In a cliffhanger in Dubai, India edged out Sri Lanka to remain unbeaten in the tournament. The Islanders fought well and came close but just couldn't finish the game. Batting first, the Men in Blue registered the tournament’s first 200-plus total — only to see Sri Lanka match it. With scores level, the game went to a Super Over, where Arshdeep Singh’s brilliance ensured India kept their unbeaten Super Over record intact.
With India having already sealed a place in the final, the game against Sri Lanka was considered a dead rubber. Given the short turnaround between the last Super Four match and the final on Sunday, India opted to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube. The absence of Bumrah was once again felt—particularly in the Powerplay, where India conceded 72 runs, their most in the first six overs in the tournament.
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After Hardik Pandya took a wicket in the first over of the innings, he didn’t bowl again, and India struggled in the next five overs. Centurion Pathum Nissanka and veteran Kusal Perera launched an all-out attack against Arshdeep and Harshit Rana, putting India under early pressure while chasing a big total. Having been rested for much of the tournament, both pacers looked rusty. Sri Lanka capitalised effectively in the Powerplay overs. Once Nissanka and Perera settled in, they even took the spinners to the cleaners.
The Indian bowlers did manage to pull things back during the slog overs, as Sri Lanka lost the plot. India won, but the match once again highlighted their dependence on Bumrah. Suryakumar Yadav has used Bumrah more frequently with the new ball in this Asia Cup. In all four matches he has played, Bumrah has bowled three overs in the Powerplay.
One possible reason behind adopting this tactic could be that Surya and the team management didn’t want opposition sides to fully exploit the fielding restrictions and get off to flying starts. Once the first six overs are done, the spinners have generally controlled the middle overs, supported by Dube’s medium pace.
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This was the second match Bumrah has missed in the continental tournament. He was previously rested for the game against Oman. On that occasion, Oman’s top order surprised India, with opener Aamir Kaleem and No. 3 batter Hammad Mirza both scoring fifties. Similarly, Sri Lanka’s top order fired in Bumrah’s absence — Nissanka scored 107, while Perera contributed 58. A striking similarity: in both matches Bumrah didn’t play, the opposition lost only one wicket in the Powerplay.
Bumrah hasn’t lit up the tournament in the way someone like Kuldeep Yadav has with the ball. However, as India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the other day, Bumrah is carrying out the “very tough task” of bowling in the Powerplay.
For the historic final against Pakistan, Bumrah will return. India will need him to dismantle Pakistan’s top order, which remains their greatest strength.
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