The rising tempers in the last group match of the Nidahas Trophy have subsided, and we will hopefully witness calmer teams as both the Asian teams lock horns with each other to win the T20 Tri-series. India and Bangladesh will be fighting hard to take this trophy home as it both have points to prove.
The final of the trophy played to celebrate the 70th year of the independence of Sri Lanka surprisingly does not feature the host country itself. Sri Lanka after defeating India in the first match, lost their next three matches to crash out of the race.
India’s journey to the final has been topsy-turvy. After conceding a loss to Sri Lanka in the first match, they hit back strong and won all the next matches. The performance is even more special considering that few major players are missing from the team. An inexperienced bowling attack has impressed one and all.
The most heartening fact that is gleaned from the matches is that the combined brilliance of the team. All the bowlers and batsmen have performed when needed and they have not been dependent on one single player to take them home.
Return of form for Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar’s disciplined bowling, impressive bowling from Shankar and Shardul, top-hitting from Dhawan have been the positive factors that India will be happy to reflect on. Without a doubt, India is the favorite for the final.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be embarrassed by their behavior in the match. Their wins over Sri Lanka were truly inspiring but they let themselves down with their actions. If they can keep their head calm in the final, they can more than challenge this Indian unit.
The fact that it was on 17th March 2007 that Bangladesh defeated India in the 2007 World Cup will be the much inspiring factor for the Tigers. They are capable of giant killing and the return of Shakib will make them confident.
The final at Colombo will be a win that the young Indian team will be aspiring to clinch whereas the securing the trophy will be prestige point now for Bangladesh.
Probable XI:
India:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), Lokesh Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat/Mohammad Siraj
Bangladesh:
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket-keeper), Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Mehidy Hasan, Liton Das
Time – 18th March 2018, 7:00 PM IST
Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
