Rohit says he has communicated what the team expects from each player.
| Photo Credit: File photo

Axar Patel is set to miss at least the first two ODIs against Australia, starting Friday, while Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of being match-fit for the series-opener, according to India captain Rohit Sharma.

“Axar had a small (muscular) tear. It looks like maybe a week or ten days (to heal), I don’t know. We have to see how that injury progresses. Some guys recover quickly, and I hope that’s the case with him,” Rohit said after India won the Asia Cup final with a facile victory against Sri Lanka.

“I am not sure whether he will be able to play the first two games against Australia at home. But we will wait and see.”

During Friday’s run-chase versus Bangladesh, Axar hurt his wrist and was hit with a throw on the forearm of his bowling hand. He was replaced with Washington Sundar for the final.

Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, has been on the sidelines ever since suffering back spasm minutes before the toss against Pakistan last Sunday. Rohit was confident Shreyas will be match-fit for the Indore game.

“Shreyas was not available for this game because certain parameters were kept for him to tick off. I think today he completed most of it. I should say he is alright 99 per cent as of now,” Rohit added.

“But he looks good, he batted and fielded for long hours, and he was on the ground long before we came to the ground. I don’t think it is a worry for us.”

It will be interesting to see if India decides to retain Washington for the series against Australia instead of letting him travel for the Asian Games in Hangzhou later this week.

Despite Washington calling up for the Asia Cup final, Rohit stated that veteran offspinner R. Ashwin is not ruled out of the World Cup.

“As a spinner-all-rounder, Ashwin is in the line, I have been talking to him on the phone. The injury happened to Axar at the last minute. Washington was available, so he had to come and perform the role for us,” Rohit said.

“He was cricket-fit because he was part of the Asian Games camp (in Bengaluru). I have been very clear with players about their roles. Everyone is in the loop.”

Rohit Sharma and Co. will have to come up with a near-perfect show against a Sri Lankan outfit – backed by a 35,000-strong home crowd. 
| Photo Credit: ANI

 

The curse of the Asia Cup has persisted. It’s not going to be India versus Pakistan, in sync with the tournament’s 39-year history.

Nevertheless, with the World Cup less than three weeks away, there will be much more at stake than bragging about the continental supremacy when India take on Sri Lanka in what is expected to be a scintillating Sunday.

Injury concerns

While both the teams are dealing with injury concerns, Rohit Sharma and Co. will have to come up with a near-perfect show against a Sri Lankan outfit — backed by a 35,000-strong home crowd — that has nothing to lose at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Contrary to most of the last week, the weather in the port city has been brighter and hotter with every passing day.

Despite the radar alerting a couple of thunderstorms predicted on Sunday afternoon, a combination of a reserve day provision and an efficient ground-staff will in all likelihood result in either Rohit or Dasun Shananka lifting the coveted trophy on Sunday night itself.

Title drought

For India, the match becomes even more important considering the pressure it will be carrying for repeating the 2011 wonders at home starting next month.

Having wilted under pressure in ICC tournaments for a decade and not having won a multi-nation tournament title for five years, it will be paramount for India to carry the confidence into the global show-piece event.

On pitches that have expectedly become slower with every passing match over the last week, India will have to get its act right in the final.

Axar Patel, having hurt his wrist and elbow during a valiant knock in Friday’s run-chase against Bangladesh, has been replaced by Washington Sundar.

India will be tempted to get Washington in the playing XI with an eye on bolstering its batting depth and spin department.

Sri Lanka, has been dealt with a severe blow, with mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana having been ruled out of the final.

Spin bowling all-rounder Sahan Arachchige joined the Sri Lankan squad for its pre-match training session on Saturday afternoon ahead of the big match.

Shreyas Iyer is unlikely to be risked, considering the next week’s series against Australia to be served as the final fitness test for the batter.

India will rely on the big three — captain Rohit, his opening partner Shubman Gill and run-machine Virat Kohli — to come to the occasion.

Can it return to India high on confidence? Or will Sri Lanka – having survived a scare in the first round and pulling off a heist against Pakistan – carry the brownie points by defending its Asia Cup title?

Over to Sunday!

The teams (from):

India: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Hardik Pandya (Vice-capt.), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, K.L. Rahul (wk.), Ishan Kishan (wk.), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (Capt.), Kusal Mendis (Vice-capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan.