Will India test bench strength in dead rubber versus Sri Lanka?

A 41-run win over Bangladesh on Wednesday has put India into the final of the T20 Asia Cup, which leaves their last league match against Sri Lanka as a chance to either test out their bench strength or seek to correct the blemishes that have peppered their last two victories. 

Against Pakistan in the second game between the two rivals, India dropped five catches – three inside the first ten overs – and the bowling was noticeably down on energy. Against Bangladesh, India went from 83 for no loss to 114/4, and needed Hardik Pandya’s 38 to lift the score to 168. In the last five overs of their innings, India hit only four fours – all to Pandya – and Axar Patel struggled to time the ball during his 15-ball 10. 

Still, the feeble Bangladesh batting and India’s variety in bowling ensured a fifth straight victory for Suryakumar Yadav’s team. 

India are the only team not to lose a match in the tournament, which emphatically punctuates their No 1 tag as well as the gulf in class from their opponents. They arrived in Dubai as overwhelming favourites despite not having played a T20I since early February, and have gone on to beat UAE, Pakistan (twice), Oman and Bangladesh. 

The leading run-getter of the tournament is in their camp, as is the most successful bowler. They have veered from downright dismissive – overhauling UAE’s 57 with 93 deliveries remaining – to lethargic – Oman, chasing 189, were at one stage 149/1 – to somewhat shaky – dropping five catches against Pakistan and conceding 91 in the first ten overs – but have never appeared like being upset in any match. 

Such is the talent and belief in this team, that it does indeed look as if this is India’s Asia Cup to lose. And with a 22-4 overall record in T20Is under Suryakumar’s captaincy, India are just going about their business in conditions for which they have the best players. 

Suryakumar was dismissive about the word ‘rivalry’ when asked about India versus Pakistan clashes, but truth be told India have bossed Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for years. In 18 head-to-head T20Is against Bangladesh, India are 17-1 and against Sri Lanka the record stands at 22-9 after 31 completed games. So there really is no rivalry with Sri Lanka to speak of. 

India could give chances to Rinku Singh and Arshdeep Singh for this dead rubber, and maybe promote Sanju Samson up the order to get some runs and confidence ahead of the final on Sunday. 

Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, won their first three games of the Asia Cup and then were beaten by Bangladesh in Dubai as the Super Fours began. That put them in a must-win scenario against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, but defeat eliminated them from the running.

Sri Lanka will look to salvage some pride against an opponent they have beaten in T20Is since January 23.