Let us just start by saying that Team India in this Asia Cup 2025, has been the best team, hands down. They have won all their league matches, and until now, even the Super 4 encounters. On Friday, they will be up against ousted Sri Lankan team for the final Super 4 battle, but have already made it to the summit clash.
So, it is nothing more than a practice match for them. While there is just no change needed in the XI, perhaps the team management would be tempted to give Jasprit Bumrah some rest before the final, and even try out Rinku Singh. Again, there is no need for that, but in the final, they would want to rest their best pacer.
Sanju Samson at No. 3
This tournament, Sanju Samson has been pushed down to no. 5 in the batting order, where hasn’t had the opportunity to do much. But in the inconsequential match against Oman, he came at No. 3 and slammed a fifty. This is another such match where he could tried at no. 3, ahead of the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma.
Rest Tilak Varma, Get in Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh has been out of the team for some time now. Despite some decent T20I numbers, the quality of the team is such, there seems to be no place for him. But just before the on 28th September, Tilak Varma could be rested and Rinku could be given some match time. Again, not needed, but no harm in doing so.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Workload Management, Chance for Arshdeep Singh
It is just unfortunate that Ashdeep Singh does not have a place in this playing XI. After all, he is India’s highest wicket-taker — 100 in 64 matches — in the format. But nonetheless, he should come in for Bumrah, who has played all matches, except for the Oman game. Now, with the West Indies series coming up, and Bumrah likely to play in both Tests, it only makes sense to rest him.
India probable XI vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
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