Sri Lanka will take on India in the Asia Cup 2023 final on Sunday in Colombo, Sri Lanka. India had already qualified for the final after winning three games in the Super Four round. Sri Lanka joined them after beating Pakistan in a nail-biter on Thursday. Sri Lanka will be eyeing a record-equaling seven titles while India will be looking for their 8th Asia Cup title on Sunday. As both teams look to boost their confidence ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, we bring you everything you need to know before the SLvsIndia Asia Cup 2023 final.
Match Details
Match: Sri Lanka vs. India, Asia Cup 2023 final
Date: 17th September, 2023
Time: 3 pm IST
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
SLvsINDIA Head-to-Head record in ODIs
In One-day Cricket, India has always seemed to dominate their neighbour Sri Lanka. In 166 ODI matches between them, India won 97 times and Sri Lanka won 57 times while the match ended in a draw or no result was 12 times. India have defeated Sri Lanka four times in the last five ODI games.
Matches | India | Sri Lanka | Draw/NR |
166 | 97 | 57 | 12 |
Asia Cup 2023 Final | Pitch Report and Weather Forecast
Rain is expected just like all the matches at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. So, DLS and weather can be a factor in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Along with that, this will be the sixth match at R. Premadasa Stadium in nine days. Hence, a slow and turning pitch is expected like the last few games.
Read Also: Asia Cup Stats: Most Finals played by any team in Asia Cup History
Teams winning the toss and batting first have won five times out of the last six games of Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo. So, whoever wins the toss, expect them to be batting first.
SLvsINDIA, Asia Cup 2023 Final | Team News
India
Firstly, Axar Patel has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 final after getting injured in several parts of the body during India's narrow defeat against Bangladesh. Washington Sundar has replaced him in te squad. In that case, it will be interesting to see who comes in for India at No.8. They have to choose between Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar as the te third all-rounder along with Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya.
India had rested five of their main players in the game against Bangladesh. Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will surely be back after a well-deserved rest. Meanwhile, Tilak Verma can be an option in the place of Ishan Kishan at number four. Both left-handers can be handy against the Sri Lankan left-arm spinners in the middle overs. With Ishan Kishan being in the World Cup squad, it is more likely the Jharkhand wicket-keeper will get a go.
Sri Lanka
After beating Pakistan in literally a virtual semifinal, Sri Lanka surely will be oozing with confidence. The game before that, they had nearly defeated India in the Super Four game. However, just like their opponent in the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka have their own injury problem.
Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of the Asia Cup final due to a hamstring injury. Sahab Arachchige has replaced him in the squad. Although, Dushan Hemantha will be the favourite to replace him in the squad.
But, their key players in the final fixture will be Kusal Mendis with the bat and Dunith Wellalage with the ball in hand for Sri Lanka. Mendis has been superb with the bat with 253 runs so far in the tournament. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Wellalage nearly defeated India with bat and ball alone in their Super Four game.
SL vs India, Asia Cup 2023 Final | Possible XIs
India Possible XI
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka Possible XI
Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha