final of the Asia Cup, their Super Four clash against Bangladesh at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, may appear only of academic interest. However, they are set to meet again in Pune on October 19 in the World Cup and important brownie points are there to be scored ahead of that clash. India also have a few scores to settle against their eastern neighbours, having lost 1-2 in the bilateral series there in December last year.
When India arrived in Sri Lanka there were many doubts over the form, fitness and confidence of key players. A fortnight later, most things seem to have fallen in place. The form of openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma looks promising. The fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul-and the way they have performed-would have relieved the team management. Ishan Kishan has played handy knocks down the order and has kept efficiently.
Kuldeep Yadav has bowled like a dream and Ravindra Jadeja has been miserly. Hardik Pandya's maturity has helped India tick the vital pace-bowling allrounder box.
Having been on the park for three days in a row because the game against Pakistan got shifted to the reserve day and they had to play Sri Lanka again on Tuesday, India would love to rest a few of their key players. They would also want to give a game to Suryakumar Yadav to see how he adjusts to the ODI format. The T20 king, who turned 33 on Thursday, was one of the five players to train during optional nets. Tilak Varma, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja and-promisingly-Shreyas Iyer were the others.
India would also love to see how Iyer shapes up after experiencing back spasms and missing the Super 4 games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. If he does play, one of either Rahul or Kishan may sit out. If 'Sky' has to be drafted in too, India may have to rest one of either Kohli or Rohit.
1/10:How India qualified for the final of the Asia Cup 2023
2/10:Spirited India books final berth
<p>India has dominated the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 with their all-round efforts. They are the only unbeaten team so far.<br /></p>AFP
3/10:Spirited India books final berth
<p>India reached the final by beating Sri Lanka by 41 runs. This will be India’s 11th final appearance in the Asia Cup overall, and their first since 2018.<br /></p>ANI
4/10:India’s performance in the Asia Cup so far
IANS
5/10:IND vs PAK (Group-A match, Kandy): No result
<p>For the first time since the 2019 WC, India was up against Pakistan in an ODI. India opted to bat first in overcast conditions and the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah rattled the Indian top-order.<br /></p>PTI
6/10:IND vs PAK (Group-A match, Kandy): No result
<p>Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya took charge and notched a brilliant partnership of 138 off 141 balls and brought India back on track.<br /></p>AP
7/10:IND vs PAK (Group-A match, Kandy): No result
<p>Thanks to Ishan Kishan’s 82 and Hardik Pandya’s 87, India was able to put on 266 in 48.5. Rain didn't allow Pak to start their chase and the two teams received a point each. <br /><br /><br /></p>PTI
8/10:IND vs NEP (Group-A match, Kandy): IND won by 10 wkts
<p>India was up against minnows Nepal for the first time in an international match in their second group game. <br /></p>IANS
9/10:IND vs NEP (Group-A match, Kandy): IND won by 10 wkts
<p>Opting to bowl first, India was given a surprise by the Nepalese opening batters (Khusal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh) as they put on a stand of 65 off 59 balls.<br /></p>
10/10:IND vs NEP (Group-A match, Kandy): IND won by 10 wkts
<p>Sompal Kami’s late blistering knock of 48 took Nepal to a respectable 230 in 48.2 overs.<br /><br /></p>IANSSenior pacer Mohammed Shami, being such a rhythm bowler, would want to underline his white-ball skills and having been on rest since the WTC final in June, he too will be itching for some action. He played against Nepal but warmed the bench in other games. A veteran of two ODI World Cups and four T20 World Cups, being on the sidelines is not something he enjoys. India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey was asked about how easy or difficult it was to tell a senior player that he is not in the XI.
His response was philosophical. "It's not easy to leave out someone like Shami but any decision we have taken, the players know the intent behind it, and they know it is for the team's benefit. A problem of plenty is always good and Shami understands why he is not in the team," he said.
Already depleted, Bangladesh now have also the lost in-form Najmul Hassan Shanto (injured) and senior pro Mushfiqur Rahim (paternity leave). All eyes will be on skipper Shakib Al Hasan and India's nemesis in that home series in December, Mehidy Hasan Miraj.
