Bangladesh look to shock India in Asia Cup final today

Rohit Sharma, India’s stand-in captain was in top form right through the tournament and he started the chase confidently even as he lost two partners within quick succession of each other.

Despite their batting prowess and wealth of experience, India nearly failed to reach that target as the tension reached breaking point. Jadhav kept his nerves and hung around till the last ball to see India through in a thriller.

A limping Kedar Jadhav was able to get through for a leg bye to complete the win.

“I think above all, playing as a team is most important. We need to back the players who have been doing well in the recent past”, said Sarfraz, who managed just 68 runs in four matches.

“You have to give some credit to Bangladesh”. A moment of brilliance came for India in the last ball of the 28th over which defines a big final and one that potentially strengthens Jadeja’s prospects in the blue shirt.

Bangladesh have previously reached the finals twice in 2012 and in 2016 only to be beaten by Pakistan by two runs and by India (when it was held in the T20 format) by eight wickets respectively.

Hong Kong openers Nizakat Khan (92) and Anshuman Rath (73) made India wait for a wicket for 35 overs, but once Kuldeep Yadav got rid of Rath, the floodgates were opened.

According to Cricbuzz, captain Mashrafe Mortaza is likely to opt to play the same side for the big final against India. As you would’ve been really excited while watching the final, we are sure that you missed a lot of things. In fact, it should be a competitive match and Bangladesh will fancy their chances against a complacent Indian side. We know every day is a different day and despite Pakistan losing two early matches against India, we would expect the team to make a comeback.

Dinesh Karthik (37) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36) added 54 for the fourth wicket but once both were dismissed Bangladesh looked like pulling off an upset.

Das played 117 balls and slammed 121 runs which included 12 boundaries and two sixes and built a ideal platform for a big score but some poor shot selection from other batsmen cost the Bangladesh camp. The bowlers, led by skipper Mashrafe Mortaza were heroic after Liton Das’s maiden hundred guided them to 222.

Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (32) provided Bangladesh with a brilliant start by notching up a 120-run stand for the first wicket. After that, the Bangladesh innings faded. So I think if we can put up a good score on the board, probably we can pressurise them.

It looked like a ploy to shield the specialist batsmen with Bangladesh bolstering its line-up by including left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam.

The only meaningful contribution, down the order, came from Soumya Sarkar – who scored 33 runs with the help of a single boundary and a six. Hardik Pandya’s replacement Ravindra Jadeja has fit in very well in this set up delivering crucial performances helping the team win.