India will face Sri Lanka in the grand finals of the 2023 Asia Cup to be played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 17th September. It has been a superb bowling effort by both teams in the entire tournament so far.
The pitch at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo is helpful for the bowlers that would create doubts in the minds of the batters. The Indian team will see the comeback of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for this match while Sri Lanka will be relying on the spinners to create pressure on Indian batters as they did in the Super 4 match.
Here we look at the 3 Players Who Could Be Leading Wicket-takers in the 2023 Asia Cup final
- Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah looked threatening in the previous match Super 4 match against Sri Lanka. He bowled with great control under lights and troubled the Lankan batters. The pace bowler took the wickets of Pathum Nissanka with a lovely delivery and then deceived Kusal Mendis with a slower delivery.
Bumrah did not play in the previous match against Bangladesh. He would be eager to provide early breakthroughs again and put the Lankan batters under immense with top-quality bowling. After making a comeback from an injury, he looked in great shape and made sure that he did the job again with a new ball.
- Dunith Wellage
The 20-year-old Dunith Wellage had a dream performance in the previous Super 4 match. He was bought into the attack by Shanaka after Rohit and Gill added 80 runs for the opening wicket. Wellage grabbed the wickets of Gill, Kohli, and Rohit in three successive overs to put the Indian team under pressure.
He then dismissed well-set KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya to finish with figures of 5 for 40 in 10 overs. Wellage picked up the wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam with a lovely delivery and put Pakistan’s batters under pressure.
Wellage would be key for Sri Lanka to pick wickets and put the Indian batting lineup under pressure. The left-arm spinner will be a major threat if the pitch aids spinners and can create havoc. He is the second leading wicket in Asia Cup 2023 with 10 wickets from 5 matches at an economy of 4.30 runs per over.
- Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav showed his class with a match-winning performance of 4 for 43 in the previous Super 4 match against Sri Lanka. He picked up the wickets of Sadeera Samawickrama, and Charith Asalanaka to put the Lankan team under pressure. Kuldeep then cleaned up the tail dismissing Kasun Rajitha and Pathirana to help the Indian team register 41 41-run victory.
The left-arm chinamen slipped down the fourth in top leading wicket-takers this tournament. He would be key for India in the finals against Sri Lanka by picking wickets during the middle overs if the Sri Lankan batters put partnerships at the top of the order.
He did not feature in the playing XI against Bangladesh and would be eager to weave his magic against the Lankan batters.
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